The Hanyang’ s Establishment and Urban Structure in early Chosun Dynasty

Abstract

There were four phases in the process of Hanyang’ s establishment as the capital of Chosun.<BR> The debate on transfer of the capital to Namkyung, in late Koryo period, has its grounds on Feng-Shui theory, which asserted that the force of Kaekyung has diminished.<BR> The transfer of capital to Hanyang, which was decided immediately after King Taejo has succeeded the throne, was influenced by such view of Feng-Shui on capital of nations.<BR> However, in 1934 (King Taejo yr3), when the transfer was made, the influence of Feng-Shui has fallen, and the justifications were altered to economic rationality such as convenience of tax transportation, etc.<BR> In King Taejo period, palaces, shrines, and altars of earth and grain were constructed in Hanyang under the capital establishment theory of 『Joorye 周禮』.<BR> The width of roads were sufficient to allow 9 wagons to pass at once, suitable as the capital of the emperor. Also, the ritual altar of the king, Wongu-Dan, was built. The model of Hanyang construction was Kaekyung, the imperial metropolis of Koryo.<BR> King Jeongjong has moved the capital from Hanyang to Kaekyung, and after the second Disturbance of the Princes, King Tae-Jong has ruled the nation under a duplex capital system, designating two capitals of Kaekyung and Hanyang. The king and the bureaucracy resided in Kaekyung, but the symbolic facilities of the nation, such as the shrine and altars were located in Hanyang,<BR> In 1405 (King Taejong yr5) Taejong has decided return to Hanyang. The most influential factor in decision was not Feng-Shui, but the economic rationality based on Confucian ideology. King Taejong, upon transfer of the capital, has additionally constructed the city facilities King Taejo could not complete, such as Changdeok Palace, Servant Quarters.<BR> The facilities constructed in this period have followed the standard of feudal lord, not that of an emperor. Still, King Taejong has not modified Hanyang, which was established in King Taejo period. Taejong’ s Hanyang was in a transitional period, where an empirical capital taking its looks after Kaekyung was being transferred to the city of a feudal lord.<BR> In King Sejong period, the Confucian theory was solidified as the national ideology, and accordingly the phase of Hanyang was readjusted following the Confucian reputation. The road widths were adjusted to comply with lords’ standard, and the rituals to heaven were abolished.<BR> The Improvement of Hanyang in King Sejong period was a transition process. from a national capital to a city of the feudal lord in the Chinese system.<BR> The residents of Hanyang were exempted from land tax, drafted labor, and military service. Only housing tax and labor tax were imposed. The fact of Hanyang residents holding these advantages over rural residents shows that the theory of connection, between difference in social status and difference in spatial difference, was being realized by the governing method of Hanyang.