여말선초 紅牌·白牌 양식의 변화와 의의

Abstract

In Joseon period, there existed a system to issue the document, ‘crimson certificate’ to the successful candidates of erudite examination and the document, ‘white certificate’ to the successful candidates of licentiate examination. However, strictly speaking, this system was implemented after Complete Code of Law was designed. In this paper, I examined mainly with the issuance system and the changes of form of the documents issued in the late Goryeo period and the early Joseon period among ‘crimson certificates’ and ‘white certificates’ that have been handed down as ancient document so far until Complete Code of Law was completed. At the late Goryeo period, the ‘crimson certificates’ starting with the phrase of ‘Wang-Myeong-Joon-Sa’ were issued to the successful candidates of higher civil service examination. The ‘crimson certificates’ was issued at government office stamping official seal following the royal command and the signatures of Jigonggeo and Dongjigonggeo who were in charge of the exam were written in the document. In contrast, at the early Joseon period, the ‘crimson certificates’ starting with the phrase of ‘Wang-Ji’ or ‘Gyo-Ji’ were issued to the successful candidates of erudite examination, which the name of the king was directly written stamping the Royal seal unlike those in the late Goryeo period. The ‘crimson certificates’ issued in the early Joseon period were upgraded comparing to those in the late Goryeo period in terms of the documentary form. The issuance system of ‘white certificate’ was instituted in the early Joseon period. The licentiate examination was established since Joseon started and the debate that the document should be issued to the successful candidates of licentiate examination had been in earnest in 1438 (20th ruling year of King Sejong). It seems that the documentary form prepared at that time had been reflected to Complete Code of Law without any modification. The ‘crimson certificates’ and the ‘white certificate’ in the late Goryeo period and the early Joseon period are important historical record to examine the systems and the political changes at that time as well as the changes of documentary form.