This study analyzes the trends of Jeong-Pyo(旌表) and the actual petition cases of Jeong-pyo in the Yeungnam area during the late Joseon Dynasty. During the latter part of Joseon, Jeong-pyo was implemented with various intentions in addition to the ...
This study analyzes the trends of Jeong-Pyo(旌表) and the actual petition cases of Jeong-pyo in the Yeungnam area during the late Joseon Dynasty. During the latter part of Joseon, Jeong-pyo was implemented with various intentions in addition to the intention of spreading the basic virtues of Neo-Confucianism, the Three Human Bonds(三綱) (loyalty, filial duty, and chastity).
During the reign of King Injo, Chunghyodeungrok(忠孝謄錄), which mainly recorded rewards for those who died in Byeongjahoran, was first published. During the reign of King Hyojong, Hyohaengdeungjedeungrok(孝行等第謄錄) was made based on the list of Jeong-pyo people to promote post-war restoration efforts and correct the fallen Gangsang ethics. During the reign of King Jeongjo, Chunghyoyeoldeungjedeungrok(忠孝烈等第謄錄) was also written.
Based on these Deungrok books, the researcher identified 1,048 Jeong-pyo people in 71 eups(邑) in the Yeungnam area between King Hyojong and King Cheoljong during the late Joseon Dynasy. These books were then further analyzed in the field to figure out the characteristics of Jeong-pyo, which are as follows:
First, there were increases and decreases to the number of Jeong-pyo people in the Yeungnam area according to the political situation and aspect of the times. During the reign of King Hyeonjong, descendents started to send more messages related to Jeong-pyo directly to the king, which caused the number of Jeong-pyo to increase. The reign of King Sukjong saw the biggest number of Jeong-pyo people due to frequent rewards from the royal court and frequent cases of Jeong-pyo based on the Pyeldan(別單) of secret royal emissaries and petitions from descendents and local Confucian scholars. During the reign of King Jeongjo, a policy was implemented to reduce the negative effects of the rapidly growing Jeong-pyo by reducing the number of Jeong-pyo people a little bit. In the 19th century, Jeong-pyo rewards were increased to calm the social and economic confusion. During the reign of King Gojong, Charity Monuments(旌閭) were used as a means of supplementing the national treasury.
Second, there were huge differences by area even though all Guns and Hyeons(郡縣) received Jeong-pyo across Yeungnam during the latter part of Joseon. The percentage of Jeong-pyo people tended to be high in Andong, Gyeongju, Daegu, and Sangju because they had as big a population as Gyesugwan(界首官) or provincial office location. The number of Jeong-pyo people was small in Sacheon, Namhae, and Jinbo where the population was relatively small.
Third, Yeungnam produced the most Jeong-pyo people based on filial duties in late Joseon with its Jeong-pyo people at 654, 347, and 23 based on filial duties, chastity, and loyalty, respectively. There were many Jeong-pyo people based on loyalty during the reigns of Kings Jeongjo and Sunjo. The government rewarded loyal subjects even from the former part of Joseon and carried out an active reward policy including Bulcheonwi(不遷位) for loyal subjects, thus witnessing a rising number of loyal subjects. The Jeong-pyo cases based on filial duties recorded the biggest number in most periods, but those based on chastity outnumber those based on filial duties during the reign of King Jeongjo since there were no big differences between them. It is because more women chose to kill themselves to protect their chastity in the dominant atmosphere of forcing chastity on women toward the end of Joseon.
Finally, only 217 of Jeong-pyo people in the Yeungnam area came from the common class or lowest class of people. The number of Jeong-pyo people from the common class or lowest class of people was the biggest during the reign of King Yeongjo when rewards were given without any discrimination against those classes. In the 19th century, the number made a sharp drop due to changes in the social status system.
Based on these characteristics, the study examined the developmental patterns of Jeong-pyo petitions in late Joseon by analyzing such cases in Sajok families in the Yeungnam area in old documents and records(實記). The Sajok of Yeungnam had a difficult time entering the political world after the uprising of military subjects and used a Jeong-pyo petition as part of their clan activities to maintain their vested rights in the rural community and gain fame as a family.
The Pungyang Jo pedigree of Sangju submitted 13 Jeong-pyo petitions for Jo Dae-yun over approximately 80 years. The Dalseong Seo pedigree of Daegu submitted 21 Jeong-pyo petitions for Seo Myeong-bo over approximately 50 years. The number of participants and the scope of participating Guns and Hyeons gradually broadened over petitions. The families and figures participating in the letters(上書) usually had close school, blood, and regional ties with the concerned family.
The outcome was different for each family. The Jo Dae-yun case failed to receive rewards, but the Seo Myeong-bo cases succeeded in obtaining Jeong-pyo. There were clear differences between them in residence and partisan coloring as well as achievements. Under the Noron regime, the Jo Dae-yun family belonged to the Namin line while the Seo Myeong-bo family had bonds with the Noron line. The latter would have more easily received cooperation from the ruling power that discussed approval for a Jeong-pyo petition at the final stage.
The petition activities of Jeong-pyo were the products of endless efforts to solidify their power in the rural community and guard their families. A family would put enormous effort into getting Jeong-pyo over the long run, which means that Jeong-pyo held huge significance. In the rural community, the exaggerated practice of filial duties and chastity became an object of administration, and families tried to raise their status by being recognized as a family of filial duties and chastity by the government.
During the latter part of Joseon, Jeong-pyo declined as a means of gaining fame and showing off as a family instead of its original intention of promoting the Neo-Confucian ideas. This made a huge contribution to the rapid growth of Jeong-pyo during the late Joseon Dynasty.