본문 바로가기
  • Home

A Study on the Realization Process of Family Succession through the Case of Hyeongmang Jegeup in the 17~18th Century

Ko, Min-Jung 1

1한림대학교

Accredited

ABSTRACT

In this study, it focused on that Hyeongmang Jegeup (the system that the second son succeeded the memorial service when the eldest son dies without son) was used as an alternative to family succession even in the 17th and 18th centuries when adopting a son was very popular in society. And it divided the system into three types and looked at each of them. Firsts, it was verified that the second son, who had already adopted, was returned to the relatives of the same clan to succeed his family after the death of the eldest son, based on Pagye Guijong (breaking adoption and returning the child to his birth family) established by the diplomatic relations in King Myeongjong Period. The succession was made by the second son because it was not propriety to adopt a son for the eldest son, who died before becoming an adult. Second, it was the case in which the eldest son and his wife did not satisfy the social standards necessary to carry out the service, so the second son replaced them. There was a social atmosphere in which the no one wanted to be adopted when the eldest daughter-in-law failed to maintain chastity or committed a serious crime. It is also a case when the eldest son has a incurable disease and does not meet the conditions for adoption due to failure to go through a rite of passage, such as a custom or wedding, which must be carried out as a human. Therefore, the second son unavoidably succeeded instead of him. Third, it is a case that using a second son because it can't be found one suitable for a generation of the clan that is the basic order of the relatives when finding a person for adoption. The eldest son who wished to adopt belonged to the lowest generation of the clan and couldn't meet the adoption requirements because he was not able to find a relative in the lower, so, the succession was made by the second son. As such, Joseon society in the 17th and 18th centuries, where adoption was widespread, prioritized adoption as an alternative to family succession, but, there were cases where the conditions to realize it were not in accordance with the circumstances of the family. However, even in the circumstances in which the adoption was not possible, the family succession using Hyeongmang Jegeup continued again because of the strong perception to succeed one's family.

Citation status

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