《삼국유사》 〈기이〉편 太宗 春秋公條의 내용 구성과 의미

Abstract

This paper examines the section of T’aejong Ch’unch’ugong, which is the most voluminous part within ‘Ki’i I’ in the Samgukyusa, dividing it into fifteen events. While much of the record of T’aejong Ch’unch’ugong in the Samgukyusa relies on the Samguksagi, the former complements the latter in the sense that some legends and sources not mentioned in the Samguksagi were added to the Samgukyusa. The ‘Shini’ lines of the record of T’aejong Ch’unch’ugong, with the exception of the omens relating to the fall of Baekje, place focus more on the loyalty of Kim Yushin than on T’aejong Ch’unch’ugong himself. However, the main subject of the section ‘T’aejong Ch’unch’ugong’ in the Samgukyusa is T’aejong Ch’unch’ugong. The record of the Samgukyusa, though overlapping that of the Samguksagi to a certain extent, was written and edited by the editors with distinct intentions. That is, they tried to describe the historical situation they were facing through a series of anecdotes with a focus on T’aejong. The editors emphasized King Uija’s indulgence in intemperate pleasure, to which they attributed the collapse of Baekje, and contrasted it with the achievements of King T’aejong Muyŏl. This tactic was intended to depict the region of King T’aejong as an age of prosperity and that of King Uija as an age of fall. They also wrote about the power of Koguryŏ and Su Dingfang and the Tang Empire being daunted by ominous signs, which shows the editors’ hostility toward them. And the editors expressed their sorrow at the fall of their country with the T’asaam legend. They recognized Kim Chunchoo as a historical figure that laid the foundation for the unification of the Three Kingdoms and in doing so tried to uphold his title as the founder. Thus, what the editors wanted to say in the ‘Kii I’ in the Samgukyusa is T’aejong Ch’unch’ugong’s feat of unifying the Three Kingdoms, which is a reflection of their longing for a reign of prosperity and peace in the latter period of Koryŏ. In short, they expressed their hope for an age of peace through the story of T’aejong Ch’unch’ugong and tried to commemorate him as a king of Silla who made such an achievement.