조선후기 孝宗代 政治論과 정국 동향 －是非明辨論을 중심으로－

Abstract

This study examined the King Hyojong era’s political situation regarding the development of ‘the distinction theory between right and wrong’ in the mid-seventeenth century. As since the King Hyojong era the political structure of factions became more stable, there was a growing perception that the component which was focusing on the talented people rather than the unconditional elimination of factionalism and mediation was necessary. However, King Hyojong granted and used the theory of compound as a countermeasure of factions with the purpose of gradually eliminating factionalism. The early King Hyojong era was the period that the compound theory was in conflict with the distinction theory between right and wrong. Sanrim faction within the Seo-in criticized the compound theory by the reason of the distinction between right and wrong was not thorough, and insisted the distinction theory between right and wrong which more focused on ‘Gyeogtag-Yangcheong’ and ‘the exclusion of a mean man’. Although in the early year of King Hyojong reign, in accordance to Sanrim’s requirement he reinforced to punish Nakdang and empowered their ‘Gyeogtag-Yangcheong’, he turned to the compound policy for changing and mediating the political situation after Sanrim went down into the country. However, Song Si-yeol was disgruntled with king’s compound policy which tried to unify the views of parties. As compound policy appeared a limitation, King Hyojong strongly showed the will of the mind of hate faction and elimination of factionalism. Between the second and the fifth year of King Hyojong reign, it was the period that the discrimination on remonstrator happened frequently. This was because he focused on the reinforce of royal power and the extermination of factional actions. And the political situation entered a state of depression and blocked the way of expostulation in the sixth and the seventh year. After the eighth year of King Hyojong’ reign, the distinction theory between right and wrong was reinforced by Sanrim’s reappearance on the politics. Sanrim found the reason not from the factions but from King Hyojong and damaged the king’s judgment ability while King Hyojong thought that the courtiers should have compounded ‘the mutual respect and cooperation’ and thus it resulted in the slackness of official discipline. The sovereign’s role had been recognized as the absolute who distinguished between right and wrong, yet reducing the role just referred to weakening his position as a mediator of factional politics while it also meant that the Sanrim’s political and academic boundaries could be expanded. Seo-in’s Sanrim placed emphasis on the distinction of right and wrong between factions and designed prime minister or Sanrim except the king as a main force. Through these intentions, their ideals to intend to progress Sarim politics, factional politics, and prime minister politics was confirmed.