The writer took a diachronic view of the process of wealth amassment and the method of division of property based on Uban Buan Kim’s family’s records of property inheritance and property-related documents that were produced between the 16th and 18...
The writer took a diachronic view of the process of wealth amassment and the method of division of property based on Uban Buan Kim’s family’s records of property inheritance and property-related documents that were produced between the 16th and 18th centuries.
In the 16th century, Uban Buan Kim’s family was followed by Kim Seokpil-Kim Gae-Kim Gyeongsun. Kim Seokpil is a figure who increased the price by passing the state examination in the early 16th century. He, at the same time, laid the foundation of the family fortune. His son, Kim Gae, built a tile-roofed house in Imsil, and also reclaimed about 100 islands by building up brick walls rivers nearby the wasteland. Kim Gyeongsun expanded its scale by purchasing and reclaiming the land nearby by building up brick walls in Yongdam, the upper region of the Guem River. Also, about 30 gyeol(結) of mud flats in Julpo, Buan were received and operated as a farmland and sea farm by building an embankment. In the 16th century, Uban Buan Kim’s family formed its property through reclamation.
During the Japanese Invasion of Korea in the 17th century, Kim Hongwon sent Uigok(義穀) to the King’s temporary quarters, and during the second invasion, he carried out active civilian army activities and entered into politics by successfully defeating the Japanese army in places including Sunchang and Suncheon. Kim Hongwon did not neglect his efforts to protect and increase his family’s property. After the Japanese Invasion, he actively attempted to restore the lost Imsil and Yongdam-hyeon farms, and purchased the large tracts of land in Uban-dong in 1634. At this time, he laid the foundation in Uban-dong for generations. The division of property was Namnyeopyeonggyunbunjep(男女平均分執)
Kim Myeongyeol and Kim Beon established the principle of division of property. According to the clan rules, the memorial service was performed by sons, and daughters who did not participate in the memorial service were given only 1/3 of the property for sons. In addition, the land in Uban-dong was inherited only to sons to promote the formation of lineage village. In other words, the wealth and memorial services were concentrated on sons. Meanwhile, the means of increasing property has been changed from reclamation to purchase.
After Kim Beon, the lineage of Uban Buan Kim’s family continued with the foster son Kim Sujong(Banggil)-Kim Deukmun-Kim Jeongha. Although the legitimacy of the family was maintained through this process, it caused the problem that the family’s property or personal connections were not fully conveyed to future generations. Kim Deukmun’s Uban-dong property that was divided by ancestors has been reassembled as he inherited the property from both his foster and biological fathers. Kim Jeongha is a descendent of Sajikgongpa. When he was ostracized by his relatives, his hometown moved to Ongjeong-ri. Later, his descendants experienced issues related to return of purchase as they moved back to Uban-dong.
At that time, the wealth inheritance was concentrated on the eldest son, and after Kim Jeongha, the method that the property was controlled by the eldest son had been confirmed.
Such the wealth amassment and division of property by Uban Buan Kim’s family could ascertain the fact that they made constant efforts to maintain their status and economic power of rural noble family. It is expected that such an analysis provides more access to the actual society of the day.