純元王后 한글편지의 資料的 特性에 대한 一考察

Abstract

This paper is a report about women"s literal life which shown in letters written in Hangeul in the nineteenth century. In Chosun dynasty, there were some materials written by women in Chinese character, but women"s literal lives were mostly realized in Hangeul. The invention of Hangeul in the fifteenth century enabled women and the lower class to write and read. Many scholars have studied women"s literal life in Chosun dynasty, whose materials include literary works, letters, and textbooks and so on. Letters written in Hangeul are important materials which show the historical changes in Korean language and everyday lives of our ancestor. Generally these letters were written to or by women for the purpose of informing private affairs. However, some letters written by the royal family show the political issues and agendas.

In this paper, I will focus on the letters of women in royal family in the nineteenth century, especially the letters written by the Queen Sunwon(1789-1857), who was a substantial sovereign instead of her young grandson Heon-jong from 1834 to 1841, and instead of Cheol-jong from 1849 to 1852. Her letters in Hangeul, which sent to her brothers, revealed various controversies and agendas in the government. This paper introduces these letters and show how women participated in official affairs in Chosun dynasty.