大元제국 말기 權臣 바얀의 정치적 行蹟 (Political Activities of Powerful Vassal Bayan at the Late Yeke Monggol Ulus)

서지정보

· 발행기관 : 동양사학회
· 수록지 정보 : 동양사학연구 / 120호 / 223 ~ 260페이지
· 저자명 : 권용철

초록

This study investigated the political situation at the end of Yeke Monggol Ulus focusing on the process of appearance, ruling and downfall of powerful vassal Bayan(伯顔). Existing studies are considering him as the figure that caused the decline of Yeke Monggol Ulus, paying special attention to his dogmatic and discriminatory policies; however, there has actually been no detailed review on how he came to power. In order to complement this point, this paper investigated what position Bayan took in the process of complex succession struggle and how it is linked to his ruling and downfall. In particular, Bayan’s ruling cannot be explained without mentioning El-Temür(燕鐵木兒) and Wenzong(文宗). That’s because Bayan could obtain high public post as a result of being actively involved in helping Wenzong to the throne. However, after Wenzong mounted the throne, power of excessively concentrated to El-Temür, and Bayan raised his complaints about El-Temür more and more and eventually removed the El-Temür clan after Shundi(順帝) mounted the throne. However, once he came to power, he had a strong obsession for power, making himself politically isolated. In addition, the removal of the family of El-Temür who provided support together to help Wenzong to the throne damaged his justification that he could rise to a high rank. In addition to this, his isolation was more deepened as he himself violated the political justification of going back to the era of Shizu(世祖) that can be regarded as the golden age of Yeke Monggol Ulus. Shundi recognized Bayan because of his meritorious deed in enthroning himself; however, he tried to drive Bayan out eventually as Bayan increasingly went to extremes. Although Shundi has been evaluated as a political incompetent, he actually achieved of getting rid of the powerful vassals who did not fit his own will by being actively involved in the court politics. The downfall of Bayan who lost all justification was made in an instant.
The downfall of Bayan and his death were the cases that indicated the start of a new era. All of those who experienced war direct in the northern steppe and can take power through it disappeared in the court. El-Temür and Bayan began as the devoted vassals of Wuzong(武宗) and were the people who experienced combat in the northern frontier, but they disappeared from the political world. Shundi naturally did not experience war in the steppe, and Togto(脫脫), who was Bayan’s nephew and newly came to power, was also a person who was more familiar with the culture of the Han people. In addition, as Shuni wiped out all traces associated with Wenzong who poisoned Mingzong(明宗), his father, the politics of Yeke Monggol Ulus entered a new stage. And, Bayan’s downfall also acted as the opportunity that political chaos caused by frequent replacement of powerful vassals occurred.
However, one point that should be noted here is the fact that the compilers of Yuan-shi(元史) in the later days did not include El-Temür and Bayan in the biographies of villainous retainers. In particular, it can be said to be surprising when considering that the negative aspects about Bayan are being emphasized in a lot of historical records written in the Chinese characters. It is thought that it is perhaps the result that the compilers of Yuan-shi recognized the political justification of El-Temür and Bayan to re-enthrone one from Wuzong’s bloodline. In other words, the fact that they were regarded as the ‘rightful powerful vassals’ rather than being derogated as the villainous retainers can be said to show that their coming into power occupies a significantly important position in the political history of the late Yeke Monggol Ulus.

영어초록

This study investigated the political situation at the end of Yeke Monggol Ulus focusing on the process of appearance, ruling and downfall of powerful vassal Bayan(伯顔). Existing studies are considering him as the figure that caused the decline of Yeke Monggol Ulus, paying special attention to his dogmatic and discriminatory policies; however, there has actually been no detailed review on how he came to power. In order to complement this point, this paper investigated what position Bayan took in the process of complex succession struggle and how it is linked to his ruling and downfall. In particular, Bayan’s ruling cannot be explained without mentioning El-Temür(燕鐵木兒) and Wenzong(文宗). That’s because Bayan could obtain high public post as a result of being actively involved in helping Wenzong to the throne. However, after Wenzong mounted the throne, power of excessively concentrated to El-Temür, and Bayan raised his complaints about El-Temür more and more and eventually removed the El-Temür clan after Shundi(順帝) mounted the throne. However, once he came to power, he had a strong obsession for power, making himself politically isolated. In addition, the removal of the family of El-Temür who provided support together to help Wenzong to the throne damaged his justification that he could rise to a high rank. In addition to this, his isolation was more deepened as he himself violated the political justification of going back to the era of Shizu(世祖) that can be regarded as the golden age of Yeke Monggol Ulus. Shundi recognized Bayan because of his meritorious deed in enthroning himself; however, he tried to drive Bayan out eventually as Bayan increasingly went to extremes. Although Shundi has been evaluated as a political incompetent, he actually achieved of getting rid of the powerful vassals who did not fit his own will by being actively involved in the court politics. The downfall of Bayan who lost all justification was made in an instant.
The downfall of Bayan and his death were the cases that indicated the start of a new era. All of those who experienced war direct in the northern steppe and can take power through it disappeared in the court. El-Temür and Bayan began as the devoted vassals of Wuzong(武宗) and were the people who experienced combat in the northern frontier, but they disappeared from the political world. Shundi naturally did not experience war in the steppe, and Togto(脫脫), who was Bayan’s nephew and newly came to power, was also a person who was more familiar with the culture of the Han people. In addition, as Shuni wiped out all traces associated with Wenzong who poisoned Mingzong(明宗), his father, the politics of Yeke Monggol Ulus entered a new stage. And, Bayan’s downfall also acted as the opportunity that political chaos caused by frequent replacement of powerful vassals occurred.
However, one point that should be noted here is the fact that the compilers of Yuan-shi(元史) in the later days did not include El-Temür and Bayan in the biographies of villainous retainers. In particular, it can be said to be surprising when considering that the negative aspects about Bayan are being emphasized in a lot of historical records written in the Chinese characters. It is thought that it is perhaps the result that the compilers of Yuan-shi recognized the political justification of El-Temür and Bayan to re-enthrone one from Wuzong’s bloodline. In other words, the fact that they were regarded as the ‘rightful powerful vassals’ rather than being derogated as the villainous retainers can be said to show that their coming into power occupies a significantly important position in the political history of the late Yeke Monggol Ulus.

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