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Background and historical significance of the establishment of Bukwon-gyeong·Jungwon-gyeong·Seowon-gyeong

In-jae Lee

연세대학교

Published: January 2025 · Vol. 35 · pp. 1-36

DOI: https://doi.org/10.71244/jojm.2025.35.1

Abstract

Silla, which concluded the Three Kingdoms Unification War, reorganized the local system so that the old Baekje people and the old Goguryeo people could become complete Silla people. The person in charge of the reorganization of the local system was the middle-class working-level officials trained by the literary revolution of the Seolchong and the accompanying educational revolution.
The means of reforming the local system was the Chinese-style Commanderies and Counties system, but the Commanderies and Counties system adopted by Silla in the North-South States Stage was The System of Commandments and Counties based on the independent relationship style, reflecting the historical experiences of Silla in the Three Kingdoms period.
Silla during the Three Kingdoms period was a confederation state in which the relationship between local civil servants and central civil servants in Seoul was horizontal and pluralistic.
In addition, Silla, the North-South States, recognized a system that recognized each local power with its own order of classes. Such local powers were called The Local Administrative Influentials.
The best example of this local government system was the Silla’ Little Seoul during the Northern and Southern States Period.
The ministers of Little Seoul worked with the Local Civil Servants to develop policies and implement them with the villagers. However, Silla's local administration clashed with traditional powers, and after the 9th century, it changed and led to the fall of the dynasty, which was reorganized into the Goryeo-style local system.
Keywords: 설총영속관계형 군현제대등관반소경Seolchong(설총)The System of Commanderies and Counties based on the dependent relationship style(영속관계형 군현제)The Local Civil Servant(대등)The Local Power’s own order of classes(관반)Little Seoul(소경)