조선후기 사대부가 여성의 治産과 경제활동 - 길쌈을 중심으로

Abstract

In the Joseon dynasty, agriculture was recommended for men, and as well as weaving was recommended for women. As womanly virtues, weaving, especially silkworm farming was highly recommended for women of the gentry in the early Joseon dynasty. The reasons for silkworm farming recommended, were that clothing material was basically silk, and also labor process of silkworm farming and spinning process were relatively much easier than those of other fabric making. Therefore, women of the gentry in the Joseon dynasty had become used to directly participate in the spinning and textile manufacturing process of silk weaving. As womanly virtues, the weaving which was recommended for women in the early Joseon dynasty, was growing into a major industry that could create wealth, owing to the socio-economic change and the activation of rural market in the late Joseon dynasty. In the late Joseon dynasty, the economic growth and social consciousness of ordinary people was greatly grown along with the development of monetary economy, and thereby it made the caste system supporting the Joseon society significantly shaken. With the rise of economic power, a phenomena of moving social status among people was actively occurred, and also a social atmosphere highly evaluating women's management of household economy and socio-economic activities was created. The weaving recommended for women in the early Joseon dynasty, began to be recognized as economic activities of creating a wealth beyond the simple womanly virtues. Many women of the gentry in the late Joseon dynasty were directly and actively involved in the spinning and weaving, and several women appeared, who were leading the household economy or making a fortune through the weaving. Based on the active participation of women in the late Joseon dynasty, it had been possible to make a gradual progress of the weaving technology and form several famous areas for the fabric.