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The Status and Existence of Ganseong(杆城) Geonbongsa Temple(乾鳳寺) in the Late Joseon Dynasty

Kim Seon-Gi 1

1국립순천대학교 남도문화연구소

Accredited

ABSTRACT

This paper attempted to examine the operational aspects of a royal temple at the time by examining the status and existence of Geonbongsa Temple in the late Joseon Dynasty. Geonbongsa Temple, which had the status of a major temple in province until the early Joseon Dynasty, was designated as a royal temple in the late 17th century. From the 18th century, Geonbongsa Temple served as a royal temple in earnest. After the 19th century, relations with the royal family became closer. Based on this relationship, Geonbongsa was able to recover the damage caused by two large fires with the support of the state. Geonbongsa Temple, a royal temple, was able to maintain its condition under the protection of the state even if it suffered a disaster called fire. Meanwhile, in the late 17th century, when Geonbongsa Temple was designated as a royal temple, tax-free land was paid. The reason why tax-free land was paid to Geonbongsa from the royal family was to secure the Eouigung(於義宮)’s tributes resources based on the output from there. The Geonbongsa Temple was also given the benefit of being exempt from Miscellaneous Services. This was also a device to ensure a stable tributes to the royal. However, after the Gyunyeokbeop(均役法) came into force in 1750, the miscellaneous services exemption was not properly implemented due to the decrease in temples. In fact, in 1880, Geonbongsa Temple was carrying about 130 kinds of miscellaneous services. Even at this time, the royal family requested the issuance of Wanmun(完文) to continue to protect the exemption from miscellaneous services. These appearances show that the state and the royal family supported to maintain of the a royal temple. In this way, Geonbongsa Temple, which secured its status as a royal temple in the late Joseon Dynasty, was able to maintain the status continuously under the protection of the state and the royal family. This shows that the history of temples during the Joseon Dynasty was colorful. Therefore, it is necessary to understand it from various perspectives, away from the rigid perspective of viewing temples in the Joseon Dynasty only as a side of decline.

Citation status

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