‘妓生案’을 통해본 조선후기 기생의 公的삶과 신분 변화

Abstract

This article looked into 'Kisaeng-ahn' to understand official life of Kisaeng as a petty official. Government offices in Chosun Dynasty made lists of office male and female servants namely 'office servants document' to manage and supervise male and female servants belonging to them. Since Kisaengs were also office female servants, their names were registered in 'Gwannobi-ahn'. In this article, we named material separated Kisaeng part from 'office servants document' 'Kisaeng-ahn' and made it the object of study. Almost all 'Kisaeng-ahn' which remain till now are confirmed or assumed to be the ones which was made in 18th to19th centuries in the late Chosun Dynasty. And there are some of 20th century materials remain. 'Kisaeng-ahn' in the late Chosun Dynasty were all made in local government office. In this article the contents and the method of making of 'Kisaeng-ahn'were closely contemplated and official life of Kisaeng in the late Chosun Dynasty and real condition of managing Kisaeng in local government offices of Chosun era were traced. First of all, we took notice of 'coming-of-age ceremony' of child Kisaeng recorded in 'Kisaeng-ahn'. The fact that coming-of-age ceremony of child Kisaeng was recorded in 'Kisaeng-ahn' meant that local governments managed coming-of-age ceremony of child Kisaeng. That local governments intervened in coming-of-age ceremony of child Kisaeng meant there was consciousness to manage sex of the girls. Next, we analyzed 'the age of Kisaeng' recorded in 'Kisaeng-ahn' and found the human composition of Kyobang(敎坊) and retirement age of Kisaeng. Kisaeng officially retired at the age of 50 but it was also possible in 40's. Thirdly, we focused on 'transition to commoner from the humble status[免賤]' in 'Kisaeng-ahn' and discovered that it is very difficult for a Kisaeng in Chosun era to become a commoner from the humble status. Finally, we noticed that from the year 1903 to 1905 'Kisaeng-ahn' was made, and found that even in the period when official Kisaeng system was abolished, official Kisaeng management in local governments was continued. 'Kisaeng-ahn' is the most basic material from which we can understand official life of Kisaeng as a petty official. It is also a fundamental material by which we can look into how government offices managed and supervised Kisaeng belonging to them. However, study on Kisaeng through 'Kisaengahn'has not been achieved yet.