Why is 2014 Gyeonggi Province Year 600?
Createdd 2014-03-03 Hit 533
Contents
[Gyeonggi Province Year 600, center of a unified Korea ③] The standing of and changes in Gyeonggi over 600 years
◇ King Taejong, the third king of the Joseon Dynasty, modified government control on January 18, 1414, and formed the province now known as “Gyeonggi” by unifying the former provinces of East Gyeonggi and West Gyeonggi. Accordingly, this year marks the 600th year of the creation of Gyeonggi Province. ⓒ Gyeonggi G-News
Gyeonggi Province residents participated in a ceremony marking the 600th anniversary of Gyeonggi Province, which took place at Haenggung Palace of Hwaseong Fortress in Suwon City from 1:30 p.m. on February 16th.
Many residents wondered why 2014 has become the year to celebrate Gyeonggi Province Year 600. Therefore, the province has provided explanations regarding the etymological meaning of “Gyeonggi” and the significance of 1414.
The etymological meaning of Gyeonggi
“Gyeonggi” refers to Seoul and its surrounding areas. “Gyeong” originally specified the capital of the empire/kingdom, and “gi” indicated the 1,000 ri (approximately 400 kilometers) of land around the capital city directly controlled by the emperor/king. The Gyeonggi system was formed institutionally during the Tang Dynasty, and was fully implemented in Korea during the Goryeo Dynasty.
It was only in 1018 (9th year of the reign of King Hyeonjong) when the outskirts of the capital were officially referred to as “Gyeonggi.” It is written in the History of Goryeo that this was a reorganization of a system called Jeokgihyeonje[이1] enforced during the 14th year of the reign of King Seongjong. According to the Jiriji Wanggyeong Gaeseongbujo in the History of Goryeo, the 39 regions of Yanggwangdo, Gyojudo and Seohaedo were newly incorporated in 1069 (23rd year of the reign of King Munjong), indicating that the Gyeonggi system was expanded along with the Gaeseongbu.
Why 1414?
Gyeonggi was established as a local government system after being separated from the central government when the provinces of East Gyeonggi and West Gyeonggi were established late in the Goryeo Dynasty. Goryeo divided Gyeonggi into western and eastern provinces in 1390 (2nd year of the reign of King Gongyang), and a provincial governor [이2] was assigned to each province. West Gyeonggi included Ansan, Cheorwon and Icheon, while East Gyeonggi included Gaeseong and Gimpo.
The Joseon Dynasty combined the provinces in 1402 (2nd year of the reign of King Taejong) and referred to Gyeonggi West and East Capital with a governor and an official sent from the central government. On January 18, 1414, King Taejong modified the government system and began referring to this region as ‘Gyeonggi-do (Gyeonggi Province)’ without dividing it into western and eastern provinces.
There are some that regard 1413 as being the first year of Gyeonggi Province based on the contents of Sejong Sillok Jiriji (Geographical Appendix to the Veritable Records of King Sejong). According to the Gyeonggi section in Sejong Sillok Jiriji Vol. 148, the region was “not divided into western and eastern provinces, and yet a governmental unit referred to as the Gyeonggi Province Governor was placed in Suwon” in 1413 (13th year of the reign of King Taejong).
However, Gyeonggi Province announced: “Sejong Sillok Jiriji is a form of humanities and geography text, and was completed in 1454 (2nd year of the reign of King Danjong), and thus later than the Taejong Sillok (Chronicles of King Taejong) recorded during King Taejong’s reign. Therefore, the year 1414, as recorded in the Sillok, is considered the beginning of Gyeonggi Province.”
◇ West and East Gyeonggi overview with the southern counties and prefectures of West Gyeonggi and the northern counties and prefectures of East Gyeonggi. This document is currently housed in the Gyeonggi Provincial Museum (Treasure no. 1596). ⓒ Gyeonggi G-News
ⓒGyeonggi G-News | Park Gwan-sik malbut@kg21.net
http://gnews.gg.go.kr/news/news_detail.asp?number=201402071629187055C048&s_code=C049
