영조 전반기 北道事蹟 정비와 『北路陵殿志』 편찬

Abstract

Examined in this article is a historical manual named 『Buk’ro Neung’jeon-ji(北路陵殿志)』, which was compiled in the 24th year of King Yeongjo’s reign by a person named Wi Chang-jo(魏昌祖). Its structure and contents are analyzed here in order to examine the history of the crown-prince’s commencement of governing practices and the nature of Yeongjo’s determination to honor and promote Sukjong’s intentions and actions. At the end of the reign of king Sukjong, the government began to take active interest in examining and processing records of the history of the Northern region(“Buk-do”). King Yeongjo continued such efforts, and in the 23rd year of his reign there was a breakthrough, which was the compilation and presentation of 『Buk’ro Neung’jeon-ji』 by Wi Chang-jo. Wi Chang-jo was from the Ham’heung area, and King Yeongjo wanted to make him a prominent figure inside the government, citing the fact that the Northern region was a place of origin for him. But because Wi Chang-jo was initially recommended by Yi Gwang-jwa(李光佐) who was the leader of the Junior “Soron” party, it was a little difficult for him to establish his own presence inside the government, which was filled with Senior “Noron” party members. Wi Chang-jo, who removed himself to the Ham’heung area, compiled a historical manual containing records related to the history of the Northern region, and finalized it under the title of 『Buk’ro Neung’jeon-ji』. Yeongjo had the material proofread and published, right before appointing Wi Chang-jo again to the seat of Seungji. In the foreword of 『Buk’ro Neung’jeon-ji』 there is a poem written by Sukjong himself, and at the end there is a copy of contents from an epitaph written by Yeongjo himself, designed to provide the readers with some insights of his own. Yeongjo emphasized on the fact that the Northern region was the birthplace for the dynasty, in a deliberate attempt to link King Sukjong, who marked the beginning of the Joseon kings’ active interest in the history of the Northern region, with the present king Yeongjo’s perception and policy concerning the same region. Contained in the historial records of the Northern region were the difficulties and obstacles that either surrounded or ensued the foundation of the dynasty. In that regard, the compilation of such material was an effective method of forcing the crown prince and the officials surrounding him to experience how hard it was to create a new country, and to learn and acknowledge King Yeongjo’s insights and determination.