조선시대 월과문신(月課文臣) 관련 규정 변화 연구

Abstract

This research studies the policy of Weolgwa-Moonshin(月課文臣) during the Chosun dynasty, which aimed to ensure that society was governed by talented officials who were well cultivated by confucian study. In the early Chosun Dynasty, the policy targeted only officials under the age of 40 who belonged to Hongmungwan(弘文 館) and it was called Hongmungwan-Weolgwa(弘文館月課), but later, all officials were tested, regardless of age. The policy encouraged the development of literati officials’ writing skills through a monthly evaluation system(月課) with certain topics and forms of writing which were important to their competence. The government also linked the evaluation results to the performance rating for the officials. Depending on the officials’ writing scores, they were rewarded with writing materials or promoted to a higher position. On the other hand, those who did not submit writings were questioned by judicial authorities or, worse, could lose their positions. This study attempted to discern the meaning of Weolgwa-Moonshin(月課文臣) as a policy of encouraging scholarship for literati officials by tracing the changes in the code of law. The main purpose of this policy was for cultivating confucian knowledge and the performance ability of these officials.