원명교체기, 화이질서의 강화와 동국문명의 형성

Abstract

At the turn of the fifteenth century world order of East Asia started changing rapidly. There was transition from Yuan dynasty to Ming dynasty in China and a new kingdom Joseon that destroyed Goryeo was born in the border of Dongyi(東夷). As represented in the case of Yuan dynasty that was built by Mongols, outward barbarians replaced Ming dynasty which is an authentic Han nation, it appeared the whole world turned upside down. In actuality, Joseon regarded the inheritance of Goryeo dynasty that was in blood alliance with Yuan dynasty as something old and attempted complete revolution towards a Confucian state as Ming dynasty. In spite of all that, there were similarities in the recognition of Yi Saek who was regarded as the best intellectual at the end of Goryeo period and Shin Sukju and Seo Geojeong who were evaluated to lead the completion of Civilization of Joseon. In other words, it is the pride of civilization of Dongguk(東國), Joseon. This article is to examine closely the aspect of severance and sustenance coexisting in the historic transitional period of the end of Goryeo and the beginning of Joseon. I clarified how the freedom of King’s education that provided the original foundation for the establishment of civilization over people worked and competed under the sustaining and strengthening system of China-centered world order in spite of transition from Yuan dynasty to Ming dynasty for that research. I explored the process of Byeon Gaeryang’s checks and control through the controversy in acknowledging Dangun and Gija as well as in performing heaven worship ceremony and he considered himself as a leading character in sustaining the new nation unlike Jeong Dojeon, a leading character of creating a new nation. Byeon Gaeryang who took charge of civilization system of Joseon and pursued Dongguk civilization came to confront a troublesome situation in the period of King Sejong. It is because Byeon Gaeryang had to accomplish the contradictory task of accepting Chinese civilization and establishment of Dongguk, Joseon civilization after the reign of Younglak Emperor of Qing under more forceful China-centered international order. However King Sejong was able to achieve the crux of Dongguk civilization such as Hunminjeongeum, Korean alphabet after an effort of full incorporation into China-centered civilization. King Sejong’s assimilation effort towards China-centered civilization paradoxically became a power to complete Dongguk civilization. The antinomic relations between China-centered civilization based on China-centered world order and Dongguk civilization worked as a mechanism that Joseon, civilized nation discriminated neighboring countries. As soon as they put agenda of putting one nation as a center in civilization, it had an inevitable result. From the pinnacle of the period of King Seongjong who was evaluated to complete Dongguk civilization, Joseon started to dream another Dongguk civilization. That could be designated as a different civilization through Confucian ethics unlike previous scholars who pursued civilization through system of ritual and music.