금석문으로 본 고려후기 어대제의 변화

Abstract

This research aims to scrutinize the changes and its meanings of the Eo’dae(魚袋; ch. Yutai) system of the Late Goryeo Dynasty. Eo’dae(魚袋) was a square leather purse which contained an insignia of a fish shaped in two parts made of copper, silver, gold or jade, according to the rank of the wearer. Originally it was a mark that identified the officers and granted them passage to the imperial palace. The role of the purse had changed during the Tang dynasty, in the reign of Xuanxong(玄宗:685～762). It appears that Xuanxong provided yutais and officer uniforms to those who distinguished themselves in working for the Emperor. Analysis of the appointment certificates of the Tang period reveals that an official under the Rank 4 of the Literati prestige title("Mun"san-gye, 文散階") was attached with the special title "Granted purple-gold yutai"("Sa-Ja"geum-Eo’dae, 賜紫金魚袋"), and officials under Rank 6 was with the title "Granted the red-silver yutai"("Sa-Bi"eun-Eo"dae, 賜緋銀魚袋"). Also, the yutai system seemingly served a role similar to that of the Haeng"shu system(行守制), in order to achieve a balance between the grade of the posts(“Gwan"jik, 官職") and the grade of the ranks(“Gwan"gye, 官階"). Unified Shilla, Japan during the Ritsuryo state(律令國家) period, and Sung(宋) China, all adopted this system. Goryeo accepted the Eo’dae system from Unified Silla during King Taejo’s reign(太祖: 877∼943), and was under the influence of Sung China as well. The Eo’dae system was applied exclusively to the literati officials, but after the military coup in 1170 military officers were provided with Eo’dae as well. The Mongol Empire didn"t use this system, and expressions related to Eo’dae do not appear that much in the 13th and 14th centuries. King Chung"ryeol-wang changed the Mun"san-gye system and rectified the problems of the early days system, which had shown a rather huge discrepancy between the grade of the posts and grade of the ranks. The Haeng"shu system operated well, but the Eo’dae system lost its role gradually in the nine rank system. Ming(明) China demanded Joseon that it accept the official uniform code as the sovereign Princely State. Joseon could not use purple color anymore, and the Eo’dae system was vanished.