숙종의 대명의리와 문학적 형상화 시점

Abstract

King Sukjong of Joseon (肅宗) focused on recovering the tarnished authority of the royal family, wielding powerful royal authority for 46 years since the tender age 14, when he acceded to the throne. The need to manage the government during the sudden political transition(換局) presented an effective opportunity for strengthening royal authority and suppressing the ministers' authority. However, Sukjong could not help falling into a dilemma as he faced the need to engage, again, the forces that he had purged during the sudden political transition. Therefore, Sukjong comforted Southerners(南人) and those of the Young Doctrine(少論) as well as Old Doctrine(老論) by creating poetry, as a form of book report, after reading the literary collections written by liege subjects. He even revealed his mistakes through his poems. Furthermore, he would reward examples of loyalty by granting his poems, as eoje(御製), to his liege subjects directly, while intending to require them to demonstrate the virtue of loyalty. His experience of reading the literary collections of his liege subjects had an effect on Sukjeong's political decisions, and he would carry out his political will by setting forth his inspirations and intentions through his poems, both in and outside Seoul, the capital. In addition, Sukjong utilized his poems to call attention to the benefits or authority of the royal family, clarifying the principles of jaejojieun(再造之恩), or the rebuilding of the nation, and daemyeongeuiri(大明義理), the support of righteousness. King Sukjong was not satisfied with simply setting forth his personal feelings. His poems served not only as a channel to deliver his political intentions or decisions to his liege subjects, but as a means of consolation toward his liege subjects and reconciling clans or factions. In conclusion, compared with the motivations of other kings of the Joseon dynasty for creating poetry, Sukjong’s was different: his poetry was a kind of political activity.