These are documents (eight types, nine documents) relating to Sin Gyeong-haeng (1559~1623), a civil official of the Joseon Dynasty. They include the royal document of meritorious subject for Sin Gyeong-haeng in recognition of his distinguished services in quelling the rebellion of Yi Mong-hak (Cheongnangongsin); a royal edict of appointment to government posts; mandate to scrutinize appointments of posthumous titles (two pieces); a royal edict for conferring posthumous titles; a document listing distinguished services during his lifetime; a lower level royal certificate of meritorious subject awarded to Sin Gyeong-haeng’s son; the record of the ceremony held by 20 meritorious subjects to pledge allegiance to the King; and the record of the ceremony held by 21 meritorious subjects to pledge allegiance to the King. Sin Gyeong-haeng passed the higher civil service examination in the 10th year of King Seonjo of the Joseon Dynasty (1577) and became the magistrate of Hansan County, and was later appointed army commander-in-chief of Chungcheong-do Province. He was awarded a special recognition as a meritorious subject for his distinguished services in quelling the rebellion of Yi Mong-hak, which broke out in July of the 29th year of King Seonjo (1596) in Hongsan, Chungcheong-do Province, and was also conferred the title of Yeongseonggun. After his death he was conferred with the official rank of Yejopanseo (Minister of Rites) and granted the posthumous title Chungik. The Sin Gyeong-haeng Cheongnangongsingyoseo is a royal document of meritorious subject for Sin Gyeong-haeng, which he received in recognition of his distinguished services in quelling the Yi Mong-hak rebellion. Together with the Seonmugongsin, a recognition bestowed on meritorious subjects for their distinguished services during the Imjin War (the Japanese invasions of Korea from 1592 to 1598), and Hoseonggongsin, a recognition bestowed on meritorious subjects who attended on King Seonjo to Uiju, the Cheongnangongsingyoseo was issued in the 37th year of King Seonjo (1604). The document is of important historical value as it contains details relating to the recognition of Cheongnangongsin, such as the regulations regarding concomitant rewards, and is also valuable to the study of the form and calligraphic styles of royal documents of meritorious subjects. The Yuseo, a royal edict of appointment to government posts, was issued to Sin Gyeong-haeng on June 16 in the 41st year of King Seonjo (1608) upon his appointment as army commander-in-chief of Chungcheong-do Province together with the 1st class milbu (a round wooden tablet (pae) given to military officials that permit them to mobilize forces in case of a military conflict). It is very rare that the 1st class yuseo was issued. The Sihoseogyeong (mandate to scrutinize appointment of posthumous title), Jeungsigyoji (royal edict for conferring the posthumous title) and Joeunsingongsijang (document listing distinguished services during Sin Gyeong-haeng’s lifetime) are documents that reveal the process of how Sin Gyeong-haeng was granted the posthumous title of Chungik. The Sihoseogyeong was given to the Saheonbu (Office of the Inspector-General) and Saganwon (Office of the Censor-General) so that they could review the appropriateness of the posthumous title. The two government offices agreed to grant Sin Gyeong-haeng the posthumous title of Chungik in June of the 11th year of King Sunjo (1811). The Jeungsigyoji is a royal edict conferring the posthumous title of Chungik on Sin Gyeong-haeng in January of the 12th year of King Sunjo (1812). The Joeunsingongsijang is a document listing the achievements of Sin Gyeong-haeng during his lifetime that was written by government official (Gaseondaebu) Kim I-yeong (1755~1845) in order to secure the approval of Sin Gyeong-haeng’s posthumous title. The Cheongnanwonjonggongsinnokgwon is a lower level royal certificate of merit awarded to Sin Gyeong-haeng’s son Sin Myeon on April 16 in the 38th year of King Seonjo (1605) by Gongsindogam (Government Office of Records for Meritorious Subjects) for Sin Gyeong-haeng’s distinguished services in quelling the rebellion of Yi Mong-hak. The certificate provides valuable information as to the concomitant rewards and privileges granted to meritorious subjects at that time, and is of historical value in relation to the study of lower level meritorious subjects in the Joseon Dynasty. The record of the ceremony held by 20 meritorious subjects to pledge allegiance to the King and the record of the ceremony held by 21 meritorious subjects to pledge allegiance to the King are documents relating to Sin Gyeong-haeng, and contain details regarding the political situation at that time, and information about the 20 meritorious subjects and 21 meritorious subjects, respectively, and their descendants. The former document contains a list of all the meritorious subjects and their eldest sons that participated in the ceremony held on June 20 in the 20th year of King Sukjong. The meritorious subjects who participated in the ceremony were all the meritorious subjects from the 1st to the 20th, Bosagongsin those that were awarded the royal certificate of meritorious subject for their distinguished services during the political incident that led to the Southerners (Namin, political party) removal from political power in the 6th year of King Sukjong (1680). The name of Sin Gyeong-haeng’s fourth generation grandson Sin Deuk-jung is included in the record. The latter document contains a list of all the meritorious subjects and their eldest grandsons that participated in the ceremony held on July 18 in the 4th year of King Yeongjo (1728). The meritorious subjects who participated in the ceremony were all the meritorious subjects from the 1st (Gaegukgongsin) to the 21st, Bunmugongsin those that were awarded the royal certificate of meritorious subject for their distinguished services in quelling the rebellion of Yi In-jwa. The name of Sin Gyeong-haeng’s sixth generation grandson Sin Gwang-u is included in the record. The above documents are historically significant in that they are a valuable resource for the study of history and bibliography, and provide much insight into the system of meritorious subjects in the Joseon Dynasty. They also have historical value as the biographical writings of Sin Gyeong-haeng.

(출처 : 문화재청 홈페이지)