"(Translation) 純祖 1年 公奴婢制 革罷 綸音"의 두 판 사이의 차이

2020년 1월 5일 (일) 00:32 판

Primary Source
	Title
	English	King Sunjo’s Instruction on the Emancipation of the Public Slaves
	Chinese
	Korean(RR)
	Text Details
	Genre	Royal Documents
	Type	[[ ]]
	Author(s)	｢純祖實錄｣『朝鮮王朝實錄』2卷, 純祖 1年(1801) 1月 28日 乙巳 (淸嘉慶 6年)
	Year	1801
	Source
	Key Concepts
	Translation Info
	Translator(s)	Participants of 2017 Summer Hanmun Workshop (Advanced Translation Group)
	Editor(s)
	Year	2017

Introduction

King Sunjo's Instruction on the Emancipation of the Public Slaves is a royal instruction to emancipate all public slaves registered at the court. It was published on the twenty-eighth day of the first month of 1801, the first year of King Sunjo's reign (1800-1834). Although the instruction was in appearance made by King Sunjo's order, in reality it was the decision of Queen Dowager Jeongsun (1745-1805) who was then practically in power. The instruction cited moral justifications for emancipating public slaves. In truth, however, there were complex economic and political reasons behind the verdict. Economically, keeping public slaves at the court had dismal effects on the state finances since many of the slaves either ran away or could not pay their due tributes to the state. Politically, the young Sunjo was only twelve-years old when he ascended the throne and had no real control over the court factionalism. Under such circumstances, factional disputes that continued from the previous King Jeongjo's reign aggravated. The emancipation of public slaves in 1801 is sometimes construed as an indirect result of factionalism. The instruction was composed not by King Sunjo or by Queen Dowager Jeongsun but by Yun Haengim, then the Chancellor of Royal College of Literature (Daejaehak).

At the time King Jeongjo died (1800) and King Sunjo ascended the throne, antagonism between two cliques--Sipa and Byeokpa--was intensifying. Sipa was a loose group of members who had been sympathetic to King Jeongjo's bipartisanship and other policies. Byeokpa was more firmly rooted in the conservaative Noron faction and strongly opposed both Sipa and King Jeongjo's bipartisan measures. Some of Byeokpa's key members were from the Queen Dowager Jeongsun's native family. Naturally, Byeokpa met its momentum to power when King Jeongjo died and the young Sunjo necessitated Queen Dowager Jeongsun's regency. In the second month of 1801, only a month after the decision to emancipate public slaves was announced, with Queen Dowager's approval Byeokpa effected a purge of Sipa under the pretext of condemning Catholicism--since many of the Sipa members were sympathetic toward Catholic faith. Due to the catholic persecution of 1801 (Sinyu bakhae), many of the Sipa members and other Catholic believers were either exiled or executed. Famously, Jeong Yakyong's older brother Jeong Yakjong, a baptized Catholic, was executed; and Jeong Yaoyong was sent on an exile to Gangjin. Yun Haengim, who actually composed King Sunjo’s Instruction on the Emancipation of the Public Slaves, also fall victim to the purge. A Sipa member and friend of Jeong Yakyong, Yun Haengim was accused by Byeokpa of believing in Catholicism and exiled to Sinjido. Briefly his exile was lifted and he became the Governor of Jeollado, but he was put in exile again in Sinjido where he was beheaded.

Although Byeokpa was mostly opposed to King Jeongjo, who had wanted to abolish slavery but could not achieve it in his reign, ironically it was Byeokpa and Queen Dowager Jeongsun who implemented the emancipation of public slaves in 1801 following King Jeongjo's death. In order to solidify their political power, it would have been necessary for Byeokpa to drastically reform the mal-functioning slave system to increase state revenue and preempt social unrest. Furthermore, Jeong Yakyong, the stellar figure of practical learning (silhak) who was beloved by King Jeongjo, was resolutely opposed to abolishing slavery. On the contrary, Jeong Yakyong insisted on increasing the number of slaves to rectify social hierarchies based on the neo-Confucian ideals. But Jeong Yakyong may have been an anomaly since most other late-Joseon intellectuals who pursued practical learning were against slavery. It is unclear whether Yun Haengim, who wrote this document, was personally for or against the abolishment. As a person selected to draft the instruction, he may have been sympathetic to the cause; at the same time, as a friend of Jeong Yakyong and a member of Sipa, it is also possible that Yun Haengim personally did not espouse the abolition. In that case, Yun Haengim would have composed the instruction because he was the Chancellor of Royal College of Literature, whose duties included drafting King's edicts and instructions.

<Introduction summarized> “King Sunjo's (r. 1800-1834) Instruction on the Emancipation of the Public Slaves,” was promulgated at the royal command in 1/28/1801. Sunjo was no more than a twelve-year-old when he ascended the throne. As to why the Joseon court decided to emancipate the public slaves, some scholars argue that it was due to the financial burdens of the state to keep them; some others explain that it was the result of factional struggle at court between the conservative byeokpa and the reformist Sipa. It is notable that the royal instruction bears the composer’s name Yun Haengim, then the Chancellor of Royal College of Literature (Daejaehak). Yun Haengim was an iconic figure who rose to prominence during Jeongjo’s reign, and thus belonged to the Sipa faction. In the aftermath of King Jeongjo’s death in1800, the factional struggle between the two cliques, Sipa and Byeokpa, intensified. In the second month of 1801, only a month after the royal instruction to emancipate public slaves was promulgated, Byeokpa purged Sipa under the pretext of condemning Catholicism. Due to the catholic persecution of 1801 (Sinyu bakhae), many of the Sipa members and other Catholic believers were banished or executed. Jeong Yakyong's older brother Jeong Yakjong, a baptized Catholic, was executed; and Jeong Yaoyong was sent on an exile to Gangjin. Yun Haengim falls victim to the purge. A Sipa member and friend of Jeong Yakyong, Yun Haengim was accused of believing in Catholicism and exiled to Sinjido. His exile was briefly lifted, and he was appointed as the Governor of Jeollado; however, he was banished again to Sinjido where he was beheaded.<Jaeyoon Song>

Original Script

The foremost [policies of] food and money were for the purpose of nourishing the people. The minister of crime was in charge of prohibitions so as to preclude disorder. With these eight policies, [Kija] instructed the people of the east, however, ignorant and unwise, the people of the east only knew that [Kija's instructions were] the eight articles [Kija taught], but not the Eight Policies. Thieves were confiscated and enrolled as slaves [in the public register]; this is one of the Eight Articles. This, in general, is how the minister of crime came into being, and it forms the integral part with the Doctrine of the Mean, of the nine classics. 

Discussion Questions

Further Readings

References

1. ↑ James Legge's translation of the Doctrine of the Mean
2. ↑ The Sage Kija 箕子 is said to have left the Zhou Dynasty after the fall of Shang for the Korean peninsula to establish a new state. During the Chosŏn times it was generally believed that Kija brought (Confucian-) culture to the peninsula, and was venerated as such.
3. ↑ Kija composed the Great Plan to teach the fundamentals of statecraft to King Wu of the Zhou Dynasty ("the Great Plan 洪範", Shangshu 尙書 (Book of Documents)
4. ↑ The passages come from "Great Plan" 洪範 chapter in The Book of Documents 尚書. 斂時五福，用敷錫厥庶民。and 無虐煢獨而畏高明. The translation is based on James Legge translation "The Chinese Classics"
5. ↑ Yǒngjong was the original posthumous title of Yǒngjo before 1889.
6. ↑ Naesa ch’uswae 內司推刷 is a short from of Naesusa ch’uswaegwan 內需司推刷官 (Slave Investigator of the Royal Treasury). They were dispatched by Naesusa to seek escaped slaves and return them back to Naesusa.
7. ↑ 大倫 refers to the relationship between fathers and sons, spouses, monarch and his officials, and friends.
8. ↑ In the Joseon dynasty, if the slave escape, his neighbor will be implicated and asked to do the labour instead.
9. ↑ Hamyang is a county in Kyongsang Province.
10. ↑ The Border Defense Council has become the supreme administrative organ since the Japanese invasions (1592-98) in mid-Chosŏn.
11. ↑ It refers to the tax reduction by King Sukchong and King Yŏngjo mentioned earlier.
12. ↑ Literally, feathers and flutes, which in the ancient times were attributes of the musicians at the ceremonial rites and banquets at the court.
13. ↑ Literally, carriage and garments, stood for the image of a nobleman riding on a carriage.
14. ↑ With the help of the ministers who aided the governing.
15. ↑ Donhwa-mun 敦化門 is one of the gates in the royal palace Chandok-kun in Seoul.
16. ↑ 壯勇營 was a system of military service, first founded in the eight year of King Cheonjo's reign (1784)

Translation

Instructor : Jaeyoon Song

Student 1 : (Jinsook You)

予方讀中庸矣。 凡爲天下國家, 有九經, 第六曰: ‘子庶民也。’ 朱夫子釋之曰: ‘視百姓猶吾子,’ 予未始不掩卷而歎也。 子之事父也, 哀苦而必赴焉, 父之育子也, 疾病而必救焉。君民之間, 眷顧蘄向之切, 亦猶父子云爾。 I have read the Document of Mean and it reads: “All who have the government of the kingdom with its states and families have nine standard rules to follow. (omitted)1) The sixth is 'Treat your people as your children.’” Zhu zi’s exposition goes like this: Whenever I close the Book, I cannot help but exclaim, “When children serve their father, they should obey their father, whatever sacrifice it might require. When fathers raise their children, they should come to the rescue of their ailing or crippled children, however painful it might be. As for the relationship between the king and his subjects, they should take care of each other's expectations and wishes with sincerity just as sons and fathers do.”

1) Since it is a direct quotation from the Document of Mean and from the King skips to the sixth standard, I put parentheses here to indicate the omission from the first to fifth.

Student 2 : Martin

我國內寺各衙門之有奴婢, 傳之者, 以爲始於箕子, 予則曰不然也。 箕子於東國, 設敎八條, 意八條者, 洪範之八政也。

In our country all court and public offices have slaves. According to tradition, it is considered that this started with Kija. I say that it is not like this. When Kija came to the East(ern Country)#1 , he established eight articles of instruction. The intention of the eight articles is the eight policies of the Great Plan#2.

食貨爲首, 所以養生也, 司寇掌禁, 所以戢亂也。以八政敎東民, 東民蚩蚩, 只知爲八條, 不知爲八政, 而盜者沒入爲奴婢, 卽八條之一也。 此蓋司寇之法所由來者, 與《中庸》九經, 相表裏也。

Food and basic commodities are primary, this means to nourish the lives. The minister of crime is in charge of prohibitions, this means to stop chaos. Using these eight policies to educate the people of the east, but the people of the east were ignorant and only knew this as the eight articles, but not as the eight policies. Thieves are to be divested and registered to become slaves; this is one of the eight articles. The upholding of these laws of punishment for the future with the Doctrine of the Mean, of the nine classics, together form the outer and inner.

1. Referencing the Sage Kija 箕子 who is said to have left the Zhou-Dynasty after the fall of Shang for the Korean peninsula to establish a new state. During Chosŏn times Kija was usually considered to have brought (Confucian-) culture to the peninsula and was venerated as an ancestor.

2. As written in the Shangshu 尙書 (Book of Documents) Kija proposed ideas of statecraft to King Wu of the Zhou-Dynasty summarized as the Great Plan 洪範

Edited by SJY:

我國內寺各衙門之有奴婢, 傳之者, 以爲始於箕子, 予則曰不然也。 箕子於東國, 設敎八條, 意八條者, 洪範之八政也。

The royal court and public offices in our country have slaves. According to tradition, it is considered that this originated with Kija. I say that it is not true. When Kija came to the East(ern Country)#1 , he established the eight articles of instruction. The eight articles mean the eight policies of the Great Plan#2.

食貨爲首, 所以養生也, 司寇掌禁, 所以戢亂也。以八政敎東民, 東民蚩蚩, 只知爲八條, 不知爲八政, 而盜者沒入爲奴婢, 卽八條之一也。 此蓋司寇之法所由來者, 與《中庸》九經, 相表裏也。

With [the policies of] food and money are as primary, [the Eight Policies] are the means of nourishing and let live the people. The minister of crime was in charge of prohibitions so as to preclude disorder. With these eight policies, [Kija] instructed the people of the east, however, ignorant as they were, the people of the east only knew that [Kija's instructions were] the eight articles [Kija taught], but not the Eight Policies. Thieves were confiscated and enrolled as slaves [in the public register]; this is one of the Eight Articles. This, in general, is how the minister of crime came into being, and it forms the integral part with the Doctrine of the Mean, of the nine classics.

1. The Sage Kija 箕子 is said to have left the Zhou Dynasty after the fall of Shang for the Korean peninsula to establish a new state. During Chosŏn times Kija was usually considered to have brought (Confucian-) culture to the peninsula and was venerated as an ancestor.

2. Kija composed the Great Plan to teach the fundamentals of statecraft to King Wu of the Zhou Dynasty ("the Great Plan 洪範", Shangshu 尙書 (Book of Documents))

Student 3 : (Zhijun Ren)

若如近世所謂奴婢之制, 官之責之也至苛, 人之待之也至賤, 別其族黨, 殊其井疆, 至老死不能嫁娶, 則其政也叔季耳。 曾謂箕子之聖而爲是乎哉? 予則聞, 箕子之言曰: ‘斂時五福, 用敷錫厥庶民,’ 又曰: ‘無虐甇獨,’ 又曰: ‘作民父母, 爲天下王。"

As to the so-called institution of male and female slaves, the government extracts from them harshly and severely, people treat them in demeaning and derogatory ways. Discriminate their clan and group, separate their place (where they could stay), they are not allowed to marry even till their days of old age and death, this is the policy of a declining age. Some may wonder, how could a sage like Kija do this? I have heard, Kija’s words state that: “(the king) concentrates in his own person the five (sources of) happiness, and proceeds to diffuse them, and give them to the multitudes of the people. ” Kija also said: “Do not oppress and mistreat the friendless and childless ” and “to be the parents of the populace, to be the king of all under heaven.”1

1. 《周书·洪范》“皇极：皇建其有极。敛时五福，用敷锡厥庶民。惟时厥庶民于汝极。锡汝保极：凡厥庶民，无有淫朋，人无有比德，惟皇作极。凡厥庶民，有猷有为有守，汝则念之。不协于极，不罹于咎，皇则受之。而康而色，曰：‘予攸好德。’汝则锡之福。时人斯其惟皇之极。无虐茕独而畏高明，人之有能有为，使羞其行，而邦其昌。凡厥正人，既富方谷，汝弗能使有好于而家，时人斯其辜。于其无好德，汝虽锡之福，其作汝用咎。无偏无陂，遵王之义；无有作好，遵王之道；无有作恶，尊王之路。无偏无党，王道荡荡；无党无偏，王道平平；无反无侧，王道正直。会其有极，归其有极。曰：皇，极之敷言，是彝是训，于帝其训，凡厥庶民，极之敷言，是训是行，以近天子之光。曰：天子作民父母，以为天下王。”

Student 4 : (King Kwong Wong)

予以是益知奴婢之制, 不自箕子始也。 恭惟我肅宗大王, 爲衆慼詢于庭, 減奴貢之半, 婢貢三之一, 我英宗大王, 爰稽有衆, 除婢貢, 又減奴貢之半。而內司推刷之弊, 固自如焉, 鍼其膚以輸其實, 磨其乳以驗其字, 閭里騷然, 雞犬爲之不寧。

For this reason, I know more about the institution of slavery: it was not originated from Kija. The reverent great king of Sukchong felt sorrowfully for his people and consulted his court. He reduced the tribute of male slaves by half and that of female slaves by one-third. As for the great king of Yǒngjong^[1], his reform policies amounted to many. He abolished the tribute of male slaves and again reduced the tribute of female slaves one-third. But for the evil of Naesa ch’uswae^[2], it remained unchanged: female slaves are interrogated by stabbing needles into their skins, and their breasts are rubbed to examine their pregnancy. This caused turbulence among villagers, and for this hens and dogs are not at peace.

1. ↑ Yǒngjong was the original posthumous title of Yǒngjo before 1889.
2. ↑ Naesa ch’uswae 內司推刷 is the contraction of Naesusa ch’uswaegwan 內需司推刷官 (Slave Investigator of the Royal Treasury). They were dispatched by Naesusa to seek escaped slaves and return them back to Naesusa.(?)

Student 5 : (Hu Jing)

於是, 有萬其命, 罔奠厥居, 夫別妻母別子, 叩膺抆血, 相顧錯愕, 不忍遽決。 往往投之空門, 自絶大倫, 其女子皓顚編髮, 流乞于市。官吏日踵門索錢, 鞭之扑之, 其喝如虎, 冒點則費一牛之直, 侵隣則刮百家之産, 行路寒心, 至於隕涕

As a consequence, the multitude can neither find place to reside nor be in harmony with their condition. Spouses are torn apart, and mothers and children get separated. People beat their breasts in a deep lamentaion, looking at each other astonishedly and loth to part (from their families) in haste. Consequently, the people fade back into Buddhism in an endless stream, alienating themselve from the human relations.^[1] Females braid their white hair (shabbily) wandering and begging around the marketplace. （It is more abhorret that）the bureaucrats call at slaves' places to extort money every day, by lashing and whipping them, and scolding at them like a tigher. Should the slaves work recklessly, they will be asked to pay a cattle (as punishment); moreover, the bureaucrats encroach on the slave's neighbor^[2] and plunder properties from hundreds of families. People who pass by (and see this) feel so pathetic that (all of them) shed tears.

1. ↑ 大倫 refers to the relationship between fathers and sons, spouses, monarch and his officials, and friends.
2. ↑ In the Joseon dynasty, if the slave escape, his neighbor will be implicated and asked to labour instead.

Student 6 : (Kanghun Ahn)

唉! 彼無告, 獨何辜也? 及我先朝, 渙發德音, 特罷推刷命下之日, 老幼皷舞, 鴻渥闓澤, 薄于窮海。 及至十有四年, 嶺南御史, 有言: ‘內司之奴負骸, 而訴於咸陽郡者。 聖心惻然以驚, 亟焚其籍, 徧問諸道方伯, 十行恩言, 七更其端, 精誠貫金石, 孚感及豚魚。

"Alas! Why should those innocent people be treated as guilty, solely because they have nowhere to appeal?" Hence, the sound of virtue (royal words) resonated all across the country at the time of my predecessor.1) Indeed, old and young people danced together with drums out of delight, when the order was given to the people, through which the law of chasing after evaded slaves was abolished. Such enormous grace even spread out to poor and isolated villages. However, Yongnam officials said in the 14th year (1790): "There is a slave of an inner-official, who carried a skeleton of a body, and appealed to the magistrate of Hamyang."2) His highness found it pathetic and astounding, and hence ordered the (related) documents to be burned. Also, he reached out to the chief-magistrates of the provinces, bestowed upon them ten lines of gracious words, and endeavored to rectify the problems seven times in total. In this regard, his sincerity was powerful enough to penetrate metal and stones, and his earnest grace even extended to pigs and fish.

1) This refers to King Chongjo (reign: 1776-1800).

2) Hamyang is a county in Kyongsang Province.

Student 7 : (Jong Woo Park)

7. 道狀、籌啓, 紛然堆積於左右, 宸憂憧憧, 惟日夕愀乎恤乎, 當食則停筯而不進, 當寢則繞榻而不寢。筵諭庭誥, 反覆丁寧, 而有司之臣, 不能對揚休命, 雖一二減額, 寔非我先朝博施之盛意也。 Even though reports sent from the provisional governors and the Border Defense Council (Pibyŏnsa)^[1] were piled up here and there, the royal worries were intensified. The king grieved for it all day long. When eating, the king's spoon stopped and did not proceed into his mouth. When night came, the king paced around the bedroom but could not go to sleep. During the royal lecture (kyŏngyŏn), the king made proclamations. At the court, the king issued instructions. He did this sincerely and repeatedly. However, the officials in charge were unable to carry out the royal decree as the king intended. Although the amount of burden [that slaves had to carry] has been alleviated,^[2] it is not that the previous kings’ great intention was fully executed.

1. ↑ The Border Defense Council has become the supreme administrative organ since the Japanese invasions (1592-98) in mid-Chosŏn.
2. ↑ It refers to the tax reduction by King Sukchong and King Yŏngjo mentioned earlier.

Student 8 : (Masha)

8. 記昔先朝之訓曰: ‘羽籥不設而民驩之, 軒裳不加而民懷之者, 陰陽以統其精氣, 仁義以經其事業也。 故御和羹以平其神, 聽和聲以平其志, 納和言以平其政, 履和行以平其德。 今者民以奴婢名, 而冤鬱上干天和, 風雨不節, 禾麥不登, 予用玆疚心, 心不得和。 和予心者, 其在乎奴婢之革也。"

According to the instructions of my predecessor,1 which said: "People were delighted when the court music was not set up,2 and the people missed [the time] when the numbers of distinguished people3 were not growing. Yin and Yang united the vital energies and benevolence and righteousness weaved the enterprise. Therefore, [the king] administers with a well-balanced soup4 to equalize the spirits, follows harmonious sounds to equalize the intentions, takes harmonious words to equalize the policy, and treads on harmonious paths to equalize the virtue. Nowadays, people are called by the names of no (male slave) and bi (female slave), and their disgruntled minds reached the harmonious heaven above. Wind and rain are out of control, rice and wheat do not sprout. With this sense of shame my mind cannot be at peace. In order to put my mind at peace, I cared about changes in nobi [situation]."

1. King Jeongjo

2. Literally, feathers and flutes, which in the ancient times were attributes of the musicians at the ceremonial rites and banquets at the court.

3. Literally, carriage and garments, stood for the image of a nobleman riding on a carriage.

4. With the help of the ministers who aided the governing?

Student 9 : (Kim Young)

9. 此廷臣之所承聞而贊頌之者也。 今予踐位行禮, 思慕號呼, 念堂構之丕責, 鞏磐泰之洪基, 卽惟曰繼其志也, 述其事也, 繼志述事, 莫有先於奴婢之制。 且況王者莅民, 無貴賤無內外, 均是赤子, 曰奴曰婢, 區而分之, 豈一視同胞之義也?

This was what the officials at the court heard and praised [about my predecessor]. Now as I succeed the throne and conduct the rites, thinking [of my predecessor] and crying out [for him], I must remember the great responsibility of [continuing] his glorious tasks, and solidify the grand enterprise as firmly as a boulder and Mount Tai. Only then could I speak of succeeding my predecessor's will and carrying out his work. In succeeding his will and carrying out his work, nothing could come before [the abolishing of] slavery. What is more, when a king attends to his people, there is no high and low, inner and outer, all are his children. To speak of slaves, to classify them and discriminate among them, how could it be the meaning of seeing them equally as brothers and sisters?

Student 10 : (Irina)

內奴婢三萬六千九百七十四、寺奴婢二萬九千九十三, 幷許爲良民.

36 974 of public slaves, 29 093 of private slaves, I gave them all a freedom.

仍令承政院, 聚奴婢案, 火之敦化門外.

All the slave registers from the Ministries of Personnel, I have burned in front of gate Donhwa-mun (1).

其貢有需於經費者, 命壯勇營代給以爲式。

??? The funds of slavery I substituted with military force. ??? (2)

於戲! 予豈敢曰惠之云乎哉?

Ah! Will I be able to say that I have done something generous?

特先朝未卒之志事, 修而明之耳。

The great enterprises the deceased King has undertaken, will be accomplished in the future.

(1) Donhwa-mun 敦化門|돈화문 is one of the gates in the royal palace Chandok-kun in Seoul.

(2) 壯勇營|장용영 was a system of military service, first founded in the eight year of King Cheonjo's reign (1784). ...

Student 11 : (Dohee jeong)

自玆以往, 維千萬年, 安其田廬, From now on, It will succeed during ten million years and then there will be made peaceful the house and the farm.

守其墳墓, The people would keep tomb.

婚姻以時, The people will marry at a well timed.

生齒日息, 稼穡不愆, The people have not a bad harvest in their daily life.

嬉遊謳歌 So they pleasurably sing and play

用副予體先朝子視之苦心。 Come up to my expectations, which I model the late king who desire to intend the slave like son.

【大提學尹行恁製。】 【written by Haengim Yoon in first academician】

Student 12 : (Write your name)

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