The purpose of this study is to examine systems of local government-managed constructions by reviewing official documents and materials in regard to the official residences, Hyanggyo(鄕校) and castles officially constructed in Dongnae(東茶) in the late period of Chosun(朝鮮) Dynasty. This study was proceeded in the following two steps.
First, this researcher reviewed actual cases and processes of constructions surveyed here. In relation, the researcher tried to clearly understand proceeds of each of the constructions in terms of a govermental agency and administrative procedures concerned.
Secondly, the researcher investigated similarities and differences among official constructions in Dongnae in terms of working organization, labor mobilization, fund raising and material procurement, determining a certain system of government-managed construction in the region. For the determination, situations of the times concerned were also considered.
Results of this study can be described as follows.
1) Official residences were regularly checked and repaired. Their conditions were reported to Sunyoung(巡營) mainly by Gongbang Saekri.(工房色更) Repairs of Dongheon(東軒) and Naea(內衝) focused mainly on papering. They became sizable occasionally. In Dongnae, official residences were repaired and maintained by temporary organizations, not permanent ones. Bangyeokcheong(防役廳) provided aid to such repair and maintenance.
2) The construction of official residences required exchanges of official documents among upper and lower governmental agencies concerned. Previously prepared for some 1 or 2 months, the construction was proceeded through processes from Paok(破屋) to Gaegi,(開基) Ipju,(立柱) Sangryang,(上樑) Gaeok(蓋屋) and to Iptaek.(入毛) Such construction was carried out independently, but occasionally Gijang-gun(機張郡) and Yangsan-gun(梁山郡) neighboring Dongnae provided cooperation by way of supplying labor and timbers.
3) Dongnae Hyanggyo was worked to be removed five times since Japanese invasion into Chosun in 1592. The focus of the work was Daeseongjeon.(大成願) In relation, the construction of rooms for lecture was sometimes delayed depending on situations. The removal work was discussed through official meeting, and approved by governor of Dongnae and ruler of Gyeongsang(慶尙) province. Especially, such work related to Daeseongjeon had to receive approval from the Ceremonies Board of Chosun. Timbers as construction materials were supplied from Mt. Bong(封山) under the control of Gyeongsang-Jwasuyoung(慶尙左水營). Financial and institutional supports by governmental agencies varied according to the times and to whether Dongnae had real power or not. This directly influenced offcial construction in the region.
4) Mt. Geumjeong(金井) Fortress Wall was built up in the level of nation. But Dongnaebu Castle was constructed under local autonomy system, like other government-oriented works, as governor of Dongnae became responsible for defending such establishment in 1739. The castle was built up in 1731 as an establishment with 6 gates and 15 forts. Directly controlled by governor of Dongnae, the castle continued to be partially repaired until the 19th century. Under the regime of Daewongun,(大院君) the castle was enlarged and extended for military strengthening. Besides the south gate having double-gated structure for the outside wall, the other five gates came to have bastions and 30 forts were additionally established, dramatically changing the structure of the castle as whole.
5) Government-managed construction was often implemented by an organization whose members included local government officials, lower administrative agencies and local influential persons. The construction of official residences was implemented by Gainyeokdogam(籃役都籃) which was headed by Jwasu(座首) Hyangcheong.(鄕廳) In the construction, chief of military officials became supervisor, who was responsibly supported by Saekri.(色更) In its early period, Hyanggyo was constructed under the control of Yeonggeondogam(營造都藍) led by Jwasu. Since 1744, however, the work was taken responsibility of by officials titled Gyoim(校任) and one Saekri as Gamgwan.(藍官) The construction of castles were divided into several works, for example, establishments of fortress, tower gate and quarrying stone were implemented by the organization of Paejang,(牌將) Gamkwan and Saekri. As a military official, Gamkwan supervised the construction. Saekri was in charge of related internal affairs. Paejang was an technical expert leading several workers.
6) In the 17th century, most of technicians in Dongnae were from civil craftsmen. From the late 17th century, however, monk craftsmen from neighboring temples such as Pomosa(포魚寺) and Tongdosa(通度寺) became mobilized as technicians critical to official construction Full-time carpenters as civilians first appeared in the region in the late 18th century when waging for technicians began to be established. They were gradually developed into a class through technological exchanges with approved craftsmen.
7) In Dongnae, paying wages to mobilized people for their participation in government-operation construction began in 1730s. But common people were forcedly mobilized to such construction because they were still obliged to pay taxes in kind or, instead, provide miscellaneous services. Compulsory labors were delivered by couriers mainly to residents of administrative myeon(面) districts.
8) Expenses for local government-managed constructions had nothing to do with local tax systems, but had to be funded separately. Such expenses were relatively much in amount. 'Sometimes wages or castle construction cost, previously funded, were appropriated to the expenses. In their shortage, nevertheless, the expenses were collected in-other ways. In Dongnaebu, it was popular to bring in interest through organizing mutual financing associations and Byeolgo.(別庫) There were lots of mutual aid for each official construction. Once in the late 19th century, Wonnapjeon(願納錢) as a special tax was collected from individual people to fund large construction works. The most part of total expenses for offical construction was labor cost, followed by payment for timbers.
9) Tress cut from Mt. Bong.(封山) whose accurate quantity was checked by Sunyoung(巡營) and Suyoung,(水營) were transported under the responsibility of Jin(鎭) and Po(浦) along the waterside of Dongnae. Timbers from the mountain and Jeolyoungdo(絶影島) were transported by sea or land. Lots of civilians participated in the transportation. Other many difficulties related to the transportation adversely influenced actual processes of official construction.