신라의 ‘東京’과 그 의미

Abstract

The place name “Donggyeong” once referred to Gyeongju in the Korean history and such perception has lasted. In general, the time to call Gyeongju “Donggyeong” was regarded as the period under the reign of King Seongjong in early Goryeo. However, such perception has much room to be reconsidered in many aspects, because several examples have been confirmed that the royal capital was called “Donggyeong” from the Silla Dynasty, which was a way earlier period. For example, the place name “Donggyeong” is found in Hyangga (old Korean folk songs) named Cheoyongga (The song of Cheoyong) composed in the late 9th century. Some say it was written as a postscript in the Goryeo Dynasty. However, this is a very risky idea because there will be possibilities to consider every Hyangga in that way. In particular, one of the most decisive resources that Gyeongju has been called “Donggyeong” since the Silla Dynasty was the case of Sinhaengseonsabi (Stele for Master Sinhaeng) built in Dansoksa Temple in Cheongsan Mountain in Gyeongnam Province in the early 9th century, where the capital of Silla was recorded to be called “Donggyeong”. Like such, if the period to start calling the capital of Silla “Donggyeong” was the Silla Dynasty rather than the early Goryeo Dynasty, there are rooms for new interpretation in many ways. They include the issues such as when and under what backgrounds the city was called “Donggyeong” and what kind of meaning and significance it had. The people in Silla had started call “Geumseong”, the royal capital, “Donggyeong” since the mid-8th century at the latest, which is regarded to be based on the significantly enhanced cultural level of the country at that time and subsequent sense of self-respect. With self-respect to be equivalent to the Tang Dynasty, in response to that Jangan, the capital of Tang, was called Seogyeong, people started to adopt the awareness to call Geumseong “Donggyeong”, which was expanded. Of course, it was not an official position of the country. Rather, it was a response to the lopsided pro-Tang culture by some people. This was clearly reflected in that Kim Heon-chang waged an uprising in 822 and set the name of the country as “Jangan” and even used the era name of “Gyeongun”. If this assumption is considered persuasive, there should be a lot to be reexamined in a comprehensive manner about not only the internal issues of Silla but also the diplomatic relationship between Silla and Tang.