정묘호란 의병장 정봉수의 활약과 조선왕조의 인식

Abstract

Jeongmyo horan (Manchu invasions of 1627) occurred in the midst of rapid changes in East Asia political situations, and the invaded Joseon was not capable of coping with the war. The government forces of Joseon was helpless in front of the invasion of the forces of Later Chin, and the expected activity of righteous armies was not less active than Imjin waeran (Japanese invasion of 1592). Mao Wenlong, the general of Ming Dinasty, who stayed in Joseon achieved no brilliant results in Joseon, even plundering villages in Joseon. The reason that the activity of the general of righteous armies in Yonggol Mountain Fortress attracted attention was largely caused by such hard conditions. In the midst of the government forces struggling everyday, Jeong Bong-su won victories two times, frequently harassing the forces of Later Chin staying around Yonggol Mountain Fortress. His activity continues for about 5 months until a peace settlement was reached and the main forces of Later Chin were withdrawn to Uiju. Though there was some criticism of collusion with Mao Wenlong, even intellectuals in other areas including King Injo and most government officials praised his activity. Even after the war ended, the meritorious deed of Jeong Bong-su was remembered for a long time. Especially, the silver tablet that he received from Mao Wenlong's military camp became a medium by which he won praise from kings of many generations for reason of combined memory of the ruined Ming Dinasty and a doctrine of righteousness. This was a phenomenon which occurred under the atmosphere of the times totally different from that during reign of King Injo quite anxious about Mao Wenlong's plunder. By the way, the hidden side of the fact that the ruling class of Joseon highly praised and compensated for Jeong Bong-su's activity was related to a rule policy of Pyeongan province. That was the very policy that stressed loyalty in this area and trained soldiers for guarding the frontier. However, this type of policy did not necessarily accord with the interest of the local people. Different from the government policy, they wanted to disclose discrimination of Pyeongan province by the central government and to rectify such discrimination by revealing him. But, the discrimination could not be structurally abolished in addition to the limited beneficial measures such as appointment of Jeong Bong-su's descendants. At last, Jeong Bong-su's meritorious deed was acknowledged, but a certain degree of difference of recognition between the current and later generations and between the central government and local people in the method of evaluating it or the expected effect.