『恒茶飯』 소지 사례집을 통해 본 조선 후기 官의 역할

Abstract

This study reviews the characteristics of the petition cases in Hangdaban compiled between the late 18th century and the early 19th century, and investigates the role of local government in late Joseon. This petitions(soji: 所志) seem to have been complied by a local governor for his own use or for offering a reference to local officials. In particular, the responses(jaeeum: 題音) to the petitions by local governors in Hangdaban described their judgements to the people’s appeals in detail, providing the principles of handling individual cases of the petitions by the compilers and the local governor’s perspective to rule people. And this collection was used by petitioners who referred it in order to compose one’s petition. Therefore the contents of the petitions and the local governor’s responses in the sojis in the book present the role of a local governor supposed by its compilers. The establishment of the Confucian order and protection of its social class system, summarized with the term ‘edification of customs(風俗敎化)’ were the main agenda to rule people in Joseon. This casebook reflects the perception to protect the orders between noble and lower classes, men and women, and old and young people as well. For example, it was perceived to protect the value of differences between men and women even in the lower classes and the social class system was positively protected by punishing an act to insult a nobleman by that from the lower class. However, when a nobleman impaired the property rights of a humble man, especially, in case of threatening their living, the local government played a role to protect their rights, such as collecting and giving the damaged amounts to the humble man. The measure to protect the property rights with the governmental authority was an act of public role for general members of the society. On the other hand, when a landowner replaced tenant farmers or a cattle owner took the rented cattle away, which resulted in interrupting farming in the seasons, the governmental authority considered them as a threat against farmers' living, restricted their ownership and punished them.