조선시기 광주 경양방죽의 수축과 운영

Abstract

Gyeongyang Bangjuk(Gyeongyang reservoir) was a symbolic presence of Gwangju along with Mudeungsan mountain. Going through the development period, it was reclaimed and disappeared, but even now it is a memorable place local residents used to talk. This reservoir was built around before and after the Japanese invasion of 1592. It was believed to be built by Kim Bang under the reign of king Sejong, but there is no evidence to support it. Even it’s hard to find the data there was Gyeongyang Bangjuk in those days. Based on records which were collected so far, the time Gyeongyang Bangjuk was built was around the late 16th century or some time before 1604 at the latest. Gyeongyang Bangjuk in Joseon Dynasty was a state-owed or public irrigation facility. To build Gyeongyang Bangjuk over the field of Gwangju’s public office, local influential people were mobilized under the authorities, adding local residents’ labor. Gyeongyang Bangjuk was built with a general purpose building the traditional reservoir such as the irrigation in addition to the necessity in Gwangju. The intention of the government office to build Gyeongyang Bangjuk was to accumulate farmlands and farmers in the town and to solidify economic fundamentals in the county, therefore, to control local influential people and to secure the authorities’ leadership as well as to keep up with the change of times such as the development of markets. Gyeongyang Bangjuk was a facility controlled by the authorities. However, the local community was practically in charge of the maintenance and operations. Owners of farmlands and farmers who received benefits of Gyeongyang Bangjuk’s irrigation autonomically selected Gamgwan and Gamgo, and they maintained and operated the reservoir under the supervision of government officials. Meanwhile, it was considered that a mutual-aid society of farmers receiving benefits of a reservoir(jeon’gye), was organized to maintain and operate Gyeongyang Bangjuk. It was deem that way as there was a mutual-aid society of farmers receiving benefits of a dam (bogye) in Jotanbo which was run in relation with Gyeongyang Bangjuk. Gyeongyang Bangjuk was not repaired, so sometimes it did not function properly. But generally it played a role as a source of water supply soaking the field of Gwangju’s public office and a resting place of residents and it was finally reclaimed and disappeared in urbanization of Gwangju.