Gwan-rye Trends from the periodof modern transition: Based on antique documents of Lee Joong-gu’sfive generations

Abstract

This paper analyzes the reality of Gwan-rye based on antique documents of Lee Joong-gu’s five generations, especially the Korean old vernacular letters, to investigate how the traditional Yangban noblemen during the period of transition to modern era inherited Confucianism rituals and proved that Gwan-rye existed at that time. In addition, it focuses on the process of Gwan-rye and its changes to look into trends of Gwan-rye at that time. Gwan-rye assigns responsibilities and duties of adults to those who have come of age and it publicly recognizes their qualifications of adults as members of family and society, so it is recognized as coming-of-age ceremony of traditional Confucianism culture. The four ceremonial occasions of coming of age, wedding, funeral, and ancestral rites are main rituals of Confucianism culture, and the first to be practiced among them is Gwan-rye. Early-and-mid Joseon was a period when Chinese Gwayn-rye’s were accepted and systematically recommended to be practiced. At the time, kings including Taejo put great effort to generalize Gwan-rye. During the reigns of Seongjong, Younsangun, and Jungjong, kings constantly received written opinions on negative effects of Gwan-rye including extravagance after Gwan-rye. Gwan-rye began to be generalized from mid-Joseon after the 16th century as Sarims were officially approved by Sajoks. Gwan-rye’s were still practiced from the late 19th century to late Joseon. At that time, Gwan-rye was transformed from original ‘Gwan-rye for ipgi(立志)’ to ‘Gwan-rye as precondition for wedding.’ In late Joseon, Gwan-rye was not an independent ritual any more, but turned into a means of another ritual. The importance of Gwan-rye shrunk and it was subbordinated to wedding. Most of the materials in the antique documents of Lee Joong-gu’s five generation that can track records of Gwan-rye come from the year of 1898 and 1920. This period was a period of confusion due to the ordinance prohibiting topknots and Japanese occupation. With enforcement of the ordinance prohibiting topknots, protests against it took place everywhere. Our traditional ritual Gwan-rye was not abolished, but continued to exist even in this period. It can be acknowledged as an accomplishment of protecting and practicing our rituals by our ancestors.