Citation

정호섭. Prehistory and Ancient History 2012; 37: 131-158.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012)

DOI

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PMID

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Abstract

This paper examines the Kwanggaetowangbi(廣開土王碑) with deep attachment to its context in order to figure out the feature of it and the reform of Koguryo's Sumyo system. This analysis begins with a basic understanding of the text by investigating the script production process and its charactersitcs. The discrepancy in the sentence formation between section 1-2 and 3 of the text and the fact that the achievements by King Jangsu were carved onto a monument for King Kwanggaeto attracted the author's interest. When these issues are taken into consideration in a multi-dimensional perspective, features of the Kwanggaetowangbi can be properly understood. While the main content of the Kwanggaetowangbi is regarded to be more about achievements of the King rather than the guardian of tomb, it was basically a monument in celebration of achievements. In particular, it was not about the guardian solely dedicated to the King Kwanggaeto and the reform of the Sumyo system in the 5th century and an achievement of the King were added as supplements during the erection process. Originally, there existed records of accomplishment attained in a chronical order and in a form of official document such as flattery and edict on institutions and laws. It seems that these two are combined in the erection process. It is due to flattery or edict proclaimed by the King Kwanggaeto also was regarded to be inclusive in a broader category. In Koguryo, the guardian of tomb is regarded as a subject commissioned by the edict of the King. The main content of section 3 which covers Sumyo system in the 5th century presents the entire reform of guardians into inhabitants of newly acquired territory(新來韓穢) by making them as replacements for existing people in the operation of the Sumyo system. In a troubled situation with the conduct of Sumyo system only with inhabitants from newly acquired territory, the King Jangsu recruited informed people with knowledge on Sumyo system, therefore they cannot be assumed to be the same as the past ones except guardians era name assigned to other royal tombs. In this sense, era name designated by flattery of the King Kwanggaeto which was exclusive to the constitution of other era names were reformed again into an era name of guardian by the oder of the King Kwanggaeto. It is deemed that era names of guardian which consisted of 'Kukyun'(國烟) and 'Kanyun'(看烟) at a ratio of 10 to 1 held fixed differences at a stratum. That is, Kukyun had played a role of tribunician responsible for guardian, while Kanyun is regarded to have been a group of third level era name. Also, 330 family names were to protect the whole royal tomb of Koguryo and guardian's era name inscribed in a royal tomb is to be understood as 33. It can be presumed that the King Kwanggaeto erected a monument adjacent to a tomb of his predecessor to resolve the Chachak(差錯) problem.. This seems to have functioned to hinder the issue of era name's Chachak. It also implied a purpose to constitute era name of Koguryeo's guardian as a permanent being. Thereafter, the issue being left over was sales of guardian. At first, King Kwanggaeto perceived the trade of labour of the third-level people. Yet, the ban on trade in the monument was proclaimed when inhabitants were excluded from the Sumyo system and replaced by the inhabitants from newly acquired territory, and this policy seems to be a strong ban on trade of labour including new people's human trafficking due to relatively lower social and economic status of them.