[우리문화신문=김슬옹 교수]  

1888년(고종 25년), 하동의 중터마을에 사는 ‘양기연’이라는 사람이 논을 담보로 건네고 돈을 빌리면서 한글로 각서를 작성하는 일이 있었다. 그는 각서에 논 2마지기를 담보로 20냥을 빌리되 닷새 안에 갚을 것을 다짐하는 내용을 담았다.

거칠지만 힘 있는 글씨로 글을 쓰고 큼지막한 손도장을 찍은 각서에서 서민들의 소탈한 모습을 엿볼 수 있다. 한글이 창제된 뒤에도 대부분의 문서는 한자로 작성되었지만, 관청의 공식 문서가 아닌 개인과 개인이 주고받는 문서는 한글로 작성하는 경우가 많았다.

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Writing a Written Agreement in Hangeul

[The History of Hangeul through Illustrations 22]

In 1888 (the 25th year of King Gojong’s reign), a man named Yang Gi-yeon from Jungteo Village in Hadong drew up an agreement in Hangeul when borrowing money by pledging his rice fields as collateral. He borrowed 20 nyang, promising to repay the amount within five days, with two jeong (approximately 2,400 square meters) of rice field as security.

The written agreement was written in a bold, powerful script with a large thumbprint stamped on it, reflecting the straightforward nature of the common people. While most documents during this time were written in Chinese characters, personal documents exchanged between individuals— such as this written agreement—were often written in Hangeul. This indicates how Hangeul was already becoming increasingly popular for personal use and communication, even though it was still not commonly used for official or governmental documents.

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ハングルで覚書（誓約書）を作成する

[絵で見るハングルの歴史 22]

「1888年（高宗25年）、河東（ハドン）の中テ（ジュント）村に住む『梁基淵（ヤン・ギヨン）』という人物が、田んぼを担保に入れてお金を借りる際、ハングルで覚書を作成することがあった。彼は覚書に、田んぼ2マジギ（※約300〜400坪）を担保に20ニャンを借り、5日以内に返済することを誓う内容を記した。

粗削りながらも力強い筆跡で文字が綴られ、大きな手形が押された覚書からは、庶民たちの素朴な姿を垣間見ることができる。ハングルが創製された後もほとんどの文書は漢字で作成されていたが、官公庁の公式文書ではない、個人間で交わされる文書はハングルで作成されるケースが多かった。」