18세기 전반 국왕의 『政經』 간행과 의미

Abstract

This article is aimed to illuminate the profound influence of chŏnggyŏng(政經), a book originally written by Chen Dexiu(陳德秀) in the Song Dynasty and later put into practice by Chosŏn court in the eighteenth century. Partly inheriting while distinguishing itself from the thoughts of Zhu Xi(朱熹), Chen Dexiu suggested in chŏnggyŏng to apply the Confucianist theory of governance at the local level. The discussions regarding chŏnggyŏng in the Chosŏn court, however, waned until 1708, when King Sukchong refocused on the management of officials, and thus revived the chŏnggyŏng. Meanwhile, Sukchong wrote a preface and poems for chŏnggyŏng, where he specified the role of this guidebook as a tool to enlighten the local magistrates. In 1747, King Yŏngjo referred to Sukchong's preface and republished chŏnggyŏng. Yŏngjo himself also wrote an article named “ŏjesosik(御製小識)” for chŏnggyŏng. Yŏngjo displayed filial piety for his father Sukchong and claimed to inherit Sukchong’s unfinished mission. Specifically, to realize the goal of “love for common people”(aemin), Yŏngjo attached great importance to the role of local magistrate. The aforementioned imperially composed articles embodied two kings’ formal recognition of chŏnggyŏng, which further empowered chŏnggyŏng. Yŏngjo attempted to study and utilize the chŏnggyŏn when discussing local politics during the lectorium of classics(kyŏngyŏn), and his efforts also led to chŏnggyŏng’s effectual practice in reality. For instance, county magistrate(hyŏngam) Kim Hongdŭk from Poŭn district reported to the court that he realized benevolent governance under the guidance of chŏnggyŏn. Nonetheless, Yŏngjo’s attempt to introduce chŏnggyŏn to the lectorium of classics bore no lasting fruit. Although he intended to disseminate the knowledges and political ideologies in the chŏnggyŏn to local officials, interests in chŏnggyŏng and practice of chŏnggyŏng diminished after Yŏngjo, which means the political paradigm based on the chŏnggyŏng became ineffective in the end of eighteenth century. Such phenomena can be explained through the different stance between the local magistrate and central court: during the late Chosŏn period, local officials and Confucian scholars compiled mongminsŏ(牧民書) respectively in accordance with their own governance ideologies and knowledge; the Chosŏn court, however, tended to utilize the chŏnggyŏng to institutionalize its own governance system.