고려 서류부가혼 사회의 여성상과 부덕

Abstract

Unlike the women in Chosun period, those in Koryo period have been noted for their high social status. Notwithstanding, while the women in Chosun period were characterized by 'dependency' 'obedience' 'passivity', etc., the women image of those in Koryo period was not presented. Thus, the women image of traditional age was comprehensively understood as 'dependency' 'obedience' 'passivity', etc. As a result, the women image in Koryo period was buried under that of women in Chosun period. Since this result not only weakens the meaning of women in Koryo period who take significant position in women history of Korea, but also poses problems in understanding the process of spreading women history of Korea, it is required to actively present the women image of women in Koryo period. The society was in Seoryubugahon(婿留婦家婚) in Koryo period. As a system where men enter women's home for marriage, Seoryubugahon is a marital custom which is contrary to Chinyoungje(親迎制), the Confucian marital custom. Further Seoryubugahon, not a mere marital custom, is significant in that it was closely related to social structure of Koryo such as the then kinship system. As a marital custom of Koryo society, a Yangcheukjeokchinsok(兩側的 親屬) society, Seoryubugahon verifies that Koryo society was not a male-based Confucian society where only patrilineal consanguinity was emphasized. In such anti-Confucian social circumstances, the women in Koryo period came to acquire the following features. First, the women image of Koryo is openness. In the open social atmosphere where male and female were not particularly distinguished, they showed open feature by actively wooing male they preferred. Second, the women image of Koryo is subjectivity. They took initiative in leading their life by subjectively solving their problem in their own situations. Third, the women image of Koryo is activeness. While the women in Chosun period lived in diverse restrictions caused by Naewaebeop(內外法), those in Koryo period were active in social activity based on Buddhism, showing active attitude by expressing collective opinion on social issues. By the way, the materials related to women such as Myojimyung(墓誌銘) in Koryo show many historical materials which reveal Confucian idea such as ‘Samjongjido(三從之道)’ or ‘female virtues(婦德)’, thereby confusing us in understanding the women image in Koryo period. However, the records in Myojimyung were written by Confucianists and the value universally pursued in human society was expressed in Confucian terms, keeping distance from the actual features of women in Koryo period.