조선시대 문무관처 고신의 발급조건과 변천 = The Issuance Conditions and Changes of the Civilian and Military Official’s Wife’s Gosin in the Joseon Dynasty

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

This study analyzed the issuance conditions and changes of the Joseon Dynasty’s civilian and military official’s wife’s Gosin(告身; appointment certificates). Fewer of these Gosin remain for the wives compared to their male counterparts. Often, while dozens of Gosin for a male official, none or only a few exist for his wife. The reasons are found in the unique issuance conditions of the civilian and military official’s wife’s Gosin.
Firstly, from some point after 1476(Seongjong 7), Gosin were not issued to wives not higher than 3^rd grade. Secondly, only one Gosin was issued per rank. Thirdly, the civilian and military official’s wife’s Gosin were granted based on the husband’s Siljik(實職). Fourthly, these letters were issued only upon the husband’s request. Therefore, when a husband reached a first-rank position, his wife could receive up to three Gosin, being the Sukbuin(淑夫人), Jeongbuin(貞夫人), and Jeonggyeongbuin(貞敬夫人), the third, the second, and the first grade, respectively.
Starting from 1681(Sukjong 7), if wives had no title because husbands did not have the public officer title, Yuin(孺人) which was the title for wives of 9^th grade was written in front of the family name. This practice was adopted from Ming China and is presumed to have entered Joseon in the late 17th century through expanded and annotated versions of the 『Garye(嘉禮)』.
As examined in the issuance conditions, from some point after 1476, Gosin were not issued to wives not higher than 3^rd grade. However, there were cases that wives not higher than 3^rd grade received the Gosin with the form which was issued to wives of Dangsanggwan(堂上官) from the late 17th century.
Most of the cases were that their husbands received Chujeung documents(追贈; appointment certificates issued after the death) thanks to excellent study performance and filial duty. Considering that the majority of these Chujeung documents were issued through Soji(所志) and Sang-eon(上言), it is highly likely that the family also asked for the wife’s Gosin as well.