朝鮮朝 北境關防定礎 略考

The Establishment of Garrison Cities on the Northern Boundary during the Earlier Period of the Yi Dynasty

The Jurchens occupied the northern Korean baundary during the earlier period of the Yi Dynasty. After founding the dynasty. King Tae-jo(太祖) attempted to pacify this territory. He sent a military expedition led by Jung Do-jun(鄭道傳) to subdue the Jurchens of Ham-Kyung Province(咸鏡道), and established the garrison city of Kyung-won(慶源府) in 1398 A.D. to guard against the Jurchen’s invasions. The King Tae-jo dispatched Choi Young-ji(崔永沚) to defend Pyung-an Province(平安道) and made him fortificate Sun-joo(宣州) and Pyung-yang(平壤). These were the first attempts at pacifing the area contained within the northern boundary. Afterwards Kyung-won became one of the six garrison cities. The construction of the six garrison cities, situated in south-western part of the Tumen River, were begun by King Tae-jo and completed by Kim Jong-su(金宗瑞) who lived during the reign of the King Se-jong(世宗). These six cities, i. e. Kyung-heung(慶興), Kyung-won(慶源), On-sung(穩城), Chong-sung(鍾城), Hoe-ryong(會寧) and Mu-san(茂山), were located from the mouth of the Tumen River(豆滿江) to the east of the Mt. Paek-tu, and were regarded as the front line of defence against the Jurchens. Furthermore the semi-garrison cities of Kyung-sung(鏡城) and Pu-ryung(富寧) acted as a defence for the domestic front. As an additional defence, four garrison counties were established near the middle stream of the Yalu(鴨綠江). Of these four garrison counties the Yu-yun(閭延) was establised for the first time. However the eventual establishment of the four garrison countries was completed during the reign of King Se-jong(世宗). He sent Choi Yoon-duk(崔潤德) and Yi Chun(李蕆) to fortificate Ja-sung(慈城), Mu-chang(茂昌), and U-ye(虞芮). During the reign of King Se-jo(世祖) these four garrison countries were abandoned temporaly because of the Jurchen’s aggression. However the Jurchens were repulsed and King Se-jo initated a vigorous policy to establish final control over this area which constitute a natural boundaries of the Yi dynasty.