In the early half of the Joseon dynasty period, the degree of ‘closeness between people’ was gauged by their closeness in terms of their kinsmen-based relationship. The closeness between the ‘ancestors’ and ‘descendants’ naturally grew more and more diluted, as they grew apart from each other in terms of generations. The fundamental element of the kindred relationship was the relationship between the parents and the offsprings, and any relationships beyond the grandparents- grandchildren relationship range were significantly weak. Yet such kind of ‘kindred consciousness’ and ‘kindred relationship’ changed, particularly around the late 16th century. Existing interpretation of the Inheritance law was overthrown, and new perspectives viewing the range and principles of the practice of inheritance were presented. Finally in the 18th century, kinship-related terms were modified to reflect the reinforced patrilineal reality of the time, and related laws that had been enacted during the early days of the dynasty were either rendered irrelevant or revised. With such changes in place, the closeness between individuals came to be decided by their closeness in terms of patrilineal relationships, and not just of any kind of kinship relationship. Privileges and obligations generated by patrilineal relationships continued to exist, yet such concepts meant for non-patrilineal relationships were reduced and eventually disappeared. In the early half period of the Joseon dynasty, patrilineal elements did not factor in the people’s lives and consciousness, yet it came to do so rather dominantly, in the following periods.

In the early half of the Joseon dynasty period, the degree of ‘closeness between people’ was gauged by their closeness in terms of their kinsmen-based relationship. The closeness between the ‘ancestors’ and ‘descendants’ naturally grew more and more diluted, as they grew apart from each other in terms of generations. The fundamental element of the kindred relationship was the relationship between the parents and the offsprings, and any relationships beyond the grandparents- grandchildren relationship range were significantly weak. Yet such kind of ‘kindred consciousness’ and ‘kindred relationship’ changed, particularly around the late 16th century. Existing interpretation of the Inheritance law was overthrown, and new perspectives viewing the range and principles of the practice of inheritance were presented. Finally in the 18th century, kinship-related terms were modified to reflect the reinforced patrilineal reality of the time, and related laws that had been enacted during the early days of the dynasty were either rendered irrelevant or revised. With such changes in place, the closeness between individuals came to be decided by their closeness in terms of patrilineal relationships, and not just of any kind of kinship relationship. Privileges and obligations generated by patrilineal relationships continued to exist, yet such concepts meant for non-patrilineal relationships were reduced and eventually disappeared. In the early half period of the Joseon dynasty, patrilineal elements did not factor in the people’s lives and consciousness, yet it came to do so rather dominantly, in the following periods.

‘kinsmen’-related terms, kinship-related law, rights and obligations, nature of the kindred consciousness, reinforcement of patrilineal consciousness