전환기의 조선초기 상속법 (The Transformation of the early chosun dynasty's inheritance law)

서지정보

· 발행기관 : 단국대학교 법학연구소
· 수록지 정보 : 법학논총 / 42권 / 3호 / 317 ~ 359페이지
· 저자명 : 한복룡

초록

조선초 재산상속에서 일어난 가장 큰 변화 중의 하나는 妻와 딸의 지위의변화이다. 妻의 지위는 嫡庶與否와 良賤의 신분에 따라 세분되고 다양화된다.
儒敎的 宗法制가 강조되기 시작하면서 財産相續爭訟에서 妻의 지위가 약해지고 이어서 딸의 상속권이 약화된다. 妻의 財産權 약화에 이어 財産相續에서嫡妻의 딸이 良妾의 아들에 밀려나게 되며 私田 보다는 功臣田 상속에서 딸의배제가 먼저 일어나고 있다. 또한 아들의 상속분도 어머니의 지위와 신분에따라 정해지기 시작한다. 재산상속에서 여성들은 신분과 딸이라는 성별에 의해 차등화 되기 시작하고 다시 어머니가 되면 아들의 유무에 따라 차등화 된다. 자녀들도 어머니의 嫡庶與否와 신분에 따라 차등화 되는데, 특히 아들에게어머니의 嫡庶與否와 신분은 대단히 중요하다. 즉 身分制度와 儒敎的 宗法制 가 서로 맞물리게 되면서 재산상속에서 妻의 지위가 약화되고 子孫 특히 아들의 권한이 강화되면서 그 아들의 어머니의 법적 지위가 강화되기 시작한다.
高麗末부터 朝鮮初를 거치면서 兩班中心의 身分制度와 宗法制 및 朱子學의 영향으로 嫡室子女와 承重子는 재산에 割增이 많은 반면, 良妾子女나 賤妾子女는 열등한 대우를 받게 되었다. 남계중심의 가족형태로 바뀜에 따라 재산상속에 있어서 여성의 지위가 서서히 약화되고, 제사⋅재산상속에 있어서 長子를중시하는 경향이 많아진 것은 당연한 일이다. 표면적으로는 균분이지만 점차장자⋅장손을 우대하면서 딸에 대한 차별의식도 생겨나기 시작하였으며 妻의재산상속상의 지위도 점점 약화되고 있다. 이들은 모두 조선시대에 들어오면서 유교적 宗法制와 男系中心的 嫁娶制가 정책적으로 장려되는 과정에서 혼속의 변화에 앞서 생긴 변화이다. 이러한 변화는 壻留婦家婚俗에서 嫁娶制로 갑자기 혼속을 변화시키는 것이 어려우므로 왕실에서 먼저 親迎을 실시하고 그대신에 服喪制를 먼저 개혁하는 방법을 택한 것과 맥이 통한다. 결국 朝鮮初의 이러한 변화는 朝鮮 고유의 壻留婦家婚俗과 男女均分相續 그리고 중국의儒敎的 宗法制와 嫁娶制 및 身分社會의 조화라는 큰 틀에서 이해해야 하고 祖宗成憲尊重의 정신 아래 왕과 신하들 사이의 신중한 토론으로 이루어지고 있는 변화임을 주목해야 한다.

영어초록

One of the striking characteristics of the inheritance in the early Chosun periodwas that the offsprings could have equally received parents’ fortunes regardless ofsexual discrimination since the late Korea Dynasty. The tendency of the inheritancein the early Chosun period shows the severe regulation to prohibit the member ofthe same clan from giving the wealth to other persons of a different clan. It is apiece of good evidence that a husband and wife managed respectively individualfortunes during the lifetime and their respective clan gathered the remained propertywhen they died without sons and daughters. As opposed to this, In the late Chosunperiod wife’s fortunes was absorbed in husband’s. In order to make it, I based itsapproach to paleography such as the Annals of the Chosun Dynasty and manuscriptsincluding punjae-gi(分財記, a documentary draft describing each allotment portion offortunes) as the primary sources and other relevant material as well.
In the beginning of the Chosun dynasty, there were big attempts to change theexisting Inheritance law system since the late Korea Dynasty. The historical fact thatthe Korea Dynasty was buddist country, but the Chosun dynasty was confuciouscountry is also a important element of change. This transformation, I would like tocall the first transformation of Korean family law system in Korean history. It canbe characterised to be, so called, the enforcement Confucius Chonfa system(宗法制)by the reformest Chosun government. Above all these reforms it can be explainedthe change from so called Namguiyeoga(男歸女家), of the newly-wed husband takingresidence in his wife’s family’s residence to a new practice called Chinyeong-jae(親迎制). It was the first transformation of marriage system on the Korean history. Butthe attempts did not succeed in national range, but only in Royal Family. One of the characteristics in the inheritance of the Chosun Dynasty is uniquetradition developed from the Korea Dynasty. Also it shows many differences whencompared with the bequest systems of the neighboring country China. In traditionalChina the impartial distribution of fortunes was just for sons, but daughters merelyreceived a paucity of dowry when they get married. In fact, donors’ intentionnaturally was reflected in the distribution of their fortunes, but from time to time theheirs could claim for their ownership through the indictment when donors’ decisionwas so partial or ignored traditional custom. However, still many cases show thatsons and daughter had a choice to address to a district governor a plea after parentsdied rather than before. From the late of Korea Dynasty to the early of ChosunDynasty, Wife’s economic power is not weak. Her affection was the one of themajor factor of social effect. Especially In the Early Chosun Period, Wife’sIndividual Property played an important role in society.
On the other hand, One of the striking characteristics of the inheritance in theearly Chosun period was that such impartial distribution of fortunes, one of thecharacteristics in the inheritance of the Chosun dynasty, is unique tradition developedfrom the Korea dynasty. Also it shows many differences when compared with thebequest systems of the neighboring countries, China and Japan. In traditional Chinathe impartial distribution of fortunes was just for sons, but daughters merely receiveda paucity of dowry when they get married. As in the same context, it is hard tofind such unbiased distribution cases similar to the Chosun dynasty in Japan.
Nowadays the second transformation of Korean family law system is on the way. Sostudying the experience of the early Chosun dynasty will be very important materialto the lawyers and scholars of these days.

참고자료

· 없음