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Reinvestigation of Goryeo Era's Hyang and Bugok's Characteristics - Focusing on Analysis of Hyang and Bugok's Densely Located Regions of Southern Three Provinces

  • The Review of Korean History
  • 2016, (124), pp.5-52
  • Publisher : The Historical Society Of Korea
  • Research Area : Humanities > History

Jeong, Yokeun 1

1덕성여자대학교

Accredited

ABSTRACT

This article investigates the geographical distribution, locational condition and areal range of special residential districts called ‘hyang’ and ‘bugok.’ We examine characteristics of these districts in Chungcheong, Gyeongsang and Jeolla provinces of South Korea, specific regions where hyang and bugok districts were densely located. The hyang and bugok districts were located in areas that lacked large cultivated land area and population, and featured smaller special local administrative units. Mostly, the hyang and bugok districts were located in mountainous basin, river mouth and coastal land that were reclaimed cultivated lands or vacated through migration. On the basis of geographical isolation, the hyang and bugok districts had independence and autonomy distinguished from neighboring villages managed by local administrative units. Thus, the Goryeo government organized the hyang and bugok districts as special local administrative units. Legislative social discrimination on the hyang and bugok residents was aimed for maintaining independence and self-support, as well as the prevention of resident migration to other regions. Therefore, the hyang and bugok residents had to be bound and live in their districts for generations, and the hyang and bugok districts were socially positioned lower on the Bongwan system, Goryeo dynasty’s unique hierarchic social order.

Citation status

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