바로가기메뉴

본문 바로가기 주메뉴 바로가기

logo

The Introduction of Chinese Characters into Korea: The Role of the Lelang Commandery

Korea Journal / Korea Journal, (P)0023-3900; (E)2733-9343
2010, v.50 no.2, pp.8-34
https://doi.org/10.25024/kj.2010.50.2.8

Abstract

This paper discusses the role of the Lelang commandery in the process of introducing Chinese characters into Korea. In the Lelang commandery, native populations of non-Han origin would have been put into the “documentary administration,” under situations similar to such frontier regions as Juyan and Dunhuang, in the process of which Chinese characters were most likely accepted on an extensive scale. The use of Chinese characters in the Lelang commandery was not limited to a group of Han people, as has been traditionally understood. Those Chinese characters introduced at that time would not necessarily have to be so-called genuine Chinese characters. Particular examples of Chinese characters that developed later into Korean idu are confirmed in official Qin and Han documents. The population native to the Lelang commandery maintained contact with various usages in the document-based administrative system for over 400 years and the usages suited to the linguistic behavior of the population on the Korean peninsula was naturally selected. It is to be noted that the process of introducing Chinese characters into Korea is best explained by the long-lasting linguistic contact and the resultant transformation.

keywords
Lelang commandery, Chinese characters, Gojoseon, Wiman Joseon, Goguryeo, literacy, documentary administration, vernacular Chinese, idu, dialect

Reference

1.

Hanshu 漢書(Book of the Former Han)

2.

Huayangguozhi 華陽國志(Chronicles of Huayang)

3.

Sanguozhi 三國志(Records of Three Kingdoms)

4.

Shiji 史記(Historical Records)

5.

Changsha City Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, et al., eds. 2003. Changsha zoumalou sanguo wujian; zhujian 長沙走馬樓三國吳簡·竹簡(Wu Kingdom Bamboo Slips of Changsha Zoumalou). Beijing: Cultural Relics Press.

6.

Gansu Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, ed. 1990. Juyan xinjian 居延新簡(New Bamboo Slips of Juyan). Beijing: Cultural Relics Press.

7.

____________, ed. 1991. Dunhuang hanjian 敦煌漢簡(Han Wooden Slips of Dunhuang). Beijing: Zhonghua Book Company.

8.

Hu, Pingsheng 胡平生, and Zhang Defang 張德芳, eds. 2001. Dunhuang xuanquanzhi hanjian shisui 敦煌懸泉置漢簡釋粹(Translations of Han Wooden Slips of Dunhuang Xuanquanzhi). Shanghai: Shanghai Ancient Books Press.

9.

Peng, Hao 彭浩, Chen Wei 陳偉, and Kudo Motoo 工藤元男. 2007. Ernianlüling yu zouyanshu 二年律令與奏 書(Codes of Second Year and Documents of Judicial Request). Shanghai: Shanghai Ancient Books Press.

10.

Subcommittee for Arranging the Shuihudi Bamboo Slips of Qin, ed. 1978. Yunmeng shuihudi qinjian 雲夢睡虎地秦簡(The Shuihudi Bamboo Slips of Qin Unearthed in Yunmeng). Beijing: Cultural Relics Press.

11.

Xie, Guihua 謝桂華, Li Junming 李均明, and Zhu Guozhao 朱國炤, eds. 1987. Juyan hanjian shiwen hejiao 居延漢簡釋文合校(Compiled Translations and Revisions on Juyan Han Wooden Slips). Beijing: Cultural Relics Press.

12.

Giele, Enno. 2009. “Kodai no shikiji noryoku o ikani hantei suru noka 古代の識字能力を如何に判定するのか” (How to Evaluate the Literacy Level during the Ancient Times). In Kanji bunka sanzennen 漢字文化三千年(Three Thousand Years of Chinese Writing Culture), edited by Takada Tokio 高田時雄. Kyoto: Rinsen Shoten.

13.

Kim, Byung-Joon. 1997. “Handae taesubu songni jojik-ui byeonhwa-wa geu seonggyeok” (Official Organization of Commandery Chief in Han Period). In vol. 3 of Godae jungguk-ui ihae (Understanding of Ancient China). Seoul: Jisik Sanup Publishing Co.

14.

____________. 2009. “Rakurogun shoki no henko katei 樂浪郡初期の編戶過程” (Household Registration Process in the Early Days of the Lelang Commandery). Kodai bunka 古代文化(Ancient Culture) 61.2.

15.

Kim, Young Wook. 2007. “Jungwon goguryeobi-ui gugeolhakjeok yeongu” (A Study on the Goguryeo Stele in Jungwon). Gugyeol yeongu (Gugyeol Studies) 18.

16.

Lee, Sung-Kyu. 1989. “Jin-ui jibang haengjeong jojik-gwa geu seonggyeok” (Structure and Nature of Local Administration during the Qin Dynasty). Dongyang sahak yeongu (Journal of Asian Historical Studies) 31.

17.

____________. 2003. “Hanguk godae gukga-ui hyeongseong-gwa hanja suyong” (Formation of the Ancient Countries of Korea and the Acceptance of Chinese Characters). Hanguk godaesa yeongu (Journal of Korean Ancient History) 32.

18.

Lee, Sung-si 李成市. 2005. “Kodai chosen no mojibunka 古代朝鮮の文字文化” (Character Culture in Ancient Joseon). In Kodai nihon moji no kita michi: kodaichugoku, chosen kara retto e 古代日本文字の來た道: 古代中國·朝鮮から列島へ(The Transmission of Chinese and Korean Characters in Ancient Japan), edited by Hirakawa Minami. Tokyo: Taishukan Shoten.

19.

Lee, Sung-si, Yun Yong-Gu, and Kim Kyung-Ho. 2009. “Pyeongyang jeongbaek-dong 364 gobun chulto jukgan noneo-e daehayeo” (On the Confucian Analects on the Bamboo Unearthed from 364 Jeongbaek-dong, Pyeongyang). Mokgan-gwa munja yeongu (Studies of Wooden Tablets and Characters) 4.

20.

Momiyama, Akira 山明. 1999. Kanteikoku to henkyo shakai 漢帝國と邊境社會 (The Society of the Han Empire in the Northwest Frontier of China). Tokyo: Chuokoron Shinsha Press.

21.

Nam, Pung-Hyun. 2000. “Jungwon goguryeo bimun-ui haedok-gwa geu idujeok seonggyeok” (Decoding of the Inscriptions on the Goguryeo Stele in Jungwon and Their Idu-like Features). In Jungwon goguryeobi yeongu (A Study of the Goguryeo Stele in Jungwon). Seoul: Hakyoun Cultural Publishing Co.

22.

____________. 2006. “Sanggo sidae-e isseoseo chaja pyogibeop-ui baldal” (Development of the Chinese-Borrowing Writing System in Ancient Times). Gugyeol yeongu (Gugyeol Studies) 16.

23.

Park, Sun-Mi. 2009. Gojoseon-gwa dongbuga-ui godae hwapye (Ancient Currencies of Gojoseon and Northeast Asia). Seoul: Hakyoun Cultural Publishing Co.

24.

Pei, Xuehai 裴學海. 1954. Gushu xuzi jishi 古書虛字集釋(Variorum of the Function Words in Ancient Chinese Books). Hong Kong: Zhonghua Book Company.

25.

Serruys, Paul L-M. 1959. The Chinese Dialects of Han Time: According to Fang Yen. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press.

26.

Son, Yong-jong. 2006a. “Nangnang-gun nambu jiyeok-ui wichi” (The Location of the Southern Area of the Lelang Commandery). Ryeoksa yeongu (Historical Science) 198.

27.

____________. 2006b. “Ryodong jibang jeonhan gunhyeondeul-ui wichi-wa geuhu-ui byeoncheon (1)” (The Locations of Commanderies in the Liaodong Area and Shifts in Later Times 1). Ryeoksa yeongu (Historical Science) 199.

28.

Song, Ki-Ho. 2002. “Godae-ui munja saenghwal” (The Use of Chinese Characters in Ancient Times). In vol. 5 of Gangjwa hanguk godaesa (A Course in the History of Ancient Korea). Seoul: Institute of Historical Remains of Garakguk Research.

29.

Tomiya, Itaru 富谷至. 2010. Bunsho gyosei no kanteikoku 文書行政の漢帝國(Documentary Administration during the Han Empire). Nagoya: Nogoya University Press.

30.

Yeo, Hokyu. 2009. “Goguryeo-ui hanja munhwa suyong-gwa byeonyong” (Goguryeo’s Acceptance and Transformation of the Culture of Chinese Characters). In Godae munja jaryo-ro bon dongasia-ui munhwa gyoryuwa sotong (Cultural Exchange and Communications in Northeast Asia via Ancient Character Data). Seoul: Northeast Asian History Foundation.

31.

Yun, Yonggu. 2009. “Pyeongyang chulto nangnang-gun chowon sanyeon hyeonbeol hogubu yeongu” (A Study of the Household Registration of the Lelang Commandery Unearthed in Pyeongyang). Mokgan-gwa munja yeongu (Studies of Wooden Tablets and Characters) 3.

32.

____________. 2010. “Nangnang chulto munja jaryo-wa yeongu donghyang” (The Materials of Characters Unearthed from Lelang and Recent Research Trends). Hanguk godaesa yeongu (Journal of Korean Ancient History) 58.

33.

Yun, Jae-Seug 尹在碩. 2002. “Gudai hanzhong fazhi jiaoliu qianxi 古代韓中法制交流淺析” (Analysis of Legal Institutions during the Ancient Korea and China). Zhongguo wenhua yanjiu 中國文化硏究(Journal of Chinese Culture) (winter).

Korea Journal