17세기 창원 유향소의 운영 실태

The Actual Status of Operating Changwon Yuhyangso in the 17th Century

본 논문은 창원향교 소장 고문서 자료를 바탕으로 17세기 창원 유향소의 운영 실태를 살펴 본 것이다. 창원에 유향소가 설치된 시기는 늦어도 16세기 전후이다. 창원의 재지사족은 유향소 鄕員으로 활동하며, 지역 내에서 자신들의 사회･경제적 이해관계를 관철시켜 나갔다. 창원 유향소는 일정한 조건을 갖춘 인사를 鄕員으로 선발하였는데, 그 절차는 대체로 ‘추천→심사→鄕錄薦 작성→鄕案草 작성→鄕案 입록’으로 이루어져 있다. 鄕任으로는 常職인 座首 와 別監, 임시직인 行首와 座上 등이 확인된다. 향임은 당초 경재소에서 선발했지만, 임진왜란 이후 경재소가 혁파됨에 따라 수령이 그 권한을 행사하되, 유향소의 재지사족 세력에 의해 추천된 인사 가운데 선발이 이루어졌다. 유향소 구성원은 향촌사회 내에서 자신들의 이해관계를 반영한 규례를 제정하였으며, 削籍･損徒･苦任 등의 처벌 규정을 통해 유향소 내 질서를 확립해 나갔다. 한편, 창원 유향소는 부세 행정을 보조하면서도, 부세를 조정하며 향촌사회 내에서 자신들의 영향력을 실질적으로 행사하였다. 특히 관내 관속･인리 집단에게 부과되는 부세를 조정하고, 경저의 물력 제공을 주관함으로써, 향촌 내 중간 계층을 직･간접적으로 규제하는 모습을 보여주었다.

Jaejisajok in Changwon not only assisted the chief in Yuhyangso but also reinforced the order of Hyangchon centering around them. Only the figures that satisfied certain conditions could go in and out Yuhyangso. At first, Changwon Yuhyangso selected the figures equipped with 3 hyang(三鄕), but later, the regulations got loosened gradually and those equipped with 2 hyang･ 1 hyang, too, were chosen. Like that, those meeting particular conditions were sometimes immediately written in Hyangan, but generally, selections were made through the steps of ‘recommendation→examination→writing Hyangrok- cheon(鄕錄薦)→writing Hyangancho(鄕案草)→registering one’s name in Hyangan(鄕案)’. Hyangim(鄕任) in Changwon Yuhyangso performed various tasks of Eup aiding the chief while influencing the Hyangchon community in Changwon with the mediation of operating Yuhyangso. About the selection of Hyangim, Jaejisajok held a meeting and reached an agreement to decide on 3mang(三望) and then reported it to the chief with the written ｢Jwasumang(座首望)｣, and the chief appointed one out of the figures recommended. In the series of processes, Hyangwon(鄕員) and Hyangim were screened to operate Changwon Yuhyangso. They institutionalized rules and regulations reflecting interests in the Hyangchon community and established order inside the organization of Yuhyangso by punishing Sakjeok(削籍), Sondo(損徒), and Goim(苦任), and so on. In this way, they operated Yuhyangso intricately. Meanwhile, Changwon Yuhyangso aided Buse(賦稅) administration and adjusted it, too, in a way of fulfilling their interests in the Hyangchon community and exerting their influence. Moreover, they could change Buse imposed to the groups of Gwansok(官屬) and Inri(人吏) within the district and were in charge of providing the material power of Gyeongjeo to control the power of Hyangri naturally and indirectly. Due to the strengthening of the chief’s authority or such, however, around the late 17th century, Jaejisajok’s authority grounded on Yuhyangso got weakened. Furthermore, as the finances of Yuhyangso became reduced, it was changing to be a place just aiding the chief’s ruling instead of being operated actively.