조선전기 국왕 국장(國葬)에서 명(明) 사신의 의례설행과 그 공간 = Ming emissaries’ observation of Condolence -related Protocols for Dynastic Funerals of the Joseon Kings, and where they observed them

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

Before announcing itself as the Daehan Empire in 1897, Joseon had been situated in a Sino-centric order, as part of the Chinese periphery and also as a subordinate lord state to the majestic empire which China was at the time. In order to maintain that kind of relationship, whenever a Joseon king died and a new king was to be enthroned, Joseon was obliged to notify the Chinese government and seek approval for the entire process.
The emissary Joseon dispatched to China for this very purpose was called ‘Gobu-sa(告訃使, emissary to inform the death of the king).’ This envoy officially informed the Chinese government the death of the Joseon king, asked the Chinese Emperor to bestow a posthumous title for that former leader, as well as approve the enthronement of the new one. The leadership of the Gobu-sa delegation was composed of three main figures(Samsa, 三使): Head delegate(Jeongsa, 正使 or Sangsa, 上使), Vice delegate(Busa, 副使), and Associate delegate(Seojang-gwan, 書壯官). After completing their mission in China, they would return to Joseon with the Ming delegation dispatched by the Chinese emperor.
The protocols the members of this Ming delegation observed in Joseon were specified in the Funeral Protocols (Hyung’rye, 凶禮) section inside the Dynastic Code, such as Yeong-Sashije-geub-Jobu’eui(迎賜諡祭及弔賻儀, Protocols to Greet the Chinese Emissary who is coming to bestow posthumous title, a funeral, and also provide condolence), Sabu-eui(賜賻儀, Providing Condolence Protocols), Sashi-eui(賜諡儀, Bestowing Posthumous Title Protocols), and Saje-eui(賜祭儀, Bestowing a Funeral Ceremony Protocols), etc.
The first one, Yeong-Sashije-geub-Jobu’eui, dictated that either the Provisional Leader in Charge(Gweonseo Guksa-ja, 權署國事者, the successor to the deceased king, before China’s approval) or the King(after being approved by China) would go to the Mohwa-gwan(慕華館) Hall, greet the Chinese condolence delegation and escort(or accompany) them to the Taepyeong-gwan (太平館) Hall which would serve as their staying residence, and then receive the Posthumous title order(Go’myeong, 誥命), Imperial Eulogy[祭文], and condolence materials[賻物] with respect.
The other three protocols were also important. Sabu-eui was the ritual in which the Ming delegate would hand over the condolence material sent from the Ming Emperor to the new Joseon king, and this protocol was observed in the Geunjeong-jeon Hall of the Gyeongbok-gung palace. Sashi-eui was the ritual in which the Ming Emperor would provide an order containing the posthumous title for the deceased king, while Saje-eui was the ritual for the Joseon king and officials when they received the Imperial Eulogy given from the Ming Emperor. The last two protocols were observed in the Honjeon(魂殿) Chamber of the dead king, as the true recipient was not the new king but the deceased one.
It should be noted that Joseon dynastic codes do not contain protocols designed for the newly enthroned king. The rite for the new king’s enthronement was performed when the Joseon king would announce the Ming edict approving the new king as the ‘Joseon King’ at the Gyeongbok-gung palace’s Geunjeong-jeon hall, on his way to Taepyeong-gwan to observe the Yeong-Sashije-geub-Jobu’eui protocol.