공론권(公論圈)으로서의 첨성대(瞻星臺) 연구

Abstract

The purpose of the paper is to shed light on Chumsungdai's function as one of the newly appeared public spheres, which is conceived by Youngdai, one of the ancient Chinese collective systems of public opinion. Chumsungdai is regarded as the facility for astronomical observation. Meanwhile, it is also believed to be an altar for sacrifice, a simple symbolic monument, a Buddhist architecture, etc. Among these possibilities, the author suggested that Chumsungdai was the place (public sphere) of a symbolic stone monument where the signs of the heavens to ruler's political deed were observed and the voices were collected from reclusive sages. Less powered than her man-rulers, Queen Sunduck seemed to contrive the inspiration from Chinese Youngdai and actualized into the political realities of Silla. In general, Chumsungdai performed the role of an astronomical observatory. In peace time, it was also available for a ruler's rest place. However, as an extraordinary phenomenon in the nature and constellation occurred, the ruler could set the place for seeking sages' ideas and listening their suggestions through the process of vertical communication.