16～17세기 慶尙道 慈仁縣 復縣 과정과 이를 둘러싼 慈仁․慶州 지역 재지사족의 동향

Abstract

This paper looked into the process of the restoration to a hyeon(縣) of Jainhyeon(慈仁縣), which became independent in 1637 after existing as a sub-hyeon(屬縣) of Gyeongjubu(慶州府), Gyeongsang-do(慶尙道) during the Joseon(朝鮮) period, and the trend of the gentry in Gyeongjubu and Jainhyeon surrounding the process. The precincts such as Hyang(鄕), So(所), Bugok(部曲) including sub-hyeon, went through a series of consistent restructuring processes from the mid-Goryeo(高麗中期) period in accordance with a gradual centralization policy. Among others, the restructuring related to sub-hyeon was mostly completed before the 16th century; therefore, the adjustment of its status was made, involving the promotion toward Jueup(主邑, main eup) and integration. It was a general pattern that the other sub-hyeons were restructured as Myeon-ri(面里) as part of Jueup by the later Joseon period. Accordingly, the restoration to a hyeon of Jainhyeon in 1637 may draw attention as an unusual case in relation to the reorganization of the administrative districts of the Joseon period. Another notable factor in relation to the restoration to a hyeon of Jainhyeon is that there remain various types of documentary data derived during the restoration process that enable us to confirm the position of the gentry in Gyeongjubu and Jainhyeon at that time. The restructuring of precincts was carried out extensively in the early Joseon period; however, owing to limited data, it was not possible to find the position of the members of the Jueup and precinct villages of those times. In contrast, the restoration to a hyeon of Jainhyeon is often found in Jirijiryu(地理誌類, geographic book), and, in particular, there remain diverse old literary documents prepared at that time in the Gyeongju Yangwol Yi family(慶州李氏 楊月門中), which makes it possible to witness the position of the gentry from those two villages. The restoration of Jainhyeon to a hyeon is largely made up of three stages. As first, there was an attempt to separate Jainhyeon from Gyeongjubu and combine it with nearby Gyeongsanhyeon(慶山縣) or Daegubu(大邱府) during the late 16th century. Second, there was an attempt to restore it as a hyeon in the 1630s, and restoration to a hyeon was granted royal permission in 1637. Third, there was a movement for combining Gusabugok, which was located in the northern region of the village, as a northern myeon of Jainhyeon. During the above restoration process, the gentry from the two villages proposed a variety of reasons; however, the most crucial issue was obviously taxation. The taxation of Jainhyeon had been managed by its Jueup, Gyeongjubu. Meanwhile, some absurdity had appeared. Furthermore, unlike other precincts of Gyeongjubu, Jainhyeon was a sub-hyeon that did not have nearly any relationship with the gentry of Gyeongjubu; therefore, its level should have been severer. Consequently, the gentry of Jainhyeon pursued separation from Jueup, and the gentry of Gyeongjubu tried to stop this through Yuhyangso(留鄕所, advisory office) and national power. The driving force for Jainhyeon to pursue its restoration to a hyeon may be found in the growth of the local gentry. The gentry of Jainhyeon began to be created from the 16th century and came to lead local public opinion based on Hyanggyo(鄕校, Confucian temples and schools) activities and army activities for justice at the time of the Japanese invasion of Korea in 1592. Against this backdrop of growth, the gentry attempted the restoration to hyeon of Jainhyeon in order to operate the right to the Confucian temples and schools independently while escaping from absurd level of taxation and control of Jueup.