한국 고대 주술목간 연구의 동향과 향후 과제

초록

Wooden tablets (mokkan) are excavated written materials made by processing wood to record characters. They are mainly unearthed in capitals or regional administrative centers. Due to their accessibility and immediate usability, wooden tablets were widely used as auxiliary materials in administrative documentation. Their typical functions included cargo tags, warehouse management labels, and simple documents. However, wooden tablets with sorcerous or ritualistic purposes—so-called "sorcerous wooden tablets"—have also been identified. Although “sorcery” (jujutsu) is a somewhat unfamiliar topic in the field of ancient Korean history, the number of such tablets with sorcerous characteristics has been increasing in recent years. Analyzing these materials offers valuable insights into the symbolic and ritualistic mindset of ancient people. There are several important aspects to consider when studying sorcerous wooden tablets:First, these tablets often exhibit distinct physical features not seen in conventional mokkan. Some depict nude human figures or are carved into the shape of male genitalia. In some cases, nails are driven into the surface, suggesting acts of symbolic violence. These characteristics may be interpreted as part of violent shamanic rites (bomu girye), ritual acts aimed at drawing divine attention or expelling harmful energies by tormenting the shaman as an intermediary. Examples include phallic-shaped tablets from Hwawang Fortress in Changnyeong and Neungsan-ri Temple in Buyeo, as well as humanoid figures from Daemosan Fortress in Yangju. Second, a significant number of sorcerous wooden tablets are unearthed from water-related contexts such as wells and lotus ponds. In ancient societies, water deities were typically identified with dragons. Prayers and provocations directed toward these aquatic dragons were believed to invoke divine intervention. Given the agrarian nature of ancient Korea, the presence or absence of water critically affected crop yields, leading communities to offer various forms of tribute or symbolic stimuli to dragon gods. Wooden tablets from sites like Hwawang Fortress, Daemosan Fortress, and the well at the Gyeongju National Museum site are associated with rain-invoking rituals (giumjae). Third, the narrative format of sorcerous wooden tablets differs from that of standard documents. The identity of the intended reader—often presumed to be supernatural beings rather than humans—shapes the mode of inscription. In addition to conventional formats (jeongseo), reversed (jwaso) and inverted (dosho) writings are observed. Inverted writing can involve writing entire sentences in reverse or using palindromic arrangements in alternating lines. Such formats would appear unfamiliar to human readers and were likely intended for divine or spiritual recipients. Although not yet confirmed on wooden tablets, some epigraphic examples employ red ink (jusho), a color considered sorcerous and typically excluded from ordinary administrative usage. Despite these findings, several challenges remain in the interpretation of sorcerous wooden tablets. One major issue is the difficulty in interpreting their contents, many of which are written in idu, a system of transcription combining Chinese characters and Korean grammar. The mokkan excavated from Daemosan Fortress are written entirely in idu, complicating translation into modern Korean. Thorough philological analysis, in collaboration with linguists, is essential to reveal the actual content and ritual function of these tablets. Moreover, researchers must adopt an archaeological perspective in analyzing mokkan. Although the presence of writing makes these artifacts attractive to historians, their archaeological context must not be overlooked. Understanding the stratigraphy, associated artifacts, and depositional environment is crucial, as mokkan were part of broader ritual assemblages. Interdisciplinary research with archaeologists is thus indispensable for reconstructing the full ritual setting in which these items were used. Wooden tablets are not mere relics of the past but windows into the symbolic and spiritual life of ancient societies. Through interdisciplinary collaboration, researchers can begin to reconstruct a more three-dimensional image of the beliefs and practices of ancient Korean communities. By posing new questions across fields, these once-silent objects will begin to speak again.

키워드