영조 4년(1728) 분무공신(奮武功臣)에 대한 의례적 기념

Abstract

Examined in this article are the ritual protocols observed in celebrating the honorable deeds of the meritorious “Bunmu” subjects, who were commended for their service in subduing the Mushin-year Insurrection(戊申亂) in 1728(4th year of king Yeongjo’s reign). The rituals were designed and promoted by King Yeongjo himself, who wanted to get as much public attention as well as political score from not only the victory but the celebratory occasion itself.BR The officials who successfully suppressed the Mushin-year rebellion were commended with the title “Bunmu Gongshin(奮武功臣),” which meant “the Bunmu meritorious subjects.” The most general and ordinary ritual for officials commended in this fashion had been the Hwemaeng-je(會盟祭) ritual, in which the honored participants would apply blood to their lips and then swear an oath of loyalty to the king. But the ritual performed for the Bunmu meritorious subjects in the 4th year of King Yeongjo’s reign was a little different, as it first featured the “Heon’gwek(獻馘)” ceremony, which was a performance of presenting the enemy’s decapitated head to the king, and then conducted the Hwemaeng-je ritual, displaying a rather enlarged service compared to previous occasions meant for other meritorious vassals.BR The reason Yeongjo wanted to display the Bunmu meritorious subjects’ contributions through ritual ceremonies designed in this manner was because he was trying to maintain a level of unity within the Joseon government, by preventing the Soron(少論) faction inside the government from facing any fallout from the Mushin-year insurrection in which many Soron members outside the government actually joined. By staging this ritual ceremony, Yeongjo was able to use the government army’s victory over the rebels to not only consolidate and but also legitimize his own throne. Meanwhile, the Soron faction inside the government, which was facing a crisis because of the rebellion, also tried to reflect their stance and opinion in the preparation and performance of the rituals spearheaded by King Yeongjo himself, and managed to solidify their position in the government as well. Examination of the entire process helped me understand the nature of these rituals, as well as the political machinations of the participants involved, in details.