임진왜란 직전 동아시아 정세

Abstract

In 16th century, Literati was the leading group that formed the domestic awareness towards foreign countries which connected with political condition of Chosun Dynasty. They had to sacrifice in the course of going through misrules done by king Sejo and the dethroned king Yonsan. Suffering from these tyrannies, they built the faith in them, that is, fixating the attitude of mind known by disciplining oneself(修己) and governing people(治人), which is emphasized in neo-Confucianism, in reality. For that, they thought they had to enlighten the king, retainers and the subjects to become that of YaoShun(堯舜) period. Surrounded by these conditions, Cho Kwang Jo made an attempt to pursue the ideal politics. Although they could not reach their goals, their aim which was created by a harsh resistance to dictatorship of king Sejo and corruption of the meritorious subjects, tried to distinguish virtue from vice, and a man of virtue from a man of vice. And their will was succeeded by the Literati who appeared after mid 16th century. Their aim was linked with differentiating ‘the right’ from ‘the wrong’, ‘Literati’ from meritorious subjects’, and ‘China’ from ‘Babarian’. After king Joong-Jong, extreme subservience and worship towards Ming dynasty and the tendency to put black marks against other countries as not civilized, which came out of tryto look down on them, had been reinforced. They excluded all the utilitarian view from foreign policy or mercenary thoroughly in attempt to make their renovation grounded by pure neo-Confucianism. In mid 16th century, the competition between surrounding countries of China towards silver had been heightened. In the situation of threat of Mongol which demanded to open the market and to permit of paying tribute, and the provocation of Japan which tried to exchange Japan’ssilver for merchandise of China in attempt to overcome the geographical remoteness, shook the overall atmosphere of Sea of China. Chosun also had to do with commercial trend, but they dealt with the change of outside world from the point of view of worshipping Ming dynasty from start to finish. Chosun dynasty named themselves as ‘the country of civility’ which is radically different from other countries. And they worshipped Ming dynasty as their mother country.The fact that the Chosun dynasty was the only kingdom that Ming dynasty acknowledged as their successor made Chosun feel superior to other kingdoms. In other words, Chosun dynasty tried to observe the world in the same manner that Ming dynasty did. In mid 16th century, ‘the ideological order’dominated by Ming dynasty started to undergo destabilization, and the national standpoint of Chosun and Japan began to change. Around 1543, when Japan adoptedthe western rifle, ‘Deppo’, in Chosun dynasty, building a Seowon(a memorial hall for the great scholars and loyal subjects of the past) was the main trend. These two different tendencies decided their fate. Chosun dynasty took their way to become a kingdom, ‘ruled by a pen’, and Japan transformed into a kingdom, ‘ruled by a sword.’Chosun dynasty did not give attention to the change of Japan, because they thought they were the only heir who can succeed the Ming dynasty. As long as Ming dynasty, the hegemonic country exists, and as long as Ming dynasty and Chosun- dynasty maintain their special relationship, the change of Japan didn’t matter to Chosun. That was the idea that almost every elite of Chosun Dynasty had. Chosun Dynasty was responsible for the edifying ‘Babarian’. as a Civilized-country. Considering these conditions, it is not important whether Kim Sung-il who was an envoy to Japan, knew the probability of Japan’s invasion of Chosun after his return. It is hard to make an assessment about Kim-Sung-il who was in the middle of controversial issue. In sum, the Imjin-war was not preventable on a personal level. We have to admit that fact.