이 연구는 공동체의 규약과 제도의 변화를 인간 주도로 분석하는 신제도주의 이론과 공유자산을 호혜와 협동의 관점에서 분석한 성과를 도입하여 조선시대 조선 농촌공동체의 계에 대한 분석을 시도했다. 이러한 접근은 지역 엘리트 사족이 성리학적 이념을 원용하여 이른바 지역사회 주도권을 확보하여 향촌자치를 실현했다는 선행연구 성과를 비판적으로 계승한다.
분석대상 자료는 경주 외동읍 방어리에 존재했던 17세기 사계와 18세기 동계이다. 무부(武夫)를 중심으로 조직했던 사계와 사족(士族)이 주도한 동계의 역학관계와 호혜를 지향하며 실현했던 협동의 실제를 추적했다. 사계는 습사를 통한 무과 응시 목표를 위해 기물과 계금이라는 공유자산을 관리하기 위한 규약을 마련하고 개정을 거듭했다. 17세기 후반 사계와 동계가 공존하다가 17세기 말 사계와 동계를 함께 주도하던 경주이씨에 의해 두 계의 합계(合契)가 실현되면서 동계로 계승되었다. 그리고 18세기 이후에도 상부상조라는 성리학적 가치를 향해 공유자산을 운영하는 협동을 실현했다.
연구결과는 방어리 사계와 동계를 대상으로 신분적 역학관계에 따른 대립이 아닌 협동에 의한 합계가 실현된 사례를 제시했다. 마을 계 운영의 변화 요소도 이러한 신분적 역학관계가 아닌 기근이라는 요소가 작용하고 있음도 논증했다. 그리고 과거(科擧)와 상조(相助)라는 호혜가치를 위해 공유자산을 유지 및 지속하고자 했던 협동의 실제를 발견했다.
This study examines the systems of rural pre‒modern Choson communities by introducing the theory of new institutionalism to analyse changes in community conventions and systems under human initiative. The study also addresses the achievements of shared assets from a perspective of reciprocity and cooperation. This approach is rooted in the determination by prior research that local elites achieved so‒called ‘community initiative’ by using a Neo‒Confucian ideology to realise local autonomy. The data analysed are focused on a 17th century archery society and the 18th century village Kye, which existed within the boundaries of Bangoh village, in Kyeongju. The study examines the dynamics of the areas’ elite groups, which were organised around military activity, and the reality of cooperation that was achieved under the values of reciprocity. For example, the archery society revised its rules to manage its shared assets of property and to prepare for the military service examination through archery practice. The society played a leading role in the village society and promoted cooperative values until the late 17th century. The society then influenced the village of Kye, with its village compact, from the 18th century, effectively sustaining the commitment to cooperative values and the sharing of assets in line with the Neo‒Confucian principle of cooperation. The research results present examples of how the value of cooperation, not confrontation based on the identity dynamics, was achieved. It does this by analysing an archery society and the village of Key to discover the reality of cooperation for the continuation of shared assets, promoting reciprocity and for the purposes of mutual aid.
This study examines the systems of rural pre‒modern Choson communities by introducing the theory of new institutionalism to analyse changes in community conventions and systems under human initiative. The study also addresses the achievements of shared assets from a perspective of reciprocity and cooperation. This approach is rooted in the determination by prior research that local elites achieved so‒called ‘community initiative’ by using a Neo‒Confucian ideology to realise local autonomy. The data analysed are focused on a 17th century archery society and the 18th century village Kye, which existed within the boundaries of Bangoh village, in Kyeongju. The study examines the dynamics of the areas’ elite groups, which were organised around military activity, and the reality of cooperation that was achieved under the values of reciprocity. For example, the archery society revised its rules to manage its shared assets of property and to prepare for the military service examination through archery practice. The society played a leading role in the village society and promoted cooperative values until the late 17th century. The society then influenced the village of Kye, with its village compact, from the 18th century, effectively sustaining the commitment to cooperative values and the sharing of assets in line with the Neo‒Confucian principle of cooperation. The research results present examples of how the value of cooperation, not confrontation based on the identity dynamics, was achieved. It does this by analysing an archery society and the village of Key to discover the reality of cooperation for the continuation of shared assets, promoting reciprocity and for the purposes of mutual aid.
