Population is an important factor as a basic factor that constitutes a country or society. Therefore, the basis of social fluctuations in a country or era is closely related to the increase or decrease of the population, especially the increase or dec ...
Population is an important factor as a basic factor that constitutes a country or society. Therefore, the basis of social fluctuations in a country or era is closely related to the increase or decrease of the population, especially the increase or decrease of the working age population has a profound effect on the economic development of a country or era.
With this in mind, this study investigated the population status and characteristics of Gyeongsangdo in the 15th century, focusing on Gyeongsangdojiriji (the Geographical Description of Gyeongsangdo)a government-sponsored geography in the early Chosun Dynasty. The summary of the results is as follows.
First, the data value of Gyeongsangdojiriji, the existing official geography, was re-examined. The existing Gyeongsangdojiriji should be evaluated in terms of independent geography, breaking away from the perception that it has been undervalued because it was created in the process of compiling Sejongsillokjiriji(the Geographical Description of the Annals of King Sejong). If Gyeongsangdojiriji, a part of the newly compiled paldojiriji(the Geographical Description of the early Chosun Dynasty) in the 14th year of King Sejong, was sent to Chunchugwan in the form of no preface, Gyeongsangdojiriji, which was later placed in Gyeongju, is considered to have a different purpose of compilation. In addition, looking at the political tendencies of the compilers, they are newly emerging forces in the late Taejong period and are directly or indirectly related to Jeong Mong-ju in the late Goryeo Dynasty. Therefore, the existing Gyeongsangdojiriji contains different parts from Sejongsillokjiriji, and among them, Gyeongsangdojiriji contains both male and female populations, but only male populations is written in Sejongsillokjiriji.
Second, based on this, the population status and characteristics of Gyeongsangdo in the 15th century were examined, focusing on the arc structures of 114 counties and prefectures listed in the existing Gyeongsangdojiriji. From this, the number of households in Gyeongsangdo is 42,221, with a male population of 172,174 and a female population of 182,895, which can be estimated to be 355,069 in total. The number of districts per unit is 8.41, and the gender ratio for men and women is 94,14, showing a female-dominated phenomenon. In addition, the population distribution and demographic structure were schematized on a map by analyzing the pen names and districts of each county and prefecture. Sangjumok has the largest number of households in Gyeongsangdo, and Gimhaedohobu has the largest male and female population. On the other hand, Andongdo has the largest number of districts per unit, of which Yeongyanghyeon in Yeonghaedohobu. The most severe male and female gender ratio is Habinhyeon in Daegugun, and Jeungmohyeon in Sangjumok, the most severe female-dominated phenomenon.