Record of Bequeathal by Gwon Myeongri

This document records the distribution of slaves held by Gwon Myeongri, Director of Andeokhyeon, Cheongsong Prefecture, between 1436 and 1443. The initial distribution of slaves among his nine children was carried out in 1414, but the subsequent passing of his wife Lady Jeong of the Yeongil Jeong family and one of his sons resulted in the redistribution of slaves formerly owned by Lady Jeong and the deceased son.The adjustments made in the second distribution included three slaves, which were originally bequeathed to the late Gwon Jasang and thereby allocated to the other children along with Lady Jeong’s slaves. The special bequeathal of one male slave to the eldest son Gwon Jayong as ancestral service reserves reveals that the custom of reserving land and slaves for ancestral rituals may have first appeared around this time. The legally prescribed percentage of the reserve forancestral rites as stipulated by the The Great Compendium of Administration (Gyeongguk daejeon ) is one-fifth of the estate inherited by each child save for the eldest. Inheritance documents records of the Andong Gwon family have been handed down through the Songcheom head household of the Gyeongju Son family in Yangdong Village in Gyeongju since Gwon Myeongri’s fourth son-in-law was Son Saseong, father of Son So, who was recorded as a Subject Recognized for Merit in Revolt Suppression. Son So was born in Andeok District, Cheongsong Prefecture and married a daughter of Ryu Bokha from the Pungdeok Ryu family in Yangdong, where he eventually settled.