청주한씨 ‘기자후예설’ 재검토 (A Re-review on the ‘Giza Descent Theory’ of Cheongju Han Family)

서지정보

· 발행기관 : 고려사학회
· 수록지 정보 : 韓國史學報 / 74호 / 39 ~ 73페이지
· 저자명 : 김병인

초록

고려시대까지는 청주한씨의 연원이나 시조와 관련하여 ‘기자’가 등장하지 않는다. 『고려사』 열전에서는 오히려 ‘한강’을 중요한 인물로 설정하였다. 그러다가 조선 중기 이후 정곤수와 기자헌 등의 조정 대신들이 직･간접적으로 청주한씨 ‘기자후예설’의 형성이나 유포에 개입하였으며, 확실하지 않은 자신들의 이야기에 정당성을 부여하기 위하여 『위략』이나 『위지』와 같은 중국측 서적을 그 근거로 내세웠다. 임진왜란 이후 광해군의 즉위와 함께 기자에 대한 논의가 활발해졌으며, 기자를 제사지내는 문제가 대두되었다. 이러한 시대상황은 기자의 후손을 자처하는 성씨의 등장을 촉발하였다. 특히 군역을 면제받을 기회로 활용할 수 있게 되면서, 기자후예설이 다양한 측면에서 제기되었다. 그러나 이러한 주장은 조정을 포함하여 당대에 그리 우호적인 반응을 얻지 못했다. 선조는 조선 땅에 기자의 후예가 있다고 생각하지 않았으며, 윤근수를 위시한 여러 학자들 또한 이 설에 의문을 품고 저마다의 논리로 반박하였다. 심지어 한백겸은 자신이 한씨임에도 불구하고 그가 남긴 저서에서 자신의 성이 기자로부터 유래했다는 사실을 전혀 언급하지 않았다. 임진왜란 이후에는 이 설을 군역 회피에 이용하는 사례까지 발생하여 조선 정부가 제제에 나서기도 하였다. 아마도 조선 중기의 청주한씨는 그들 가문의 내력이 오래 되었다는 유구성과 더불어 그 뿌리를 ‘기자’에 연결시켜 자신들이 대성현의 피를 이어받은 우수한 가문임을 강조하기 위해서 ‘기자후예설’을 채택하였던 것으로 이해된다.

영어초록

Until the Goryeo dynasty, there were no ‘Giza’ or ‘Han Ran’ related to the origin and the progenitor of Cheongju Han family, and ‘Han Gang’ was introduced as an important figure in the compilation of the biographies in Goryeosa(『高麗史』). Therefore, it is understood that the ‘Giza Descent Theory’ of Cheongju Han Family appeared during the Joseon Dynasty, especially, after the middle of the 15th century when Goryeosa was compiled. after the middle of the 15th century, especially during the Joseon Dynasty, when Goryeosa was compiled.
Since the middle of Joseon Dynasty, ministers such as Jeong Gon-soo and Gi Za-hun engaged in the formation and dissemination of the ‘Giza descent theory’ of Cheongju Han Family directly or indirectly, and in order to give legitimacy to their story which was not sure, they presented books such as Wèilüè(『魏畧』) and Wèizhì(『魏志』, of the Chinese side. In particular, the discussion of Giza along with the succession to the throne of King Gwanghaegun became active, and especially the issue of memorial service for Giza seems to have emerged. And it seems that such situation created an atmosphere that makes possible the appearance of the family name as descendants of Giza. Especially, it can be used as an opportunity for the exemption of the military forces, and the Giza descent theory seems to have appeared in various aspects.
However, such an advocation seems to have received no favorable response to that time including the Joseon royal court. King Seonjo did not think there was a descendant of Giza in Joseon, and also many scholars, including Yoon Keun-su, questioned that theory and refuted based on their logic. In particular, Jung Yak-yong had been criticizing it from the front when he found that the record of Wèilüè was being misinterpreted. In addition, Han Baek-gyeom did not mention at all that family name Han came from Giza, even though he was a member of Han family himself. Moreover, after the Japanese invasion into Korea(called Imjinwaeran[壬辰倭亂]), there were cases abusing that theory in order to avoid the military service, which led Joseon government to sanction of them.
In the mid-Joseon period, Cheongju Han Family had a long history of family history, and they seem to have spread the origin extensively by linking its root back to the ‘Giza’ regarded as a great saint. In order to promote the excellence of the family, they adopted the ‘Giza descent theory’ and distributed that intensively. And they were elaborate enough to support the foundations by using Chinese book such as the Wèilüè. We should consider the chaotic situation of that time after the experience of the war of Imjinwaeran, and the prevalence of ‘Mohwa thought’ appearing in the process of replacement of Míng(明) and Qīng(淸) Dynasties. However, it can be seen that the ‘created’ ancestor, not only other family names, but also in his own family was not accepted as friendly. In fact, like Sebo(『淸州韓氏世譜』)and Sega(『韓氏世家』), such recognition was not seen even in Cheongju Han family after the period of King Gwanghaegun‘s reign, and rather, the first ancestor, Han Ran, was highlighted. Therefore, we can confirm the gap between ‘reality’ and ‘recognition’ surrounding the progenitor of a family in the Joseon Dynasty.

참고자료

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