The Variation of the Politics of Edification[王化] and Local Customs[風俗]: focusing on town chronicles of Gyeong-gi Province in Joseon Dynasty

Abstract

It was believed that the Gyeong-gi province, being close to the capital, should have “a noble custom” that could serve as a model for the rest of the distant regions. In the very early period of the dynasty, Gyeong-gi showed some aspects of keeping up with the achievements of the residents of the capital, Hanseong, to a certain extent. However, Gyeong-gi underwent significant changes during the two wars[兩亂] followed by the long process of restoration. Until the late 18th century, the custom of this region were quite different from the custom of the southern part of Joseon, Gyeongsang, and Jeolla. The latter two areas were successfully establishing harmonious customs based on their pure-minded nature unlike Gyeong-gi. Even until the late 19th century, some places in Gyeong-gi couldn’t possess noble customs. This unexpected situation was explained by several reasons. Some tried to explain it with the edifying discourse which says learning is possible when only economic conditions are favorable. Some pointed out the heavy roles played by the people in Gyeonggi, the ethos of pursuing commercial interests, and the frequent movement in this area. In the mid-19th century, a new discourse emerged in Gyeong-gi and its surrounding areas, which stressed material profit as a measure to bring people together. On the other hand, there was also a growing tendency of giving up making a noble custom.