숙종의 독후시 제작과 그 의미

Abstract

King Sukjong of Joseon (肅宗) focused on recovering the tarnished authority of the royal family, wielding the powerful royal authority for 46 years, since he, of tender age 14, had acceded to the throne. To manage the government during the sudden political transition (換局) was an effective chance for strengthening the royal authority and oppressing the ministers' authority. But Sukjong could not but to fall into a dilemma that he should engage, again, the forces that he had purged during the sudden political transition. Therefore, Sukjong comforted Southerners (南人) and Young Doctrine (少論) as well as Old Doctrine (老論), by creating poetry, as book report, after reading the literary collections written by liege subjects. He even revealed his mistakes through his poems. Besides, he would present examples of loyalty by granting his poems, as Eoje (御製), to his liege subjects directly, while intending to require them of 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 inspiration and intention, through his poems, both in and outside Seoul, the capital. And Sukjong, utilyzing his poems, he would call attention to the benefits or authority of the royal family, clarifying ‘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 just setting forth his personal feelings. His poems served not only as a channel to deliver his political intention or decisions to his liege subjects, but as a consolation toward his liege subjects’ clans or factions. In conclusion, compared with the other Joseon kings’ intentions to creat poetry, Sukjong’s was different: his poetry was a kind of political activities.