진주 강씨 문중의 연행록 전통과 사숙재 강희맹의 중국 체험

Abstract

Observing Compositions of the Posterity of Chinsan (Chinsansego, 晉山世稿) compiled by Kang Hŭimaeng(1424-1483) shows that many figures of the Chinju Kang descent group passed the civil service examinations and compiled anthologies for generations. This clearly shows that the Kongmokkong branch of the Chinju Kang descent group was a distinguished lineage in the late Koryŏ and early Chosŏn periods. There was much interest and assessment of the Kongmokkong branch’s ancestors in the Chosŏn period, as evinced in the twenty-six entries on Kang Hoebaek, four entries on Kang Sŏktŏk, six entries on Kang Hŭian, eight entries on Kang Hŭimaeng, and twelve entries on Kang Hon in Critical Anthology and Commentary of Korean Poets (Han'guk shihwa inmul bip'yŏngjip). The most talented in literary composition among them was Kang Hŭimaeng, and King Sŏngjong ordered that an anthology of his works be compiled immediately after his death on February 18, 1483. The royal order to compile Collected Works of Sasukchae shows how the royal court evaluated his writing. Kang Hoebaek(1385, 1388) and his grandsons Kang Hŭian(1462) and Kang Hŭimaeng(1463) traveled to Ming China, and so did three generations of Kangs, Kang Paeknyŏn(1660), Kang Sŏn(1699), Kang Hyŏn(1701), as well as the father and son pair Kang Chunhŭm(1805) and Kang Siyŏng(1829, 1848, 1853), leaving behind records of travels to Beijing (yŏnhaengnok) for several generations. One attribute of Kang Hŭimaeng’s activities and literature is that he wrote many poems while traveling as an emissary to Ming China and was at the forefront of cultural exchange. One such remnant of his activities while traveling to Ming China as an emissary that can be verified is that he disseminated lotus flower seeds from the Qiantang River in his home of Ansan. The lotus flowers disseminated their seeds for over five hundred years, and are part of an important festival in Sihŭng City. Kang Hŭimaeng’s writing and stories were carried on for four hundred years after him, and Chosŏn emissaries sought to find Kang Hŭimaeng’s writings among that of the Qing Emperors.’ That Kang Hŭimaeng’s writings were carried on for four hundred years shows that they became guidelines for later emissaries. Upon Kang’s return to Chosŏn after receiving a reward for presenting a white pheasant and white deer to the Ming Emperor, Sejo dispatched him as the Emissary of Appreciating Kindness as thanks. When Lee Kŭkkam was appointed Chief Emissary and Sŏngim Vice Emissary in 1461, Kang composed fourteen farewell poems on the theme of “Record of Places I Went Through and Given to Sŏng Chunggyŏng on his Journey to Beijing.” Although these were poems that showed what was worth seeing and doing while traveling to Ming China as an emissary, it probably became a guide for other such emissaries. Not only will publishing the translation of Compilation of the Chinju Kang Descent Group’s Records to Beijing (Chinjugangssi Yŏnhaengnok chipsŏng) help in academic research, it will also widely enhance the writings and achievements of the Chinju Kang descent group’s ancestors.