鄭琢의 『龍蛇日記』와 倭亂 극복 활동

Abstract

When Japan invaded Korea in 1592, Jeong Tak (1526~1605) was fourth state councillor. The king fled north to Pyeong’an Province, and his crown prince to Hamgyeong Province. Jeong was ordered to accompany the crown prince. And he kept a journal from this time to the first month of next year, 1593, when they rejoined the royal court. This record is rich in first-hand information about the Imjin War. Jeong took a leading role among the crown prince’s court, the “branch court.” He was a versatile scholar, with an expertise in the art of war, astronomy, geography and divination, in addition to Confucian scholarship. He was an experienced high-ranking official and travelled to Beijing twice, in 1582 and 1589, and well informed about China and Japan. So he was well qualified for his task. The “branch court” had many disadvantages. The faraway royal court exercised authority over appointments of officials, administration of justice, and military command, causing confusions and frictions. As a senior official, Jeong handled such problems quite effectively. In appointments, the branch court often suspended will-advised royal orders, exercised its own discretions, and asked for the royal court’s approval later. It meted out punishment and reward promptly, without prior consultations, and reported later. It recruited soldiers, supported local militias, secured provisions, and carried out military operations on its own. Jeong Tak managed the difficult tasks of the wartime branch court very effectively—appointments, punishment and reward, and military affairs. This helped pacify popular unrest, caused by the unreliable royal court, and mobilize popular support for the government’s wartime efforts. All along, Jeong kept a balance between principle and expediency. So he enjoyed the king’s full trust and play more important roles after he rejoined the royal court.