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영어

Examined in this article is, the political meaning of the construction of a mausoleum named Jeongreung/貞陵for founder King Taejo’s wife Shindeok Wanghu/神德王后Gang/康氏, and such meaning is reviewed in terms of the king’s own efforts of reinforcing the authority of his crown prince son. With the foundation of the Joseon dynasty, Taejo’s wife Gang was immediately named Queen. After her death, recognizing her contributions, Taejo openly emphasized the fact that she had been very instrumental in the foundation of the dynasty. He also ordered the construction of the Jeongreung mausoleum inside the capital, and also had the Heungcheon-sa/興天寺temple opened, all in order to solidify crown prince Bangseok/芳碩’s position, after his mother Queen Gang passed away. King Taejo and his meritorious vassals intended from the very beginning to name one of Queen Gang’s own sons as the successor to Taejo. In the process, the older one Bangbeon/芳蕃was decided not to be chosen, as he was married to a female from the Goryeo royal family. Instead, the younger one Bangseok was named as crown prince. But even after the official naming, it was imperative to establish an authority for the young crown prince, because there were other older brothers as well born from Taejo’s first wife. And the absence of Queen Gang made the issue all the more a top priority for the people guarding the crown prince. So, the Jeongreung mausoleum was constructed right in front of the palace, in order to remind everyone that the crown prince was the son of the once sitting Queen. At first, King Taejo arranged a site for the mausoleum at Anam-dong outside the capital, yet he changed his plan and brought the mausoleum inside the capital. The Jeongreung mausoleum and the Heungcheon-sa temple were both constructed on the hillside right to the Namdan altar which could easily be seen from the Gyeongbokgung/景福宮palace. Such positioning was meant to remind the vassals and the public of the presence of Queen Shindeok. A three-storied Sarira shrine/舍利殿was also placed at Heungcheon-sa, to serve the same purpose.

한국어

본 논문은 조선 태조비 神德王后 康氏의 능인 貞陵의 건설에 담긴 정치사적 의미를 世子의 위상 강화라는 관점에서 분석한 것이다. 강씨는 조선의 개국과 함께 왕비로 즉위하였으며, 그의 사후 태조는 그가 창업을 도왔다는 것을 강조하였다. 또한 성내에 정릉을 건설하고 흥천사를 지었는데, 이는 강씨 사후 세자 芳碩의 위상을 확증하기 위한 것이었다. 태조와 공신들은 왕비의 자식으로 후계자를 삼고자 했으나 형 芳蕃은 고려 왕실과 혼인한 까닭에 배제되고, 어린 방석이 세자에 책봉되었다. 하지만 장성한 다른 아들들이 있는 상황에서 강씨가 서거하자 어린 세자의 입지를 확립하는 것이 절실하였다. 이에 法宮 바로 앞에 정릉을 건설함으로써 세자가 왕비의 아들임을 환기시키고자 하였다. 태조는 당초 도성 밖 안암동에 능지를 물색해 두었다가 도성 안으로 바꾸었다. 정릉과 흥천사는 경복궁에서 바라보이는 남단의 오른쪽 구릉에 건설되었는데, 이러한 공간 구조는 육조거리에서 정무를 보는 신료와 백성들에게 신덕왕후의 존재를 가시화하고자 하는 것이었다. 흥천사에 3층의 사리전을 세운 것도 이러한 태조의 의도를 잘 보여주는 것이다.