조선전기 장례문화와 歸厚署

Abstract

In the Koryo era, it was common to cremate the dead following Buddhist customs. But as Neo-Confucianism became accepted in the latter ears of the Koryo dynasty, Juja`s family-ceremony(朱子家禮) began to be accepted as well. Appeals to prohibit cremation were submitted regularly, and the Neo-Confucianism scholars who established Choson promoted the Confucian way of burial using coffins(棺槨). Cremation as well as aerial sepulture and corpse abandoning was prohibited. However, even in year 14 of King Sejong, records show that only 3~4 out of 10 funerals were performed according to Confucian burial, despite the fact that Confucian burial was set as the only legal way of burial. This led to enforcement of laws that allowed investigation on abandoned corpses and various administrative actions, and by year 23 of King Seungjong, cremation reduced dramatically. Burials required coffins, and the government prepared measures to provide support for this necessity, and the ruling elite put effort in putting this to practice first. King Taejong changed Goangoakseik(棺槨色), which was one of the 12seik(色) in theKoryo dynasty, into Goangoakso(棺槨所), and had the monks who perfoiuied funeral ceremonies participate in the manufacturing of coffins. Officials were placed to serve official trade and buddhist-managers were placed for private trade. Legislations regarding funerals and tombs were established and those who cremate their parents and do not hold funerals for 3 years were regarded as undutiful. Goangoakso changed its name to Siheiso(施惠所), and then to Guihuso(歸厚所). However, this organization seems to have failed to serve its function, as Guihuso was re-established in year 25 of King Sejong to support those who were unable to suddenly prepare coffins for funerals. The status of Guihuso was elevated to Guihuseo(歸厚署) in year 9 of King Sejo. The name `Guihu`came from `Min duk gui hu(民德歸厚)`, meaning `The merit of the people becomes rich.` Guihuseo was a government organization that manufactured and sold coffins, and its purpose was prepare coffins in advance so that people could buy them in order to hold their funerals, and to ultimately teach the people the civility of proper Confucian burial. Therefore, the function of Guihuseo was to manufacture coffins for official use as well as private use by the Yangban(兩班) and commoners. The coffins of the Choson era were made from various trees at first, but eventually came to use pine trees. However, pine trees were not abundant, and were used only for national funerals and decent living Yangban and it is thought that commoners were not able to use coffins made with pine trees. As Jong 6pum office(從6品衙門), Checho(提調), Chegeo(提擧), and Bvuljwa(別坐) were positioned at Guihuseo. Officials who were good-natured were appointed to this organization, as it was a position governing corpses and relief. In the first year of King Sejong, there were 1 Chejo(提調), 2 Chegeo(提擧), and 2 Byuljwa(別坐), but the number of Byuljwa was increased to 4 in year 9 of King Sejo. However, the monks appointed to assist in the making of coffins were dismissed, and were replaced with official(朝官). In the first year of King Yejong, the personnel were increased, and 6 Byulje(別提) were positioned. This organizational structure became recorded in King Sungjong`s 『Keonggukdaijeong(經國大典』. It appears that the Chejo took full responsibility for Guihuseo, and Byulje were responsible for funeral and burial. Under these officials were seoris, servants, and workers for harvesting lumber for the coffins. People from all spectrums of the society used Guihuseo`s coffins, from high level officials to commoners. However, official coffins were issued only to officials who had served as 2 pum(品) or higher, members of the royal family higher than sima(媤麻) who are unable to participate in national funerals, and harems.