Construction and Transformation of Monuments to Ring Hou(楊鎬) in Late Joseon​​

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Author : Na, Jong-hyun​​​​​​​

Page : 83-113

Abstract   

  In 1598, a monument to Ring Hou, who participated in the war during the Japanese Invasion of Korea in 1592, was erected in Sahyeon for the first time. Unlike other monuments related to Ming Army, this monument seems to be voluntarily built by the Joseon’s court because Ring Hou’s repatriation had a significant impact on Joseon's Daemyung diplomacy.

  After the war, generous treatments to Ring Hou continued. As Ring Hou regained military power, the Joseon Dynasty was able to use the friendly relationship with Ring Hou as a mean to respond to the rapidly changing international situation. In commemoration of the enshrinement of the portrait of Ring Hou in 1610, the second monument to him was built near the Mohwagwan in 1612.

  After the replacement of Ming and Qing, despite the fact that monuments to Ming army could bring tension in Joseon-Qing relationship, interest in the monument has increased even more than before. With the development of the Joseon Junghwa Ideology, Ring Hou was re-examined as a symbol of the "Jaejojieun" of the Shen-tsung emperor. The monument made in Seonjo’s reign, which had been damaged and fallen through several wars, was newly erected at Seonmusa Temple in Sukjong’s reign, and the old monument was also repaired. 

  King Yeongjo worked hard to promote "Fulfilling Righteousness by Honoring the Master" and devoted to Seonmusa Temple several times. During this period, Ring Hou had a firm status as a symbol of "Jaejojieun". The old monument was repaired and moved to Seonmusa Temple. 

  Despite Joseon Junghwa Ideology has lost its influence in King Heonjong's reign, damaged Monument to Ring Hou which originally built in Gwanghae’s reign was rebuilt. As Joseon was ruined, the situation has changed. The interest in the monument to Ring Hou could not be the same as before, and the monument built in King Seon Jo’s reign and the monument built became unknown, and only two monuments maintain their existence so far. 

<Key Words>​

Monument to Ring Hou(楊鎬去思碑), Ring Hou(楊鎬), Joseon-Ming Relationship, Fulfilling Righteousness by Honoring the Master, Joseon Junghwa Ideology(Sino-centrism)​