Abstract

The aim of this article is to observe the characteristics of the late Chosŏn Kingship through the debate between King and Servants regarding eŭiri(義理). The Neo-Confucian ruling idea of the late Chosŏn developed a close relationship with the political system. The Neo-Confucian eŭiri theory(義理論) was the main factor influencing the regulation of the political process. This theory was the logical ground and ideological weapon to eliminate opposite factions in the political competition and conflicts, and became not only the main factor in gaining or losing power but also the norm which restricted the political activities between King and Servants. The fact Yŏngjo's obligation to noron(老論) in the process of the enthronement process make monopoly of political power of noron and restrain of the Kingship. The T'angp'yŏng(蕩平) policy which had a new vision and idea wasn't effective due to the weakness of Yŏngjo from the very beginning, incurred the retrenchment of the King's political role. The main cause of the failure to strengthen the Kingship could be found in the King's eŭiri theory which was brought King's eŭiri theory up to achieve the political idea, 'T'angp'yŏng(蕩平)' contradicted with Neo- Confucian eŭiri theory logically. The above shows that the Kingship was strongly restrained by Neo-Confucian euiri theory rather than the power politics in Chosŏn. This is very important when explaining how ideology affects actual politics in political phenomena. To draw a conclusion from the above, this article has analysed the logic of the euiri theory of the King and Servants from the Annals of the Chosŏn Dynasty and examined the process of the Kingship weakening in the process of political compromise under the discord.