최현의 <朝京時別單書啓>에 나타난 현실인식 연구

Abstract

As the position of Seojeongkwan (envoy being in charge of record), Choi, Hyun did envoy’s visit to China in 1608 and left 「Jocheon Ilrok(朝天日錄)」. And he recorded ‘his feelings about two or three evils that he witnessed separately’ and it is <Jogyungsibyeoldanseogye(朝京時別單書啓)> which he reported the problems of ‘Geumeunjiryung(禁銀之令) (ordinance to prohibit bringing silver)’ and measures for them to the government office concretely after completing envoy’s visit. As the position of Seojeongkwan, Choi, Hyun had to conduct the ordinance of silver prohibition according to the national law. But in fact, the ordinance was useless and he witnessed that it was rather harmful for work. Because silver was commonly used in public, it was not possible to restrain it strictly by law. That is, ‘‘Geumeunjiryung(禁銀之令)’ was useless one. Choi, Hyun showed deep interest in Gwanseo region(關西지방)’s abuse caused by frequent visit by envoys. In particular, he paid attention to the evil of horses to transport vehicles. As countermeasures for ‘Geumeunjiryung(禁銀之令)’ and the evil of Gwanseo region(關西지방), Choi, Hyun asserted to cast and distribute the silver·bronze coins and to reduce accompanying assistants during envoys’ visit. He asserted that because silver coin was actually circulated in China, casting and using silver and money would also be convenient for the envoy to visit Beijing. As for reduction of accompanying assistants, he asserted to reduce unnecessary personnel and not to use the title of Seojangkwan. Asserting to abolish the government position of Seojangkwan seems to be expression of his regret of failure to cope with the reality where illegal acts were openly conducted. Assertion of <Jogyungsibyeoldanseogye(朝京時別單書啓)> shows his practical and realistic recognition. In general, in the study of the record of envoys’ visit, study of seogye(書啓), janggye(狀啓), jeongmun(呈文), tongbo(通報) and etc. have been neglected. Centering on Choi, Hyun’s <Jogyungsibyeoldanseogye(朝京時別單書啓)>, in this paper, the researcher confirmed several matters about those days’ envoys’ visit that could not be confirmed in 「Jocheon Ilrok(朝天日錄)」.