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A Study of Compilation Background and Process of 『The Annals of King Gojong』 of Colonial Historical Studies within the Colonial Period

  • The Review of Korean History
  • 2022, (145), pp.193-252
  • Publisher : The Historical Society Of Korea
  • Research Area : Humanities > History
  • Received : February 17, 2022
  • Accepted : March 7, 2022
  • Published : March 30, 2022

Suh Young-hee 1

1한국공학대학교

Accredited

ABSTRACT

『The Annals of King Gojong(高宗實錄)』 has been widely used as pabulum for the study of Korean modern history, although it has fundamental limitation due to compilation by Japanese imperialism. Unlike Japanese claims that it was compiled by making 『the Annals of King Cheoljong(哲宗)』 a model in respect for the ‘tradition’ of Joseon, 『The Annals of King Gojong』 should be understood within colonial historical studies, because it was compiled by Yiwangjik(李王職) for the collection and editing process of modern historical records, like 『Joseon History』 by Joseon History Compilation Committee. It is imperative for the crtique of colonial historical studies within the colonial period and overcoming the limitations to historical records for the study of Korean modern history to find out how 『The Annals of King Gojong』 was compiled. Japanese Imperial Household Agency(宮內省) asked Asami Rintaro to compile 『The Annals of Yitaewang(李太王)』 immediately after the death of King Gojong, which was compiled, but never disclosed. While Oda Shogo took the lead to compile 『Annals of Gojong and Sunjong』 in Yiwangjik, Dabohashi Giyoshi compiled historical records from coronation year of King Gojong to June 1894 in volume 4 of chapter 6 in 『Joseon History』. It is necessary to compare 『The Annals of Yitaewang』, 『The Annals of King Gojong』, and 『Joseon History』, which were compiled by Japanese imperialism. As 『The Annals of King Gojong』 was compiled as the history of the dynasty, highlighting perfunctory royal protocals, whose pioneering figure was shown in 『The Annals of Yitaewang』 by Asami Rintaro, That is the reason why 『The Annals of King Gojong』 lays the foundation of distortion of King Gojong era, although it was insisted to be compiled in respect for the ‘tradition’ of Joseon. As the history of the Great Han Emipre was compiled as the ‘annals’ of the dynasty, in which the system of historiographer was abolished after the Gabo Reformation, it led to dwindle down transformed social aspects in the era of the Great Han Empire and the process of infringement of sovereignty by Japanese imperialism. There were massive materials collected from the time of Old Customs Investigation, and Kiguchi Kenjo led the collection of modern historical records, however, those materials were not reflected in the compilation of 『The Annals of King Gojong』. In 『Sillogpyeonchansungan』, which was supervised by Japanese, including Oda Shogo, most of historical records were based upon 『Daily Records of the Royal Secretariat(承政院日記)』, 『Ilsungrok(日省錄)』, and the offical gazette. The perfunctory history of King Gojong era was compiled by excerpting only from the chronicles without public and private documents, including government documents of the Great Han Empire. 『Joseon History』 chapter 6, volume 4, by Joseon History Compilation Committee was compiled until June 1894, and the era of the Great Han Empire and the era before and after annexation were put aside for 『The Annals of King Gojong』. Thus they could avoid the embarrassment to open sensitive historical records in this era. As a result, the compilation of 『The Annals of King Gojong』 in the form of ‘tradition’ by Yiwangjik, and 『Joseon History』 based upon modern historical method by Joseon History Compilation Committee divided roles, and shaped the recognition framework of modern history by colonial historical studies. In this context, the compilation of annals by Yiwangjik was not separate from the works of Joseon History Compilation Committee, and was pursued hand in hand. Distortion of history of King Gojong era was made by selective exclusion of historical records or intentional contextual arrangement. Fundamental question can be raised about whether it can be ‘actual proof’ in the strict sense when historical records showing modern images in King Gojong era were thoroughly excluded. Thus, the compilation of history of King Gojong era in the modern form is urgent in place of 『The Annals of King Gojong』 rather than making use of them as fundamental historical records without critical thought.

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