경종독살설 연구

Abstract

This study performed to examine the genuineness of Kyung-Jong’s poison hypothesis which was the one of the biggest topic in thehistory of Joseon Dynasty. Kyung-Jong’s poison hypothesis is that Kyung-Jong who was the 20th king of the Joseon Dysansty waspoisoned by the next king Young-Jo who became the 21st king. This theory was hyphosized by Sim-Yoohyun and was widely known inthe 4th year of Young-jo through the revolt. Kyung-Jong suffered with severe diarrhea for 5 days which finally took his life away right after he had have marinated raw crab andpersimmon. Some insist the poison must had been in those foods. However, the symptoms that Kyung-jong had were not matched withthe poisons which used in those days and also poison was not the reasonable way of murder, so it is hard to say there is little possibilityof poison. On the other hand, considering of Kyung-jong’s health, marinated raw crab and persimmon could result of severe diarrhea. In the mean time, the possibility of Young-Jo’s intention of killing Kyung-Jong is very low. Rather, he blame the royal doctors whoscout the outside doctors, because he believed that it led Kyung-jong’s death since the treatment was chaotic with all those differentdoctors. Even after the Kyung-Jong’s death, Young-jo was always strict to scout the outside doctors and missed Kyung-jong consistently. On this basis, it is hard to say that king Kyung-Jong was murdered by poisoning.