19세기 文科에 대한 고찰

Abstract

This article examined the management of higher civil examination, munkwa, in the 19th century, from three aspects, that is, the selection policy of the nation, the application tendency of the candidates, and the results of examinations. The general tendency of the 19th century, except for the period of king Kojong’s reign, was similar to that of the period of King Jeongjo's reign who had tried to improve the management of higher civil examination. The times of examinations and the number of successful cadidates were controlled appropriately. There were little big changes of the number of candidates and their preference for Jeongsi and Hanseongsi. And the opportunities of success in examinations were more open to local elites from all parts of the country. As a result, the concentration of the successful candidates in Seoul, a chronic problem in the 18th century, was more or less relieved, though the competition grew somewhat more fierce. However there was a big difference. The large proportion of the uppermost class, forming the core of political force, chose to acquire qualification not through the traditional higher civil examination but through the Seong’gyungwan test perhaps to avoid keen competition. Eventually the traditional higher civil examination served the subservient function in the formation of political force. Consequently the local elites could have more opportunities to succeed in higher civil examination, but could not approach to the core of political power.