Social Change And The Response Of The Yang-ban In Late Joseon Dynasty

Joseon Dynasty in the 17th century was in a crisis of internal and external troubles.It was not only faced with military threats from Japan and Later Jin Dynasty,but also beset by various political and social problems such as natural disasters,low living standards and unstable state economic conditions,all of which seriously hindered the stability and development of Joseon society.At the critical moment of survival,the far-sighted personage in Joseon made unremitting efforts to continue the rule of the Dynasty in a unique way.In the reign of Gwanghaegun put forward the so-called Pyemoron(opinion of expelling the Queen Dowager Inmok).Although Yi Kyeong-yeo had established a close relationship with Lee I-Cheom,In Seong Gun and other Northerners in the way of marriage,he often pointed out problems at the time,communicated and contacted with those who fled from hometown or drifted.When discussing the penalty of Jang Hee Bin in the "Curse of Queen Inhyeon",Yi Gwan-myeong presented document and asked for saving her in order to protect the eldest son.After the Seo-in and Namin parties united the forces of military officers to launch "Injo-Coup",Beiren party gradually faded out of the political circles.But at the same time,other Northerners such as Yi Su-gwang and Im Suk-yeong,who were forced to leave the imperial court due to their criticism of Gwanghaegun’s fatuous governance,were re-used.Although No-ron and SO-ron often held different views on many events and political lines,they were consistent in the attitude towards the Enshrinement of Confucian Scholars with a tradition of hundred years,and finally realized the enshrinement ceremony of Yi yi and Seong Hon in 1682.Although failing to be implemented immediately,Yi Geon-myeong’s proposition on policies such as Gampirnon and Gyeryek-jenyongcek for the sake of Yangyeok-byeontongnon laid the foundation for Gyun’ yeok institution of Yeongjo.Since Yi Kyeong-yeo’s times,many high-ranking officials had advocated the abolition of domestic demand department that plundered the common land and court and administrative officers that occupied the wide range of farmland,but their propositions had not been accepted,and the debate on this had been extended to the generation of Yi Min-seo.This issue was also raised during the reign of Sukjong of Joseon.Yi Gwan-myeong advocated that it was necessary to reform the court officials that benefited from "Taxation" and guaranteed the interests of common people who lived on natural resources.In 1716,Sukjong of Joseon decided to abolish the policy of levying fishing salt tax on the people,which was the effort made by Seonjo of Joseon for nearly a hundred years.Therefore,although in the Late Joseon Period,the society encountered numerous problems,it did not collapse and disintegrate,but tended to stabilize through the incessant reflections and persistent reforms of the Yang-Ban.Via the study and analysis of the corresponding countermeasures against social problems of the Yang-Ban,the author thinks that the reasons for the recovery and development of Joseon society can be summarized in the following three points:First,Yang-Ban have the dual identities as officials and scholars,who produced influence not only on marriage and learning,but also on the values,beliefs,thinking and understanding of the world,society and common people as well as having an important impact on policy decisions.Second,there is a certain degree of consensus on the fundamental issues of Joseon even among different political groups,which makes it possible for the two sides to cooperate to achieve common goals.Third,even if the policy outcome is not clear,they will continue to draw blueprints to seek for well-being of the people.For this purpose,even if they encounter obstacles,they do not stop suggesting,and their reflections on the times and the people are handed down from generation to generation until such thought is accepted by the rulers and produces a positive change.