조선시대 사대부 남성 유서(遺書)의 사회문화적 기능과 의미 탐색

Abstract

This paper aims at revealing sociocultural function and meaning of Sadeabu men(scholar-gentry class)’s Wills in the Joseon Dynasty. For this aim, through inspecting firstly sociocultural features of wills this paper tried to seek internal evidences that Sadeabu men’s wills were closely connected with society and culture in those days. Then, with studying wills this paper would draw sociocultural function and meaning of wills which affected to society and culture in those days beyond noble family. Most of wills now checked were understood as irresistible and strong messages from the dead, they were conveyed and practiced in a certain family line. Also they were read by not only the dead’s family but also other people, their influences were spreaded to whole society, beyond individuals and family. Especially, the kind of Yuhunhyeong(wills containing Confucian fulfill virtues: 遺訓形) affected to establish traditionality and construct identity of family. The kind of Yumyeonghyeong(wills containing orders dealing with problems of after death of people related bier funeral: 遺命形) contributed to social construction and extension of Confucian ideology and values connected to fulfill rituals and initiate courtesy. This paper confirmed these wills. In final analysis, wills served as significant role in concretely performing manners and fulfill virtues of Confucianism supported by Sadaebu in real life. Although each will had different and common features, and meaning of society varied by differences, prospecting whole aspects of wills, this paper confirmed that wills apparently had meaningful values of society and culture in those days. It is came from that wills are read by view of not only literature but also view of other humanities such as sociology, pedagogy and so on.