In this dissertation, the nature of the so-called Gyeonggi system, which was established and operated based upon the fact that the Gaegyeong area was the Capital city of the Goryeo dynasty, is examined through the ruling mechanism and other features e...
In this dissertation, the nature of the so-called Gyeonggi system, which was established and operated based upon the fact that the Gaegyeong area was the Capital city of the Goryeo dynasty, is examined through the ruling mechanism and other features exhibited inside the Gaeseong-bu/開城府 unit.
The domain of the Goryeo dynasty was in spacial terms composed of both the Central and other local areas, and the Central was composed of the Capital Gaegyeong/開京 and the Gyeonggi/京畿 area surrounding it. The latter was designed and established to provide protection for the Capital, and also to supplement the main functions of the Capital city.
The establishment of this so-called Gyeonggi area dates back to the old and similar practice displayed by the Chinese, which divided the Chinese domain into both the Central and local areas, and designated the central area as the Wanggi/王畿 area that was also placed under direct control of the Emperor(天子). The realm personally overseen by the Emperor was labelled as the Central, and the realms ruled by the Jaehu/諸侯 governors were labelled as local areas, and the Central and the local areas displayed a superior-inferior relationship just like the Emperor and the governors did. Later, this Wanggi-jae/王畿制 system was transformed into a more detailed 'Ruling system of the Gyeonggi area(京畿統治制=Gyeonggi-jae/京畿制)', during the Dang/唐 dynasty period.
The ancient dynasties of Korea also embraced this Chinese Wanggi-jae system, and utilized it to enhance the royal image and ruling authority of the Kings.
The Capital Gaegyeong of Goryeo and the adjacent areas, constituted the basis and stronghold of the dynasty. Inheriting the age-old tradition of previous dynasties, the Goryeo government established the Gaegyeong area as the Wanggi place as well.
King Seongjong/成宗, in order to establish a ruling system with the King at the ultimate center, the mechanism of ruling was modified and renovated by using the Dang dynasty model. In doing so, Seongjong designated the Gaegyeong area as the Jeokgi/赤畿 section, and authorized Gaeseong-bu/開城府 to supervise the ruling of the area(the Jeokgi-jae/赤畿制 system).
The Jeokgi-jae system that was initiated during the reign of King Seongjong marked the substantial beginning of the Goryeo dynasty's Gyeonggi-jae system, as by the initiation of this system, both the entity to oversee the Gyeonggi area(Gaeseong-bu) and the objects to be overseen and supervised by it(the thirteen Hyeon〔13縣〕 units) were all established.
During the reign of King Hyeonjong/顯宗, the Naseong/羅城 walls were erected around Gaegyeong, and the region was divided into the Capital(京城〔都城〕) and the Gyeonggi/京畿 area. Yet throughout the Goryeo dynasty period, the Gyeonggi area was always regarded as the special place in the Royal capital(王都), and was considered as part of the Central and not the local regions. We can gain understanding of such perspective also by witnessing the fact that Gaeseong-bu was resurrected during the reign of King Munjong/文宗, in order to oversee the ruling of the Gyeonggi region.
Until the Goryeo government was forced to abandon Gaegyeong and move the capital to the Ganghwa-do island due to the Mongol invasion, Gyeonggi was ruled and overseen by Gaeseong-bu. The management of the 13 Hyeon units of Gyeonggi, which served as the posterior area of Gaegyeong, was the jurisdiction of Gaeseong-bu. Such status of Gaeseong-bu was mirrored in the governmental hierarchy system as well. Because Gaeseong-bu was in charge of the very Capital of the dynasty and also of the adjacent areas, it would not be appropriate to consider it as just another ordinary local administrative unit. The Gyeonggi-jae system did serve as the financial basis of the Yangban/兩班 figures, yet the system was not devised solely to serve that purpose alone. The theory of the 'Grand Gyeonggi system(大京畿制)', which has been arguing that the realm of Gyeonggi was widened during King Munjong's reign, should be reevaluated.
The Gyeonggi-jae system of Goryeo was restored after the government returned to Gaegyeong, and before the Gyeonggi area was enlarged to facilitate the reform aiming toward the Gwajeon-beob/科田法 land-distribution practice and began to be operated as part of the Do-jae/道制 system during the ending days of the Goryeo dynasty, the basic structure was maintained. The 'New Gyeonggi(新京畿)' established at the end of the Goryeo dynasty was not an extension of the Goryeo dynasty's Gyeonggi-jae system. It was the beginning of the Joseon dynasty's new Gyeonggi-jae system devised by the founders of the new dynasty.