간신 유자광의 평가 再考 - 儒敎的 名分과 士林 敍事의 해체를 중심으로 -

Abstract

Since the 16th century, the politics of the Joseon Dynasty are often termed ‘Politics by the Sarim (士林政治)’. Ryu Jagwang (1439-1512) who had lived at the beginning of that era is notorious for eliminating the Sarim by causing the Literati Purge of 1498 (Muosahwa 戊午士禍). Despite his political activities during five successive reigns from King Sejo to King Jungjong, the indifference toward him by the academia in history has been considered to be almost taken for granted until now due to a lot of negative evaluations and stigma regarding him. That was because many people did not feel any reason or need to make a new challenge to the subject of historical hatred that was shared by a lot of people. This illustrates the background that people have unconsciously refused objective research on Ryu Jagwang. Since the foundation of the Joseon Dynasty, the Confucian cause which justified the high and low, the gentle and simple had functioned as the exclusive logic to deny thoroughly and refuse Ryu Jagwang to enter government office and engage in politics, as he was the son of a concubine of low birth. Moreover, after leading the political situation of the Joseon Dynasty since the 16th century, the political belief of the Sarim functioned as an ideology which served as a background to put him into the prison of history stigmatized as a sinner in a moral aspect. In fact, the modern, as well as contemporary history on Ryu Jagwang has been constantly reproducing only negative descriptions and evaluations. To try to reconsider or make a counterargument from the point of view of the Hungu Faction or the son of a concubine will contribute to understanding the historic nature of the 15-16 century in balance and in three dimensions. Furthermore, in contrast to the significantly negative historical evaluation or interpretation on Ryu Jagwang in the historical records or collection of works, he was recognized in a positive light in the tales and folktales handed down among people. This fact supplies a reason for reconsidering the evaluations on him. With such awareness, this article focuses on reviewing the relationship Hungu and Sarim from various perspectives freed from a unilateral and narrow viewpoint possessed by the Confucian justification and political belief of the Sarim, as well as reconsidering the life and achievements of a son of a concubine, Ryu Jagwang.