A Comparative Study of Jaeji-Sajok in Joseon and the Chinese Gentry in the Ming and Qing Dynasties

This paper gives a brief description of the characteristics of the local societies in Josean and Ming-Qing dynasties by comparing the birth and local activities of these ruling classes in each of two countries, called Jaeji-Sajok(在地士族), and the Chinese gentry, shenshi(紳士), respectively. Both were known by various terms, although generally they did not differ in the role which they took in society and the historical significance of them. They similarly started to hold privileged status through entering school system and passing official exams, and led their local societies as the ruling class. From the mid-sixteenth century, Joseon set out to establish ruling structure ruled by Sajok, of which Jaeji-Sajok was placed at the center. In China, during the Ming and Qing dynasties, the establishment of gentry system allowed the gentry class to exercise their influence over local community, and, with the help of that, the central authority could effectively rule the country. It is also noteworthy that, in any case, Jaeji-Sajok held less power over local community than the local governor did, and that the relationship between the Emperor and the Chinese gentry in terms of political power is not so different from the status in Joseon. For Instance, like the Chinese gentry, Son Giyang, who was a Jaeji-Sajok in the Yeongnam region, did service for Joseon and educational activity, volunteered the patriotic solider, devoted his energy to postwar recovery, and influenced the making of public opinion, as a member of ruling class.