고려 전기 上表 儀禮와 국왕 권위의 顯現

Various types of pyomun were produced during the Goryeo Dynasty. They were written to celebrate good national occasions, express gratitude to the king, or make a plea on important national affairs or personal wishes. In Goryeo, submitting pyomun was a duty of government officials. They were required to submit pyomun on major anniversaries, and those who neglect the duty were subjected to impeachment. Since pyomun was directly given to the king, they were rife with contents that praised the king’s virtues and blessings, and wished for the king’s long and healthy life. Writings that praise the king’s virtue reminded Goryeo people of the king’s peerless authority. The impact of pyomun was not limited to its contents only. They revealed the king’s authority through other means as well. Pyomun was written by many officials whenever suitable occasions arose, and many ceremonies accompanied to deliver them to the king, which made the officials and the people feel the king’s power. Through each stage of writing and delivering pyomun to the king, the king’s virtue was praised both in and outside its text, and visualized accordingly. In Goryeo, pyomun was an important instrument for expressing the king’s authority throughout the stages from writing to submission. During the Goryeo Dynasty, pyomun that represented the ruler’s absolute superiority was submitted frequently. Through production of various types of pyomun, the relationship of ‘a reigning king and obedient servant’ was steadily ‘documented,’ and visualized with accompanying ceremonies so that the king’s absolute authority was constantly reaffirmed in practice. In this regard, production of pyomun and its accompanying ceremonies can be seen as a key mechanism that realized the principle of absolute royal authority.