Fengshui-based Geomantic Analysis of Seonjamdan in the Joseon Dynasty
본 연구는 조선 시대 중사(中祀) 제의소로서 양잠과 관련 깊은 선잠단(先蠶壇)의 입지를 풍수적으로 분석한 것이다. 조선은 국가 제사를 규모에 따라 대사, 중사, 소사로 나누었는 데 중사에 해당하는 곳은 풍운뇌우단, 선농단, 선잠단, 문묘이다. 문묘의 입지는 많은 연구 가 되었으며, 유구만 남은 풍운뇌우단은 군사 지역으로 출입이 어렵고, 선농단은 입지가 크 게 변경되었기에 비교적 초기 입지에 가깝게 복원된 선잠단의 풍수적 가치를 확인하기 위 해 입지를 분석하게 되었다. 여기에는 전통 풍수 분석 요소의 형세론에서 주로 사용되는 용, 혈, 사, 수, 향의 지리오결과 이기론 중의 하나이며 조선 시대 초기 건축물에 적용된 것 으로 알려진 지리신법을 적용하였다. 선잠단은 예기의 기준에 의해 북교에 처음 자리한 후 동교로 옮기려 한 적도 있으나 계속 이곳에 자리하여 현재에 이르렀다. 조선 초 사전(祀 典)이 정비되기 전에 만들어진 형태를 그대로 유지하여 소사의 규격이었으며 중사의 규격 으로 수정되지 못하였다. 풍수적 입지에 있어 기록과 마찬가지로 정확한 혈에서 벗어나 있 음을 확인하였고 이는 파구가 부적합한 것과도 일맥상통하였다. 그러나 용맥과 사신사 및 수세와 좌향에서는 풍수 고전에 부합하는 유정한 형태를 보여 최고의 풍수 길지에 자리 잡 고자 시도했던 점을 확인하였다.
This study conducts a geomantic (fengshui-based) analysis of the location of Seonjamdan (先蠶壇), the royal altar dedicated to the spirits of sericulture, which was a medium-level state ritual during the Joseon Dynasty. The Joseon Dynasty classified state rites into major, medium, and minor categories according to their status. Among the medium-level state rites were the Pungunroeudan (風雲 雷雨壇, the Altar for the Spirits of Weather), Seonnongdan (先農壇, the Altar of Agriculture), Seonjamdan (先蠶壇, the Altar of Sericulture), and Munmyo (文廟, the Confucius Shrine). While the location of Munmyo has been extensively studied, Pungunroeudan survives only as archaeological remains within a restricted military zone, and Seonnongdan has undergone significant relocation. Therefore, this study analyzes the site of Seonjamdan, which has been restored relatively close to its original layout, in order to assess its geomantic (fengshui) significance. In this study, the Five Geomantic Principles—Dragon Vein, Vital Spot, Protective Landforms, Waterflows, and Orientation—commonly employed in the Form School of traditional fengshui analysis, were applied. In addition, the New Geomantic Method (地理新 法, Jiri Sinbeop), which belongs to the Li-Qi Theory and is known to have been used in early Joseon-period constructions, was also adopted for the analysis. Seonjamdan was initially established in Bukgyo in accordance with the prescriptions of the Book of Rites (禮記). Although there were attempts to relocate it to Donggyo, it ultimately remained in its original position up to the present day. Since it retained the form established before the ritual code (Sajeon) of the early Joseon Dynasty was fully systematized, Seonjamdan remained at the scale of a minor state rite and was never revised to the standard required for medium-level state rites. The analysis confirmed, consistent with historical records, that Seonjamdan is located off the correct vital spot (穴, hyeol). This finding also aligns with the assessment that its watercourses are not properly formed according to geomantic principles. However, the site exhibits a high-quality geomantic configuration— including a strong Dragon Vein, well-formed Four Guardian Landforms, favorable waterflows, and an appropriate orientation—indicating that it was intended to be established as a highly auspicious fengshui site.