백제의 중국식 이름문화 수용 과정의 고찰- 백제왕과 왕족의 이름을 중심으로 -

Abstract

The names of the kings of Baekje undergo a change in their content and composition while adopting Chinese Naming Customs such as family names and posthumous epithets. The history of Baekje can be divided into the traditional name era, early family name era, and the Chinese name era. First, the traditional name era is when the kings of Baekje had a single name according to traditional customs. From the founder King Onjo to the 12th ruler King Gye, rulers would use one name before or after their reign or death. The second era is the early family name era. The kings of Baekje had two names, one of the traditional method and the other using “Buyeo” or the abbreviation “Yeo” as a family name. Names during this time were formed by attaching the first name of the traditional regnal name to a family name, showing the transitory nature of tradition and new culture in the names of kings. This era is from King Geunchogo to King Samgeun. Like the former era, the traditional name was used in daily life, and the family name was added only in certain circumstances such as exchanges made with China. The third era is the Chinese name era. As King Dongsung used a posthumous epithet, the names of kings were systemized into a name during their lifetime and a posthumous epithet. However the names of kings during this time show vestiges of tradition. There are traces of early naming customs such as first names being made first and family names being retroactively attached, traditional names, and being referred to by first name only in daily life. In the early family name era, the kings of Baekje would first use a traditional name and move on to using a full name with a family name around their time of accession, necessitated by occasions such as exchanges with China. The use of a last name would symbolize and display their status as royalty. The fact that not all royal families of Baekje would routinely use a family name shows that the family name as an indication of a patriarchal society was not yet fully realized. This might have been due to the discrepancy between the actual group of royal relatives and the group using family names. The prevalence of the traditional nature of Baekje names show the limitations of understanding and adopting the family name customs.