고려의 三韓一統意識과 ‘開國’ 인식

Abstract

Examined in this study is a historical fact that the term “Foundation of the Country(開國),” during the Goryeo period, actually referred to the unification of the Later three dynasties(後三國), instead of Founder king Taejo(太祖) Wang-Geon(王建)’s enthronement. Goryeo proclaimed that it was a successor dynasty to Goguryeo, and endeavored to unite the later three dynasties. Its operation system and institutions were based upon the very notion that three Hans had been one all the time. Vassals who helped Wang Geon and contributed to his enthronement were never called as “Meritorious vassals for the foundation of the country(開國功臣),” but were instead included in the “Three Hans’ Meritorious vassals(三韓功臣),” which referred to vassals who contributed to the unification of the later three dynasties. It was the same with the term “Foundation of the Country(開國),” which we can find from many Goryeo records, as they also referred to the unification of the country, instead of the founder king’s rise to the throne. Goryeo also perceived the beginning point of the dynasty as the year of its unification. In the ending days of Goryeo, a new view considering the starting point of the dynasty to have been Wang Geon’s year of enthronement slowly began to prevail, yet during the better part of the entire Goryeo period, unification of the peninsula was continuously considered as a much more important and definitive marker. Founder king Taejo was also defined as “The King who reunited(一統) the Three Hans(三韓).”