고려 태조의 改元政策과 그 성격

Abstract

This article analyzes the reasons and meanings that King Taejo(太祖) of Coryeo Dynasty(高麗) changes the Era-Name. It was related to the intention of the revolutionary group against Shilla Dynasty(新羅) that Taejo adopted the independent era name of Cheonsu(天授). This resulted from the discontentment about Shilla which was in compliance with China centered world order, and China which was protecting Shilla’s royal family by approving as the legitimate dynasty. While Taejo tried to escape the China centered world order which was kept between Shilla and China, this was not to deny the China centered world, itself. Rather than this, Taejo possessed the ultimate purpose to get the approval of the legitimate dynasty from China. In this respect, for Taejo, Shilla meant the ultimate target country to be overcome, but China implied the country to protect his dynasty, Coryeo. As mentioned, since Taejo had the dual viewpoints of world, it could not assert the special importance of “Independence” to adopt the separate era name. The era name “Cheonsu” which Taejo selected, had been already used by Wu Zetian(武則天) in WuZhou Dynasty(武周). Considering the situation that Tang Dynasty had already collapsed, and the legitimacy of Late Liang(後梁) was denied, it might as well seek the policy direction of Coryeo from WuZhou Dynasty. On the other hand, Taejo desired to join in the China centered world order around Late Tang Dynasty(後唐). He intended to get the approval of the legitimate dynasty instead of Shilla dynasty. The fact that Taejo showed the aggressive attitude toward this negotiation resulted from the recovery of the legitimacy by Late Tang Dynasty which declared the succession of Tang Dynasty. Meanwhile, Taejo was invested from Late Tang Dynasty and accommodated the era name in Cheonsu year 16. This was the result of negotiation with Khitai(契丹). Late Tang Dynasty, which had the hostile relationship with Khitai, discredited the dual diplomacy and invested King GyeonHwon(甄萱) of Late Baekje Dynasty(後百濟). However Late Tang Dynasty discontented that GyeonHwon made the dual diplomatic relationships with Late Tang Dynasty and Khitai. Therefore, in December of Tiancheng(天成) year 3 (928), Late Tang Dynasty finally equally treated Coryeo as well as Shilla and Balhae(渤海). Through this, Late Tang Dynasty expected that Coryeo would restrain Khitai. Based on this situation, Late Tang Dynasty invested Taejo with the accommodation of the era name. In this aspect, the adaptation of the era name of Late Tang Dynasty reflected the will of Taejo rather than the enforcement by Late Tang Dynasty.