The analysis of the composition, content, style, and document nature of the “Suseonsa Naero Royal Decree” from the reign of King Chungnyeol of Goryeo is as follows:
First, the composition and content of the Naero document. This document was issued in August 1281 (the 7th year of King Chungnyeol’s reign) by Jo In-gyu, the left vice minister, based on a royal decree, to Naero, the abbot of Suseonsa. The document consists of the issuance date, Naero’s petition, the royal decision, and the signature of the issuer. Naero’s petition contains details about the background and administrative procedures by which his father, Yang Taek-chun, acquired slaves, the genealogy and offspring of the slaves, the inheritance of the slaves by Naero and his brother Yang Pil, and a request to allow Naero to gift the slave Geonsam to the Danbon Daejangbo. The royal decision section contains the king’s command to carry out Naero’s request. The issuer is Jo In-gyu, and the issuance date is August 1281.
Second, the style and document nature of the Naero document. The Naero document consists of Naero’s petition and the royal decision. Naero’s petition is a direct request to the king, which deviates from the standard petition format typically submitted to government offices.
The document is a royal decree allowing the donation of slaves, and thus, it is understood as a royal document in response to the king’s command rather than a slave or inheritance document. This document does not follow the format of an entry document, lacks a seal, and differs from proclamations that have the nature of correspondence. It is also distinct from a land grant document (sa-pae), as the king is not granting the slaves.
The Naero document includes Idu (mixed script) and uses the phrasing “Idu and Gyo”, which are characteristics of royal documents from the Goryeo period. This follows the form of royal decrees or documents used during the Goryeo period. Therefore, the Naero document, created in the late Goryeo period, is appropriately named the “Suseonsa Naero Royal Decree.”