조선시대 密符의 제도와 운용

Abstract

In the Joseon Dynasty, the Milbu(密符), a round shape signal plaque made of wood, was given to the Milbukwan(密符官) when the troops were mobilized by the king's order. This system was implemented in the period of King Sejo. In Sokdaejeon(續大典), which was promulgated in 1746 (King Yeongjo 22), the Milbu-related regulations were legislated and recorded first and were enforced until 1895 (King Gojong 32). Milbu had the first to forty-fifth sections recorded in the center on the front page in order, and Letter Jwa(left) on the left side and letter Wu(right) on the right side and the engraving of kings' signature(Eoap, 御押) on the back page. When a king passed away and the succeeding king was enthroned, the Milbu was replaced with a new one because of the engraved signature of the previous king, In the later Joseon Dynasty, the Milbu was reconstructed and replaced according to the procedure: The Seungjeongwon Office submitted Gyesa(啓辭) to the king and received Gyeha(king's approval, 啓下), and then Seungjeongwon compiled the king's order about the reconstruction and replacement into Yuji (Official Letter of King's Command, 有旨) and delivered it to the Milbukwan (official). There was the Milbukwan office in Gwanchalsa(觀察使), Jeoldosa(節度使), Yusu(留守), Tongjesa(統制使), Tongeosa(統禦使), Bangeosa(防禦使), and Chongyungsa(摠戎使). The king delivered the Milbu to a Milbukwan at the palace when he was leaving the palace. If a Milbukwan was newly appointed and exempted from being present before the king, the Milbu was delivered to him at the place of appointment or he received the Milbu from his predecessor. And when a Milbukwan was appointed to a new official position with an appointment on exemption of being present before the king, he continued to use the Milbu. In order to systematically manage the handover of the Milbu, the Seungjeongwon Office wrote and managed Milbuchibuhaek(密符置簿冊) such as Myeongso Hobu Milbuchaek(命召虎符密符冊). Because the Milbu was the medium which connects the military power between the king and local officials, it was strictly managed and operated.