영조 대 선천인에 관한 연구

• Published in: 한국학, 48(3) pp. 1 - 27
• Main Author: 이남옥
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Korean
• Published: 한국학중앙연구원 01.09.2025
• Subjects: 기타인문학
• ISSN: 2671-8197; 2733-936X

이 글은 『선전관청천안』을 기초 데이터로 하여 무과방목, 『승정원일기』 등과 교차 검증을 통해 영조 대 선천인의 사회적 배경과 관로를 분석한 연구이다. 영조 대는 선천 관련 규정이 법제화되고 많은 자료가 남아 있어 선천 연구의 기준점이 되는 시기이다. 영조 대 선천인은 평균 약 30세에 무과에 급제했으며, 남항천은 약 24세, 출신천은 약 32세에 선전관에 천거되었다. 선천인의 아버지 관직ㆍ직역은 통덕랑이 가장 많았는데 이를 제외하면 남항천은 부사ㆍ병사의 비중이 높고, 출신천은 유학ㆍ학생이 많았다. 본인의 무과 급제 때 주요 전력은 한량ㆍ통덕랑이 가장 많았는데 이를 제외하면 남항천은 선전관ㆍ내승, 출신천은 충의위ㆍ부장이었다. 선천인의 성관은 전주 이씨ㆍ평산 신씨ㆍ안동 김씨ㆍ여흥 민씨ㆍ전의 이씨 순이었는데, 남항천은 특히 전주 이씨ㆍ전의 이씨 등 특정 가문에 집중되었다. 거주지는 전체적으로 서울이 많았고, 남항천이 출신천보다 서울 거주 비율이 현저히 높았다. 시험 종류는 각종 별시 급제가 많았으나, 남항천은 각종 별시 비율이 출신천보다 15% 낮고 식년시는 20% 높았다. 무과 합격자 백분위는 전체 48.4였고, 남항천 47.2, 출신천 48.7로 큰 차이는 없었다. 영조 대 선천인(2,099건) 중 66.5%가 무과에 급제했고, 52.4%가 선전관, 48.1%가 훈련원ㆍ도총부ㆍ중추부 관직을 역임했으나, 고위 무관직 진출은 수사ㆍ병사 9.5%, 통제사ㆍ통어사 1.7%, 대장 1.8%에 그쳤다. 출신천은 관품이 낮은 관직에서, 남항천은 고위 무관직에서 높은 비율로 진출해 양자 간 차이가 뚜렷했다. 특히 무과 출신 남항천(133건)은 75.2%가 선전관, 76.7%가 훈련원ㆍ도총부ㆍ중추부 관직에 진출해 전체 선천인보다 높은 관직 진출률을 보였다. 선전관이나 훈련원ㆍ도총부ㆍ중추부를 거친 경우 관직 진출 비율은 3~12% 더 높았으며, 전체 선천인 평균 대비 15~40% 이상 높은 수치를 기록했다. 고위 무관직 역임자는 무과 급제 비율이 선천인 전체 평균보다 낮았지만, 선전관과 훈련원ㆍ도총부ㆍ중추부 역임 비율은 두 배가 넘었다. 영조 대 선천인이 고위 무관직으로 진출하기 위해서는 무과 급제보다 선전관과 훈련원ㆍ도총부ㆍ중추부 경력이 훨씬 더 중요했던 것이다. 이 연구는 영조 대 선천인의 사회적 배경과 관로를 분석함으로써 조선 후기 무반 관로에서 선천과 선전관, 훈련원ㆍ도총부ㆍ중추부의 관직이 가지는 의미를 이해하는 데 도움이 될 것이다. This study examined the social backgrounds and career paths of Seonjeongwan nominees during the reign of King Yeongjo in Korea based on the Seonjeongwancheongcheonan (Register of Seonjeongwan Nominations), cross referenced with other historical sources, such as military examination rosters (Mugwa Bangmok) and the Seungjeongwon Ilgi (Diary of the Royal Secretariat). The Yeongjo era serves as a crucial benchmark for research on Seonjeongwan nominations due to the institutionalization of relevant regulations and the abundance of surviving records. On average, Seonjeongwan nominees during the Yeongjo period passed the military examination at approximately 30 years of age. However, nominees from Namhangcheon were nominated as Seonjeongwan around the age of 24 years while those from Chulssincheon were nominated around the age of 32 years. The fathers of the Seonjeongwan nominees were most commonly officials holding the title of Tongdeokrang, but excluding this, Namhangcheon fathers were more often Busa or Byeongsa whereas Chulssincheon fathers were more likely to be Yuhak or Haksaeng. The nominees were most frequently recorded as Hallyang or Tongdeokrang; excluding these, Namhangcheon nominees often served as Seonjeongwan or Naeseung while the Chulssincheon nominees were frequently Chunguiwi guards or military Bujang. Among the 127 clan names recorded for the Seonjeongwan nominees, the Jeonju Yi, Pyeongsan Sin, Andong Kim, Yeoheung Min, and Jeonui Yi clans were the most common, with the Namhangcheon nominees particularly concentrated in powerful regional families, such as the Jeonju Yi and Jeonui Yi clans. Geographically, most nominees resided in Seoul, with the Namhangcheon nominees showing a significantly higher concentration in the capital than the Chulssincheon nominees. Regarding the types of military examinations, while both the Namhangcheon and Chulssincheon nominees predominantly passed various special examinations (Byeolsi), the proportion of such cases among the Namhangcheon nominees was approximately 15% lower than that among the Chulssincheon nominees whereas the Namhangcheon had a 20% higher success in the regular triennial examinations (Siknyeonsi). The average percentile rank among the military examination passers was 48.4, with the Namhangcheon at 47.2 and the Chulssincheon at 48.7, showing no significant differences. Among the 2,099 Seonjeongwan nominees analyzed during the Yeongjo period, 66.5% passed the military examination, 52.4% held Seonjeongwan positions, and 48.1% served in posts within Hunryeonwon; Dochongbu; and Jungchubu. However, advancement to high-ranking military posts was rare; only 9.5% became Susa or Byeongsa, 1.7% became Tongjesa or Tongoeosa, and 1.8% became Daejang. The Chulssincheon nominees tended to enter lower-ranked positions whereas the Namhangcheon nominees were more frequently appointed to higher military offices, revealing an evident distinction between the two groups. Notably, among the Namhangcheon nominees who had passed the military examination (133 individuals), 75.2% were appointed as Seonjeongwan and 76.7% served in Hunryeonwon; Dochongbu; or Jungchubu, indicating significantly higher advancement rates than the overall Seonjeongwan group. Those who served as Seonjeongwan or were in these central military institutions were 3–12% more likely to advance to other posts, achieving 15–40% higher rates than the overall Seonjeongwan average. While high-ranking officers, such as Susa, Byeongsa, Tongjesa, Tongoeosa, and Daejang, had lower military exam pass rates than the average for all the Seonjeongwan nominees, over 95% had served as Seonjeongwan or in central military agencies, a rate more than double of the overall average. This underscores that for Seonjeongwan nominees during the Yeongjo era, experience as Seonjeongwan or in Hunryeonwon; Dochongbu; or Jungchubu was a more critical factor for advancement to high-ranking military posts than merely passing the military exa... KCI Citation Count: 0