There were great changes in Hyunjong’s reign. To know the reason of such changes, I attempted to light up the characteristics of political leading group. To this end, I observed Military Revolt and reform of local administration which came into being in Hyunjong’s reign.
The reason of military revolt in 1104 was that military officials could not obtain civil posts in spite of their military merit and, what is worse, soldiers were deprived of their land which they received for their military services. That was because the civilians who enthroned Hyunjong had exerted to exclude military officials from political power. So military officials rebelled to show their discontent. But military revolt was suppressed by civil officials, and after that the civil officials, especially the men who passed the civil service examination, seized political power firmly.
In Hyunjong’s reign, local administration was reformed to control local powers effectively. It is noteworthy that most of the men who initiated the reform were civilians, especially the men who passed the civil service examination. They relied not on regional bases but on their own academic ability. They were the men who was dissatisfied with the fact that politics in Mokjong’s reign were handled by the people from certain region such as Hwangju.
In result of assuming the political powers by civilians, a great importance was attached to confucianism. Topyungmasa where civilian officials consulted national defenses was instituted, and the number of civilian Chaechu who passed the civil service examination increased. Koryo dynasty had advanced toward such a state where civilian officials played a leading role.