본문 바로가기
  • Home

A study on the system of memorial service succession in the late Chosun Dynasty

  • The Review of Korean History
  • 2005, (77), pp.205-235
  • Publisher : The Historical Society Of Korea
  • Research Area : Humanities > History

Sookja Moon 1

1한국학중앙연구원

Candidate

ABSTRACT

This study is made to consider how the way of succession of memorial service was determined, through a family of Jeong, whose family origin was Cheongjoo in the late Chosun dynasty. Especially I observed the second way of succession of memorial service when the eldest son dies without sons. In this case there are two opposite systems with confrontation. One is that the second son succeeds to the right as a substitute of the first son and the other is that the adopted son of the first son after he dies succeeds to the memorial service. According to studies so far, it is generally said that the second son succeeded the memorial service in early Choson Dynasty but a son of the first son who was adopted after the second son dies succeeded the service in the late Chosun dynasty. In the case of the Jeong family, whose family origin was Cheongjoo, however the second son succeeded the memorial service even in the 18th century. Lawful normative, economical and social factors might be at work in this situation. That is, the system of succession of memorial service is not only determined by the normative factors but also by various fixed factors, so there was different proceedings depending on circumstances. Especially, like Jeong family which was famous and reputed, the community’s public opinion could affect the way of succession of the memorial service. Even though the succession of memorial service was regulated by laws, there was no formula in the way of succession of memorial service because it was performed in the private domain.

Citation status

* References for papers published after 2023 are currently being built.