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The Significance of the Publication of Tagyeong Seonsaeng Yeonbo in 1874: a Source Criticism

  • The Review of Korean History
  • 2017, (127), pp.397-440
  • Publisher : The Historical Society Of Korea
  • Research Area : Humanities > History

Kim YoungDoo 1

1국사편찬위원회

Accredited

ABSTRACT

This paper studies the chronology of Tagyeong Kim Il-son’s life to examine the details of its publication in 1874, the authenticity of the chronology through a content analysis, and the social and ideological significance of its publication. Kim Il-son was a “Sagwan (historical compiler)” during King Seongjog’s reign who recorded the events that occurred during the reign of King Sejo. His records provided a reason for Muosahwa (the Literati Purge in 1498), during which he was executed. However, he was reinstated after the Jungjong Banjeong (King Jungjong’s restoration) and posthumously honored as a loyal subject in the late Joseon period. A manuscript of Tagkyeong Seonsaeng Yeonbo (the Chronology of Master Tagyeong’s Life), compiled by his nephew Kim Dae-yu, was discovered in 1874. Regarded as a valuable record of Kim Il-son, it was published that same year in Seoul under the collaboration of Kim’s descendents in various regions. Soon afterwards, another version of the chronology was published in Cheongdo. The Cheongdo version eliminated the explanation of the family line which preserved the chronology. Kim Il-son’s career history and friendship relations recorded in the chronology are quite different from the records of the Annals of Joseon Dynasty. Especially, there are notable differences between Yeonsangun Ilgi(Life of Yeonsangun) and the chronology regarding Kim’s friendship relations. His companionship with saengyuksin (six loyal subjects) is emphasized in the chronology. However, the term saengyuksin was created in the 18th century. Therefore, the chronology cannot have been compiled in the 16th century as claimed. It is highly likely that the chronology was created in the late Joseon period by the people who claimed to be the descendents of Kim Il-son to assert their legitimacy as the main line of descent. They claimed that they were the descendents of Kim Gaeng, the first son of Kim Dae-jang, the adpoted son of Kim Il-son. In reality, Jangryewon (Bureau of Ceremony) acknowledged them as the main descendent of Kim Il-son based on the chronology in 1902. Before the publication, the family in Cheongdo was known as Kim Il-son’s main descendent. In the late Joseon period, a family consciousness based on the paternal line was established. Besides, a new group of emerging powers appeared due to the socio-economic changes. They attempted to raise their social status by all means in order to be rid of their social constraints. It is assumed that they fabricated various documents including their genealogies. Critical assessment of the authenticity of historical documents would be the most basic task for the historical research of that period. However, the awareness of the necessity and importance of source criticism regarding the historical records of the late Joseon period is still quite low. The paper will serve as a momentum to call attention to this problem.

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