Ssangseong Chonggwanbu refers to the general government office installed in the Ssangseong area. In addition, Chonggwanbu can be said to refer to the institution presided over by Chonggwan. Then, one of the keys to the status of the organization call ...
Ssangseong Chonggwanbu refers to the general government office installed in the Ssangseong area. In addition, Chonggwanbu can be said to refer to the institution presided over by Chonggwan. Then, one of the keys to the status of the organization called Chonggwanbu and Chonggwan, the central figure of Chonggwanbu in the system of the Mongol Empire, is what it is. In fact, it is not uniform but variable.
Hong Cha-Gu, Wang Joon, Choi Tan, and Jo Hui of Ssangseong Chonggwanbu are the main Chonggwans from Goryeo whose records appear in the 13th century. However, it is difficult to see that all Chonggwan positions awarded to them are equivalent. For example, in the provincial system of the Mongol Empire, the head of Ro-Chonggwanbu and the head of other Chonggwanbu such as Ssangseong Chonggwanbu have the same designation Chonggwan, but their positions are not the same.
In the Mongol Empire, Chonggwanbu does not necessarily have a fixed position, but can be installed on various layers, and is installed according to when people are organized into groups for a specific purpose, not necessarily for local government. In other words, Chonggwanbu is not a fixed organization, but rather an organization that organizes and installs inhos whenever necessary. And the status of the Chonggwan position was proportional to the status of the corresponding Chonggwanbu. This shows some similarities to the characteristics of Dogam installation and operation in Goryeo, and the variable status of Byulgam, who was in charge.
One thing to note here is that although Chonggwan appears to be appointed to a specific region at first glance, it should be viewed in a slightly different concept from the general idea of a provincial official in a settlement country. This is because Chonggwan basically has administrative authority over the place of residence of the people as a position to have jurisdiction over people, unlike local officials in the settlement state, who control the people in the region based on receiving administrative powers of the region.
This is also a starting point to explain the complex power structure that appears in Ssangseong Chonggwanbu. The appearance of complex power structures in regional organizations of the Mongol Empire including Ssangseong Chonggwanbu is
This is because, since the criteria for the establishment of Chonggwanbu and the appointment of Chonggwan are “people” rather than “region” to the last, a person who is given control over different people group in the same area can exist independently of each other.
And when Ssangseong Chonggwanbu was established, the role expected by the Mongol Empire in this regard can be broadly mentioned in three ways. These are the check on Goryeo, the check on the three Eastern ulus that were trying to expand their power toward the Korean Peninsula, and the demand for gold. In fact, during this period, Ssangseong Chonggwanbu performed armed conflict with Goryeo, served as a guide for the Mongol army, and served as a defense line during the rebellion of the three Eastern ulus forces.
Compared to Dongnyungro, Ssangseong Chonggwanbu until the end of the 13th century had a lower administrative status on paper even from the beginning of its establishment, and it seems that the area was somewhat smaller. However, while the Goryeo-Mongol relationship was unstable and the threat of the three Eastern ulus existed, a voice commensurate with the expected role appeared. Therefore, even in the unstable situation, it can be seen that the relative status was the highest during this period.
From the end of the 13th century to the beginning of the 14th century, there are three major factors that changed the status and character of Ssangseong Chonggwanbu. The first is the stabilization of the Goryeo-Mongol relationship, and the second is the improvement of the local system of the Mongol Empire and alleviation of the conflict between the Great Khan and the three Eastern ulus. Both of these resulted in lowering the strategic status of Ssangseong Chonggwanbu in the border area, that is, the value as a check force. However, in return, conflicts with neighboring regions were alleviated, and human and material exchanges with Goryeo and Habranbu were promoted. And, as a result, the third factor, the influx of the Jeonju Lee clan from the north, appeared.
In the early days of establishment, the mutual relationship between Ssangseong Chonggwanbu and Goryeo was on the rough side, but as the Goryeo-Mongol relationship entered a stable period, it seems that various characters exchanged relatively freely between Goryeo and Ssangseong Chonggwanbu. The Jo family, who inherited Ssangseong Chonggwan, is no exception. Jo Lim, who becomes the 3rd Chonggwan among the sons of the 2nd Chonggwan Jo Yang-ki, originally served the King of Goryeo, succeeded his father and inherited the status of Ssangseong Chonggwan. His younger brother Jo Don also served the King of Goryeo.
And during this period, through the reciprocal movement of people with the Habranbu area, the Jeonju Yi clan, the direct ancestor of Yi Seong-gye, flowed into the Ssangseong area. They officially became influential in the Ssangseong area as Yi Haeng-li was appointed to the Darughachi in Ssangseong and surrounding areas. The Lee clan had its base in Hamju, the border area between Habranbu and Ssangseong, and expanded its power across both Habranbu and Ssangseong Chonggwanbu. In addition, they were also trying to establish a good relationship by making connections with Goryeo.
Later, in the 14th century, during the reign of King Gongmin, a confrontational aspect appeared again between Ssangseong Chonggwanbu and Goryeo. However, in addition to the interpretation that this was King Gongmin's will to restore the territories, it is necessary to look at the aspect of efforts to protect the king's authority and the confrontation with the powerful Ki clan at the time. And this is also related to the conflict between the Chonggwan Jo clan and the Darughachi Yi clan.
Jo clan and Yi clan became a union when Yi Chun took Jo Clan's daughter as his second wife, but in the course of hereditary succession there was a dispute between the sons of Park clan, Yi Chun's first wife, and the sons of Jo clan, the second wife. As this happens, it turns into a confrontational relationship. Accordingly, Yi clan led by Yi ja-Chun cooperated with King Gongmin, King of Goryeo. On the other hand, Jo clan's position was not unified. This is because Jo So-saeng, the Chonggwan showed an intention to unite with Ki clan, while Jo Don and his family cooperated with the King of Goryeo. At this time, the people of Ssangseong Chonggwanbu were divided into Jo clan jurisdiction, Yi clan jurisdiction, and the King of Goryeo jurisdiction. And among them, Jo So-saeng, the Chonggwan's sphere of influence seems to have reached about 12 provinces among Ssangseong Chonggwanbu.
In the end, King Gongmin dispatched Yoo In-woo to attack Ssangseong Chonggwanbu in 1356. Jo Don and his family and Lee Ja-chun and his force responded and attacked with Yoo In-woo. As a result, Jo So-saeng was defeated and fled to the north. King Gongmin tried to convince him, but Jo So-saeng maintained an aggressive attitude toward Goryeo. Furthermore, conversely, in 1362, it invaded the northern border of Goryeo in association with Naghachu of Liaodong. However, King Gongmin dispatched Yi Seong-gye to repel it, and Jo So-saeng, who escaped again, was murdered in July of that year. And with this, Ssangseong Chonggwanbu lost both the its base area and the central figure, and eventually met its complete annihilation.