19세기 후반 경상도 상주의 향촌문제와 동학농민전쟁

Abstract

This paper attempts to figure out the local problems in Sangju, Gyeongsang-do in the late 19th century and discusses the directivity of the Donghak Peasant Army in Sangju. Previous studies focused on explaining the Donghak Peasant War or improving the local problem of those who had influence in Sangju. For this reason, there was a lack of confirming the directivity of activities of the Donghak Peasant Army in Sangju. The reason of local problem in Sangju was the absurdity of three kinds of taxation system and corruption related to it. Those who caused these problems were influential people in local areas who had a strong influence in Sangju. The local problem was pointed out in the peasant uprising in 1862, but it was pointed out again by Min Jong-ryeol, a governor who was appointed in 1880. The local problem in Sangju continued with the possibility of recurrence, which soon caused the Donghak Peasant War. Although the local problem at the Peasant Uprising was concentrated into the absurdity of taxation system, Attention was focusing on the a wealthy local farmer’s behavior and intermediate exploitation of those who were involved in the local management. Small residents in Sangju tried to solve the problem by raising the uprising, but the taxation problems were not solved even after the settlement. This condition continued until the 1880s, and various local problems were pointed out through 『尙州事例(Sangju-sarye)』 made by Min Jong-ryeol. Ultimately, the problems in the local management became more complicated in conjunction with changes in the status system, the division of the noblemen, and conflicts in the local, and the damage was suffered by the small residents in Sangju. The small residents left their hometown to escape the problem caused by the heavy taxation, and devoted to the Donghak, which was emerging again at the time. In 1894, the Donghak groups in Sangju attacked those who engaged in a wealthy local farmer’s unauthorized behavior and intermediate exploitation, and took part in carrying out the reform plan proposed by the Donghak leadership as a more active uprising than before. Choi Si-hyung's a declaration of resurgence became a public figure for reform activities of the Donghak groups. The Donghak groups was converted into the peasant army and attacked Sangju Fortress. The attack on Fortress can be grasped as a movement to reform the local order centered on the local influential people into the order centered on the small residents. The success of the attack on Fortress was the primary success of the peasant army's reform activities, but it was lost by the Japanese army and failed to promote a reforms. In the end, the directivity of the Donghak Peasant Army's activities was to reform the problems of the local management and to restructure the local order based on the small residents. However, the problems that the peasant army wanted to reform were not solved, and the base of activity was destroyed. After the peasant war, the local influential people re-established their order in Sangju. But their order was not achieved in the direction they wanted, because their close relationship was reorganized through the reform policies of the court.