Earticle

신잠은 조선 전기 대표적 훈신인 신숙주의 증손자로, 기묘사화로 관직에서 물러났다가 다시 등용되어 지방관을 역임한 인물이다. 그는 1543년부터 1548 년까지 약 6년 간 태인현감으로 재직하며 선정을 베풀었고, 이 영향으로 지 역민에게 여러 방식으로 존경을 받는 인물이다. 신잠의 생애와 태인에서 활동을 토대로 크게 두 가지를 확인할 수 있다. 첫 번째로, 기존에 조선 전기 훈구와 사림으로 정치 구도를 이해하는 방식이 맞지 않는다는 사실이다. 둘째로, 당시 지방관의 지방 통치 실상을 파악할 수 있다. 특히, 신잠이 태인에서 이룬 공로로 주민들은 신잠이 떠난 뒤에도 생사 당을 건립하고, 선정비를 세우고, 조각상까지 만들었던 것이다. 그리고 무성 서원에 배향되며 지금까지 그를 기억하고 있다. 신잠 자체에 대한 기록이 많이 남아 있지 않은 상황에서 그에 대한 글을 쓰다 보니 예상과 달리 입체적으로 조망하지 못한 아쉬움도 있다. 하지만 이 것은 그 동안 잘 알려지지 않았던 중앙 정계 인물이 지역에서 어떠한 활동을 했는지에 대해 알 수 있는 첫걸음이 된다는 점에서 의의를 삼고 싶다. 향후 더 좋은 자료가 발견되어 이 글을 더욱 보완할 수 있기를 기대한다.

Shin-Jam was a great-grandson of Shin-Sook-Ju, one of the most prominent Meritorious Elites during the early period of Joseon Dynasty; he had resigned from an official post during Shinsamuok―the oppression of the literati in 1521―but was reelected as a provincial officer later. For about six years between 1543 and 1548, he served as Taein county magistrate, and earned great reverence from local people in many ways. His life and activities in Taein county reveals mainly two findings. First, a mere distinction between Meritorious Elites and Neo-confucian Literati is insufficient to understand the political structure of the time. Second, it can be seen how local officers governed their respective regions at the time. Due to his service in Taein county, local people established Seang-Sadang in his memory, erected Seonjeong-bi, and even carved sculptures for him. Later he was canonized at Museong Seowon, and is still remembered by people. Regretfully I could not view his life more wholly due to the lack of available records. However, it is expected to provide preliminary data to understanding activities of a lesser-known political figure in local provinces who formerly served in the central government. Hopefully, better records would be found later to complement this writing.

This article has a purpose to reexamine on the ‘Meritorious Elite(勳舊勢力)－Neo－Confucian Literati(士林勢力)’ Subject in the early Choson Dynasty. It is the accepted theory that the ruling elite in the early Choson Dynasty is divide in two groups, that is the ‘Meritorious Elite－Neo－Confucian Literati’, and they have many differences in the political views, scale of wealth, philosophical thought and their native places, that is almost every aspects. The ‘Meritorious Elite’ was a high bureaucrats, major landowners, was from capital, and have a conservative, not mature Neo－Confucian thought. On the other hand, the ‘Neo－Confucian Literati’ was somewhat low bureaucrats, minor landowners, was from local areas, and have a radical and perfect Neo－Confucian thought. But I have some doubts about this theory and think they are accepted uncritically somewhat. The major problems I think are three. First, they use inaccurately the ‘Neo－Confucian Literati’ concept, second, there are some questions in the features in the ‘Neo－Confucian Literati’, and third, they divided the ‘Meritorious Elite－Neo－Confucian Literati’ by rote. Especially, there are some weaknesses of actual historical proof in the subject of enforcement of Village Granaries system(社倉制). It is difficult to regard the leaders of enforcement of Village Granaries system as the ‘Neo－Confucian Literati’, for they are more closer to the ‘Meritorious Elite’. And it will be more proper to consider Kim Jong－jik(金宗直), a symbolic boss of the ‘Neo－Confucian Literati’, has many similar aspects of the ‘Meritorious Elite’. It is need to reconsider the scale of wealth between the ‘Meritorious Elite－Neo－Confucian Literati’ also. It is difficult that we clearly divide the ‘Meritorious Elite’ as a major landowner and the ‘Neo－Confucian Literati’ as a minor one. There are many important evidences that makes we hesitate to regard the ‘Neo－Confucian Literati’ was a minor landowner. And the last, we can point out that the philosophical theory of the ‘Meritorious Elite’ and the ‘Neo－Confucian Literati’ located in the continuing process. I think it will be a more valid opinion that the core part of the philosophical theory of the ‘Meritorious Elite’ was handed down to the ‘Neo－Confucian Literati’. I have no intention to underestimate the studies related to this subject that accumulated until nowadays. I want to present a few questions that I had during those days. It will be a big pleasure to me if this article give a little help to the progress of the studies in this field.

This study aims at understanding a common characteristic of the meritorious elites in early Joseon. The meritorious elites were thought to have been a ruling class for about 100 years since the foundation of Joseon dynasty. They were also thought to play a negative role during king Seongjong's era and have been removed from the ruling class and replaced by neo-confucian literati. Such a commonly accepted theory doesn't take concrete form on the detailed analysis. As a first step to review on the established idea about the meritorious elites, this study tried to scrutinize Han Myung-hoi, the most famous member of the meritorious elites. He took the first class merit subject title four times and his two daughters got married to king Yejong and king Seongjong. This study found the Han Myung-hoi came from the distinguished Han family producing the one of the foundation merit subjects. He failed the entrance civil office examination until 38 years old to take the lowest office position by the protected appointment system. He overcame his failure through joining the group for king Sejo's coup to usurp the throne from his nephew. The successful coup made him obtain quick pro-motion to the 3rd ranking office position and get the first class merit subject title. After that he played key role to protect the northern provinces against manchu. He stayed more than three months per year in the local area with giving up the comfortable life in seoul during king Sejo's era. When young king Seongjong was the successor to the chair, he was the key role to protect the king from any possible political challenges. Through private connection with eunuchs of Ming from Joseon, he helped the king Seongjong to achieve to diplomatic goal from Ming China. It was characteristic that his dedicated working was holding the additional temporary position, not formal ones. Anyway he reconciled his interest with that of the state and enjoyed the privileged status as the first class merit subject and king's father in law. The conclusion is that Han Myung-hoi practiced noblesse oblige in Joseon dynasty and his impassioned efforts helped the young king Seongjong to strengthen his position and get the legitimacy of the state. His dedicated office life deserved enjoying the rights of the privileged status.