조선시대 鄕吏 작폐 고발 한시 일고찰

A study on Sino Korean Poetry Accusing Petty Functionaries of Filthiness in Joseon Era

The purpose of this study was to explore Sino Korean poetry accusing local petty functionaries of filthiness in Joseon era. Local petty functionaries were in charge of conducting various administrations, assisting a local chief magistrate while they lived for generations in the region. Petty functionaries were placed between the chief magistrate and folks and performed a regular role of embodying local administration of the nation. The Joseon dynasty did not paid a regular compensation to petty functionaries and banned them from becoming national officials by performing status discrimination policy. Hence, petty functionaries committed filthiness by constantly pillaging folks, and the literati perceived them as tigers and wolves, and sometimes as cunning rats. In Sino Korean poetry, filthiness committed by petty functionaries was expressed indirectly and exposed directly. In the former types of Sino Korean poems, the filthy shape was blurred by elaborating their filthy behaviors in a secondary and simple way. In the latter types of Sino Korean poems, filthy behaviors of petty functionaries were described in a vivid and detailed way to expose their negative shape distinctively. The chief magistrate in the region basically had the function of supervising and controlling petty functionaries in Joseon era. However, the poets observing closely the social phenomena at the time also played a role of supervising and controlling petty functionaries by constantly watching and reporting them on their nuisances. But the power elite who listened to reports given by poets never attempted to make systemic improvement, that is to say, yield to the vested rights to cope with filthy behaviors of petty functionaries.