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Utilization and Meaning of Calendar System and Calendrical Science in Early Goryeo

  • The Review of Korean History
  • 2010, (100), pp.493-529
  • Publisher : The Historical Society Of Korea
  • Research Area : Humanities > History

한정수 1

1전북대학교

Accredited

ABSTRACT

This paper examines the aspects in which time record, i.e., the almanac, was used and the necessity for calendrical science, the process of improving the Astronomy Office, and calendrical science related to the contents of the Xuanming calendar from end of Silla to early Goryeo period. As a dynasty of the Middle Ages that was grounded on the idea of Mandate of Heaven, Goryeo contrived to understand time and control it. This is directly related to calendar system and dissemination of almanac as well as numbers used in calculating a calendar and time measured with a clepsydra, the contents of which were applied toward "recommending work according to appropriate farming seasons" for important agricultural policies as well as monthly ordinance system, diverse ritual times, and personnel administration. Goryeo searched for a sacred ruling system of the sovereign through its realization of the idea of Mandate of Heaven and as the axis of universal order. To do so, almanacs, numbers for calculating a calendar, and clepsydra were developed by focusing on the Xuanming calendar. It can be said that comprehension and application of the calendrical science in early Goryeo has contributed greatly toward the formation of Korea's medieval dynasty. And one cannot evaluate this period as simply adopting China's book on calendar or using information from this book by merely remeasuring longitude and latitude with Gaegyeong as the center. Ultimately, Goryeo dynasty was able to accurately provide established pattern of astronomy as well as grasp the farming seasons and calendrical days as a dynasty of the Middle Ages by compilation and dissemination of almanacs that used various calendrical sciences such as the Xuanming calendar. In statecraft, Goryeo was able to exert itself to inform its people the seasons, months, and days they should observe as well as to accurately reveal the seasons by correcting calculating the calendrical system so that it can plan regulations, rationalization, and unification of dynastic operations such as rituals, tributes, tax, and bureaucratic system. In international relations, Goryeo manifested its status as an independent kingdom by partially accepting China's calendrical methods and calendrical days while calculating and disseminating its own calendrical days.

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