‘조선시대 백정’의 기원에 대한 역사사회학적 고찰

Abstract

This paper explores the origins of Choson period’s outcast, paekjong,who suffered from social discrimination and suppression. They weregenerally understood to migrate from the area in the northern Chinaneighbouring Korean peninsula. However, their socio-historicalbackground shows no clear ties that they migrated from northern China. Therefore, it needs to scrutinize the socio-historical process in whichthey were regarded as being migrants from northern China. Their ancestors are known as the outcast groups of yangsuchok, jaein,hwachok, wandering from one place to another producing willow-baskets andhunting animals. Their lifestyle and occupations lead to social prejudice andsegregation in the society where majority of the population were farmers. Overtime, this reinforced social prejudice against them as an alienated race or ethnicgroup in Choson society. Moreover, Annals of the Choson Dynasty began todepict them as racially different from others with the expressions on them suchas ‘different species,’ ‘different races,’ and ‘peculiar groups.’ These socialprejudices and perception against them contributed to labelling them as anmigrant group from northern China. And these also brought about socialdiscrimination and suppression against them in the Choson society.