2006, Vol., No.83

The Review of Korean History 2023 KCI Impact Factor : 1.02

pISSN : 1225-133X
https://journal.kci.go.kr/hksh

This paper is a study on the peer polity interaction of Old Chosŏn, Yan, and Qi from the late 4th century to the early 3rd century BCE. In the introductory chapter, I represent the summary of previous studies on the topic and review the problems of those. In the previous studies only the relation between Old Chosŏn and Yan has been focused, but the agency of Qi that was the military rival of Yan and the commercial partner of Old Chosŏn has been ignored. The second chapter is on the interactional state formation process of Old Chosŏn, Yan, and Qi around 323 BCE. In this chapter I suggest that the interactional birth of king(Wang) in these states implies archaic ‘state’ formation. The third chapter provides a historical approach to the interactional attack of Qi and Old Chosŏn toward Yan from 314 to 312 BCE. According to the Yantieiun and the Bowuzhi, there was Old Chosŏn’s invasion to Yan’s eastern region around 314 BCE when Qi plundered Yan’s ten castles. In the final chapter, I assert that from 284 to 280 BCE the expansion of Yan brought about interactional decline of Qi and Old Chosŏn. As it is, Old Chosŏn’s Manbŏnhan that was Yan’s final attack point around 280 BCE was a important spot linking Old Chosŏn and Qi through maritime route between Liaodong peninsula and Shandong peninsula.

The study for the eunuches and their political and social effects during the korea Dynasty(高麗王朝) has been rarely researched until now. The eunuches and their power were never recognized in this class society. It is the prejudice that the status and role of them had been fixed and simple. First, the eunuch existed in the Orient and the Occident. In our written history document, they had existed since the period of Unified Silla(統一新羅). They had been a minority and taken over miscellaneous services(雜役) at the Court of Goryo Dynasty(高麗王朝). After King Injong(仁宗) and Euejong(毅宗) a special eunuch who assisted the King in his work very closely, called a Naeshi(內侍) appeared. Eunuch Jungham(鄭諴) who won King Euejong(毅宗)' favor was appointed to the Naejeonseungban(內殿崇班). But it was after the period of Won(元)'s control era that the eunuch could raise a higher position. Bongukhwaja(本國火者), who was a Korean eunuch and went to the Won Empire(元帝國), raised a higher position and had a potential influence on the appointment or the summons of Goryo King. As in his task, he had carried out the Kings‘ miscellaneous business and taken charge of the Kings’ private moneys. So, after five years of King Kongmin(恭愍王), Naesibu(內侍府), a post of undertaking the eunuch affairs, was established. After the establishment of Naesibu, the eunuch was appointed to a vassal or took over confidential affairs.

After Kyeyujungran and Sejo's seizure of power, government school-party, which became the ruling party after the establishment of Chosun Dynasty, was divided inner their party. Sa-yuksin's trial to abolish the King Sejo, caused majority separated into two groups, Hungu(勳舊) and Sarim(士林) party. Through the eyes of Confucian justice and moral justification, Suyangdaegun should have not become the king. However, he chose the benefit of becoming the King rather than getting the reputation to be Jugong(周公) So it was not at all strange that the distribution of rewards like installation was held after Sejo's inauguration. It was Sejo's political purpose that he nominated Chiphyonjon(集賢殿) scholars like Sungsammun as Jungnan(靖難) and Joaik-kongsin(佐翼功臣) to cover his weak point of justice. Those who led the Sayuksin's trial to abolish the King Sejo were major politicians and scholars of early Chosun dynasty. They were not only the main scholars of Chiphyonjon which was established by Sejong, but also the politicians to contribute in establishing new national systems. They tried to actualize their ideals in their situation. They tried to keep the confucian justice and ideology. So they could not accept Sejo who killed his nephew and seized the power. Therefore, it is meaningful that the academic and political view of Sa-yuksin were similar to those of the spirit of the national foundation. The spirit of Sa-yuksin influenced the idea and political administration of sarim-party that occurred after the King Sungjong. We can recognize that the political view and ideas of Sa-yuksin were to actualize the confucianism and so was the Sarim-party. We can also illuminate the influence of their idea and political view through who was the descendant in the daughter's line of Sungsammun.