고려시대 ‘역병(疫病)’과 자연재해－한·중 재해 기록 분석을 중심으로－

Abstract

Until now, the study of famine and plague of traditional society have been understood with the case analysis and the historical meanings. This study is to comprehend and summarize epidemics during the Goryeo Dynasty by referring to natural disaster records organized based on literature resources of Korea and China on top of the existing research accomplishments. Ohaengji is a literature resource that covers natural calamities according to ohaeng (the Five Elements). The understanding of the natural calamities by the Five Elements is the basis to explain a view of nature of traditional society. 『Goryeosa』 narrates natural calamities of ‘Soil’ with the influence of the publication of 『Yuansi』. ‘Soil’ is a natural calamity related to soil that includes all disorders that vegetation and crops can’t ripen, which leads to famine and the spread of epidemic. Compared to 『Songsi』, it presents the cause and the cause-and-effect relationship between soil, famine and epidemic more clearly. Epidemics are separately narrated in Sikhwaji, Yeji and Hyeongbeobji according to Jinhyul, ritual, and Hyeongjeong in addition to Ohaengji, and the record of plague are in Jiriji. The occurrence of natural disasters and epidemics have tended to be explained as environmental causes even if they didn’t cause directly. This study compares natural disasters of Chinese Dynasty and Goryeo Dynasty, and covers the correlation between unusual weather and epidemics of Song·Yo·Geum based on the periods of occurrence of epidemics. There was climate similarity of locust damages in Goryeo, Song and Yo caused by the temperature humid climate during the 11th century, which affected the occurrence of pestilence in both Goryeo and Song. The resources of early and late 12th century show cases of same natural disasters in Goryeo, Song and Yo·Geum, along with famine in Goryeo, and in Song, many people died and had property damaged due to flood damage, which indicates each area had flood, drought, famine and epidemic altogether, or alternately.