高句麗의 ‘遊人’에 대하여

A Study on Yu-in(遊人) in Korguyo(高句麗)

This article examines historical facts about Yu-in(遊人) people appearing in Sui-suo Koryojun(隋書 高麗傳). According to the text, they were taxal every three years and the burden caused by it was lighter than that of the common Koguryo(高句麗) populations. This can be regarded as an evidence that they occupied a special position socially. In former studies, they were conceived variously such as the poor(貧窮民), prostitutors(賣淫女), subordinate group(附庸民) or musicians(樂人). But it looks that they satisfied at relatively simple comprehensions about Yu-in and tended to focus on their peculiar character itself. Therefore, here I trial to figure out certain realities concerning Yu-in, especially by answering to three questions. (1) Exactly in which period(s) did Yu-in exist? (2) Did they have any relationship with Yu-nio(遊女)? If so, what kind? (3) Are there other examples in Chinese historical records mentioning the word Yu-in? Yu-in groups did not always exist. In any historical records, they appear only in association with Sui(隋) Dynasty. This fact suggests that Sui Dynasty was involved in Yu-in’s emergence. Perhaps the war between Koguryo and Sui was the crucial factor. Then, it would be reasonable to identify Yu-in as Chinese people of the late Sui who happened to remain in Koguryo among the war participants(隋末從軍沒留者). Some historical records shows that there were a lot of women called Yu-nio, without a definite husband. We can also find several records saying that she was officially forced to marry a Yu-in male. The Koguryo government induced them to settle in its territory by that way. Lastly, the word Yu-in is seen here and there in Chinese historical texts, designating wanderers away from their home village. In this regards, it would be natural that those who were left in Koguryo after the war mentioned above were described as Yu-in by the Chinese writers of Sui Dynasty. To sum up, Yu-in means those Chinese people who were left in Koguryo and settled there by marrying Yu-nio after the war between Sui and Koguryo. Also, it should be noted that the term Yu-in shown in historical records is originated from the Chinese, not reflecting Koguryo’s point of view at all.