15세기 효행자 천거 확대와 덕행 중심 인사론

Abstract

This study analyzes the development process and historical significance of the filial piety recommendation policy during the early Joseon period in the 15th century. The recommendation of filial exemplars, which began with the founding of Joseon, represented the new dynasty's commitment to implementing Confucian governance ideals, with institutional foundations established through quantitative expansion, particularly during King Sejong's reign. The targets of filial piety recommendations were primarily individuals who practiced extreme filial devotion related to parental funeral rites, and the principle gradually established that "those who are filial and talented enough for office should be appointed based on their abilities." However, structural problems emerged in actual implementation, including discrepancies between policy proclamations and real operations, and limitations of rewards that often resulted in mere reinstatement to previous positions. During Seongjong's reign, reviews of the substantial employment of filial exemplars were conducted, bringing the balance between virtue and practical competence to the forefront as a contentious issue in court politics. This represented a natural concern arising from the transition of filial piety recommendations from symbolic to practical dimensions, and can be evaluated as a more sophisticated attempt to implement Confucian ideals in real politics. This study concretely examines how Confucian values were realized in early Joseon political operations through the sequential process of policy introduction under Taejo, quantitative expansion under Sejong, and qualitative deepening under Seongjong.