동학농민전쟁과 고창 = A Study on the Donghak Peasants War in Gochang

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

In order to assess a historical event as precisely as possible, it would be necessary not only to explore the timing when it occurred but also to determine the characters of the region where it happened, since the time as well as space in its environment and background might be essential factors in comprehending the aspects of a historical event. As part of this approach, it is intended to carry out here a study on the war of the peasants in Gochang who were devoted to Donghak, a religious doctrine originated by Choi Je-Woo in the late Chosun Kingdom. Gochang was the center of the Donghak peasants war.
The present paper divides the proceeding of the Donghak War into two stages, the first and the second one each, in compliance with the development of the force employed by the peasants who took part in the defunct revolution. A large-scale mobilization of peasants was initiated on about March 15 following a careful preparation and approximately 4 thousand peasants formally marched in Dongeumchi, Mujang-hyeon under the banner of a proclamation against corrupt government officials. According to the records, farmers led by such figures as Oh Ha-Yeong, Oh Si-Yeong, Hong Nak-Gwan and Go Yeong-Suk were found to have participated in major battles of the March campaign. Although Gochang was not one of the major battle fields in the initial stage of the uprising in March, it was obviously located on the marching route of the uprising peasants who moved to attack the government agencies of Gochang, Mujang and Heungdeok which fell to their hands eventually. The geographically central role of Gochang was also evidenced by the facts that the chief of Gochang-hyeon fled and peasants were trained here for military purpose. Gochang and the neighboring areas had been entirely under the control of the military peasants since their retreat from Jinju Castle until re-uprising in September. At resumption of their war in September, about 17,000 peasants participated in the military actions in and around the areas of Gochang. From the mid of October on, most forces of the peasants went down south under the leadership of Son Hwa-Jung, seemingly engaged in operations actively throughout the districts of Yeonggwang, Hampyeong and Jangseong.
A space is allowed in this paper to exploring actions of the armed forces of peasants based on reference to the historical materials concerning military uprisings in the areas including Gochang that have been open to doubt, though. When studied, it will reveal definitely what part of the country could be identified as the origin of the uprising and what would be the background that such revolt took place in no other places than there, leading to an understanding of the significance of the military uprising.
Baeksan uprising was confused with Gobu civil revolt. It is obvious that the peasants uprising in Gobu ignited the Donghak peasants' war as a whole but it was an operation performed sort of independently by Jeon Bong-Jun who failed to attract other kindred spirits. The rally in Mujang was dilated to a full scale by addition of Son Hwa-Jung and armed peasants from around the area, developing ultimately to a countrywide revolt. It seems thus proper to view the rally in Mujang on a dimension different from that of Gobu, an assumption that can be supported by lots of literature. Since it is evident that Mujang statement was declared at the same time with Mujang proclamation, there seems no problem to perceive Mujang revolt to be the starting point of Donghak Peasants War.
In this study, an effort is also made to confirm if Dangchon, Gochang, in addition to other places in issue, was the real birth place of Jeon Bong-Jun since there have been arguments in this regard. His clan register was used to trace the origin of his ancestors and uprisings of his ancestors' graveyards.
Continued studies and newly collected historical materials have tended to assume Dangchon to be the most possible birth place of Jeon Bong-Jun, clarifying the early ambiguities. This assumption was strongly supported when his clan registers of Imsul and Byeongsul were discovered which identified Jeon Byeong-Ho and Jeon Cheol-Ho to be Jeon Bong-Jun. Although his genealogy, residence and graveyard may be regarded to refer Dangchon, Gochang to be his birth place most favorably, there are still some lacks of evidences to prove it. Such research, however, is expected to activate further studies on Jeon Bong-Jun and Donghak peasants' War.

목차 (Table of Contents)

• 1. 머리말 = 1
• 2. 제 1차 동학농민전쟁과 고창 = 3
• (1) 제 1차 동학농민전쟁의 전개 = 3
• (2) 창의문 선포와 무장 = 18
• (3) 무장 봉기의 배경과 의의 = 21
• 3. 제 2차 동학농민전쟁과 고창 = 27
• 4. 전봉준과 고창 = 32
• 5. 결론 = 39
• 참고문헌 = 42
• 부록 = 45