태종 7-8년 世子(讓寧大君) 朝見의 정치사적 의미 - 태종 왕통과 대명관계의 상관성에 대한 분석 -

Politically historic meanings of the crown prince(Yang nyeong) s audience with the Emperor in the 7-8th year of King Taejong(太宗) s reign - A study on correlation between the royal line of King Taejong and relations with Ming dynasty -

태종은 즉위 이듬해 장자(讓寧大君)를 元子로 책봉하였지만 입학례와 친영례, 책봉례 등 단계적인 과정을 밟아 세자로 책봉하였다. 이것은 적장자로서 제대로 된 수련을 거친 후계자를 세우기 위한 것이었다. 하지만 1·2차 왕자의 난이 발생한 것에서 볼 때 정치적 변동에도 흔들리지 않을 세자의 위상을 확보하기 위해서는 더 강화된 조치가 필요하였는데, 그것은 바로 朝見을 통해 명 황제의 보증을 받는 것이었다. 세자는 6개월에 걸친 조현을 통해 명 영락제의 공인을 끌어냄으로써 태조와 정종은 물론 신료들에게 자신의 후계구도를 명확히 인지시킬 수 있었다. 그 과정에서 황녀와의 혼인을 도모하였던 외척들을 제거하였는데, 이는 세자의 위상을 배경으로 권력을 강화하고자 하는 신료들의 움직임을 차단하고 그와는 차별적인 국왕의 권력을 절대화하기 위한 것이었다. 이러한 방안은 그가 고려말-조선초에 명으로 사행을 다녀왔던 경험과 그 과정에서 맺게 된 영락제와의 인연을 활용한 것으로서, 武將이었던 태조나 정종과는 다른 자신의 개국에서의 역할과 이에 따른 정치적 위상을 과시하는 것이기도 하였다.

The following year after his enthronement, King Taejong crowned his eldest son as Wonja(元子). However when setting up his crown prince, he underwent a series of step by step processes such as ritual of entrance into a school(入學禮), ritual of marriage(親迎禮), and ritual of installation(冊封禮). It was for the installation of heir who went through proper training as the eldest son. However, when considering the First and Second Strife of princes, more intensified action was need to secure status of crown prince that would not totter in spite of political change. And the way was receiving assurances from Ming s emperor by the audience with the Emperor. By a six month s audience, the crown prince was able to receive assurance from Emperor Yong-Le(永樂帝) of the Ming and based on it, he could make not only King Taejong and King Jeongjong but also vassals recognize his succession. In the process, King Taejong eliminated maternal relatives of the crown prince who planned a marriage with an Imperial princess of Ming. Through this, he blocked out movement trying to enlarge power by using the crown prince s status and absolved his power. King Taejong made use of his experience that he went to Ming as an envoy from Late Gorye to Early Joseon and the connection with Emperor Yong-Le in the process. By this, he showed off his role in founding that was different with King Taejo and King Jeongjong who were military attache and displayed his political stature.