세종의 흠경각 건립 의미와 옥루의 구조 (The Historical Significance of King Sejong's Construction of Heumgyeonggak by Focusing on the Structure of the Ong-nu, the Automatic Water Clock)

서지정보

· 발행기관 : 한국고전번역원
· 수록지 정보 : 민족문화 / 49권 / 37 ~ 74페이지
· 저자명 : 윤용현, 기호철

초록

1438년 1월 경복궁 천추전 서쪽에 장영실이 제작한 옥루를 설치한 흠경각이 완성되었다. 세종은 우승지 김돈에게 흠경각 건립의 과정과 그곳에 설치한 옥루를 설명하는 「흠경각기」를 짓도록 하였는데, 이것이 『세종실록』에 실려 전한다. 그간 이것만으로 흠경각에 대한 구조를 연구하고 그 복원을 모색하여 왔으나, 『동문선』, 『신증동국여지승람』, 『어제궁궐지』 등에도 이 기문이 실려 전한다. 이것들을 대조하였더니 『세종실록』에 수록된 「흠경각기」에 잘못된 글자들이 있었다. 이를 바로잡으니, 그간 겉으로 드러나 작동하는 시보장치가 4단으로 이루어진 자동물시계가 아니라 5단이었다는 사실을 확인하였다. 이에 따라 그 내부 구조도 수정되어야 할 것이다.
흠경각은 이미 완성된 보루각의 자동물시계와 경복궁 후원 簡儀臺의 천문 의기가 멀리 떨어져 있어 시시때때로 편리하게 관측하기 어려워 이를 해결하려는 목적으로 만든 자동으로 작동하는 천문시계인 옥루를 설치했던 건물이었다. 흠경각 옥루는 자동물시계에 태양 운행 장치를 결합하여 대단히 작고 정밀하게 만든 것으로, 時․更․點을 모두 청각과 시각으로 확인할 수 있도록 만든 것이었다. 그와 더불어 欹器를 설치하고 ≪빈풍도≫를 벌려 놓아서 天道의 차고 이지러지는 이치를 보고 백성이 농사짓는 어려움을 볼 수 있게 하였는데, 이는 조선의 창안이었다. 이런 흠경각의 설치는 세종이 추구한 7년에 걸친 대규모 천문의기 제작 사업이 완성되었다는 선포였으며, 하늘을 본받고, 시의에 순응하며, 공경하는 뜻을 극진히 하고, 백성을 사랑하고, 농사를 중히 여기는 인후한 덕에서 비롯한 것이라고 천명한 기념물이었다.

영어초록

On Jan 1438 (Year 20 of King Sejong’s reign), Heumgyeonggak was constructed by the Chosŏn Dynasty. The building was exclusively dedicated to the Ong-nu, the automatic water clock that was invented by Chang yŏng-shil. Concerning the event, it is well known that the detailed description is still common in the Annals of Chosŏn Dynasty. According to the record, King Sejong ordered Kim Don, the royal secretariat, to write the “Heumgyeonggakgi in which the process of the building construction and the specific explanation of the Ong-nu clock were described. So far, it was only this book that scholars considered while making a hypothesis about the structure of the automatic water clock. Contrary to what is generally known, there are also the concerned records in Tongmunsŏn(『東文選』), Shinjŭngdonggukyŏjisŭngnam(『新增東國輿地勝覽』), Ŏjegunggwŏlchi(『御製宮闕志』).
As a result of comparing the newly reviewed documents with the existing Heumgyonggakgi record, we confirmed that there were some mistakes in the latter. After fixing this error, we know that the water clock was made of a quintupled stage, not a quadrupled stage. As this is clearly different from the believed doctrines about the Ong-nu, this study revealed its structure should be modified.
Until the Heumgyeonggak was built, the automatic water clock and astronomical instruments were set in different buildings, making them uncomfortable to use. To solve this difficulty, King Sejong ordered installation of the Ong-nu that combines astronomical instrument functions on the water clock in the Heumgyeonggak The Ong-nu clock was small but very precise.
As the current time was reported by the alarm, the people were able to check it not only with their eyes, but also by their ears. It was further also accompanied by a number of facilities and paintings reminiscent of Confucian teachings. By seeing the movement of the Ong-nu, the Chosŏn King identified that the season had changed and tried not to forget how hard the people farmed throughout the year. The construction of Heumgyonggak and the invention of the Chosŏn people was such a declaration that a great project for making water clock and astronomical instruments independently was finally completed after seven years of their effort. It was a monument that encouraged the King to always respect the will of the Heaven, love his people and not to forget the importance of farming forever.

참고자료

· 없음