18세기 조선의 ‘황조인(皇朝人)’ 정책과 창원(昌原) 공씨(孔氏)에서 곡부(曲阜) 공씨로의 정체성 변화

Abstract

Examined in this article is a state-wide policy of the Joseon government regarding the “Hwangjo-in figures” (‘People from the Empire who naturalized as Joseon citizens’) that was actively promoted in 18th century Korea. The specific issue examined here is how the Joseon society perceived the Gong house members(孔氏) in each period, how it treated them, how the Gong figures came to regard themselves in response to the Joseon society’s such treatment of them, and how their identity changed accordingly.BR Till the mid-17th century, it was not the Joseon society’s general perception to view figures with the last name Gong(孔) living on the Korean peninsula as descendants of the ancient Chinese sage Confucius himself. Even the Gong community never showed a consensus in either way, supporting or denying such perception to begin with. Later on, however, such perception began to be reflected in certain genealogy records and then further spread throughout the Joseon society. Even the Joseon government began to accept this newborn social belief during the reign of Sukjong, and provided benefits (for example, to be exempted from state duties) to the Gong figures, under the name of respecting their status as ‘Descendants of the Grand Sage(大聖後裔).’ BR But the Gong figures were yet to receive full recognition as Confucius’ descendants, until the reign of King Jeongjo. Regarding several efforts of certain ‘Chinese-in-Joseon’ figures to secure proofs -such as genealogical records or pictures- from Qing, the Joseon government actively supported them if they were made by original Ming citizens who had earlier come to Joseon and got naturalized (who could also be called as Hwangjo-in a narrower sense). On the other hand, regarding similar efforts made by the Gong figures, the Joseon government sometimes acted in a completely opposite manner. Then in 1792, 16th year of King Jeongjo’s reign, the Gong figures in Joseon were officially designated as ‘Descendants of Confucius’ (and as Hwangjo-in in literally a broader sense), and their official home region(‘Gwan-hyang, 貫鄕’) was changed from Chang’weon to Gokbu. Commemoration projects were initiated while the government changed its previous stance of being uncooperative to totally supporting the import of relevant materials from Qing. This sort of turnaround also heavily affected the Gong figures in Joseon, who finally came to perceive themselves as members of the Gokbu Gong House. Such new perceptions were also reflected in the Gong House genealogy records published in this period.