貢女 출신 高麗女人들의 삶

Abstract

Among Korea people living in the country 'Won', there are some people who came in voluntarily but many of them were forced to move there as a prisoner, eunuch or Kongnyeo (貢女, a tributed woman). Won compelled Korea to tribute women until early King Kongmin's regime. Due to frequent requests for Kongnyeo from Won, there was social confusion such as that the marriage was nationally forbidden for maintaining virgins but early marriage was popular among the people to avoid being selected as Kongnyeo. Korea resisted against Won about Kongnyeo issue, but it didn't go through much successfully. It seemed that Kongnyeo was mostly beautiful considering the descriptions for them. They had used to be a daughters of traitors or monks at the first time but, as time went by, they were selected irrespective of their origin. A daughter of Ki Zao, from the relatively low family, became a favorite of Won's emperor then dramatically installed as a empress. As known, she, the empress Ki, left her footmark on Won's Imperial Household with support from Ko Youngbo and Park Bulhwa, the eunuchs from Korea. When Kongnyeo was assigned to loyal families and bureaucrats, there was discrimination by the social status in Korea. It means that the court-ladies from high class often became a spouse of senior officials, and also there are some court-ladies in their palmy days with favor from emperor. Accordingly the court-ladies tended to emphasize their origin to be on better position. Kongnyeo in these background can be divided into three groups; the group in the relation to Korea's Imperial Household, the group from the powerful family though not directly related to Korea's Imperial Household and the group from unclear origin who became a wife or concubine of Won's nobles with beauty and efforts. In case of these groups, they lived a relatively unrestricted life. However, most of Kongnyeo were on humble status as like slaves. Accordingly, Kongnyeo on high class including the empress Ki played a role on their position as like popularizing things Korea in Won's Imperial Household. The relationship between Korea and Won was not positive on our side. However, it is a fact that this relationship played a big role in spreading things Korea around Won. It found that culture exchange at that time was not one-way, 'from Won to Korea'. Namely, things Korea which crossed over Won produced effects in many ways such as on court manners, clothing and food. Many Korea women who came to Won as Kongnyeo didn't stay in humble life but did play a main role in keeping things Korea alive in Won.