고려 界首官의 제도적 연원과 성립과정 ― 9州·12牧과의 연결성을 중심으로 ―

Abstract

The function of the 9 Ju units mainly exhibited two major aspects. One

was represented by the Ju units' superiority to the Gun and Yeong-hyeon

local units. Another was represented by the Ju units' status as representatives

of extremely wide regions. These functions were similar to those of the

Gyaesu-gwan headquarters. And this means that the Gyaesu-gwan

headquarters of the Goryeo dynasty actually originated from the 9 Ju units

of the Shilla dynasty.

The notion of the 9 Ju units prevailed during the early days of the

Goryeo dynasty period, and this is confirmed by the epitaph materials

created during that period. The Goyreo dynasty government decided to rule

and manage the local areas with the Gun/Hyeon-jae policy inherited from

the Shilla dynasty even after Goryeo unified the Korean peninsula.

Then in the second year of King Seongjong's reign, 12 Mok units were

established. This implementation of a new local system was demonstrating

that the people was actually thinking that the world of the Goryeo dynasty

had been enlarged, and the implementation also meant that the ruling

system of the world based upon the King's ruling authority was being

finally established. The 12 Mok units were literally the descendants of the

old 9 Ju units, and their implementation was signalling that the capital was

going through some changes at the time, and the territory of the dynasty

was expanding as well.

The 12 Mok units were only able to function in a partial manner as the

government was not yet able to fully control the local areas. The Mok units

mainly functioned only in terms of inspections and personnel recommendations,

as dictated in the 'Six Directives for the Jasa officials(刺史六條)' which

served as the principles for the personnel involved in 12 Mok units'

administration. Jasa officials' Six Directives were later transformed into the

'Six Directives that should be Upheld by officials(奉行六條)'.