임진왜란 연구의 제 문제 -임진･정유재란 발발 원인에 대한 재검토-

Abstract

This study examined the cause of outbreak of Japanese Invasion of Korea in 1592 which has been discussed so far in Korea and Japan. In particular, I introduced a study that revealed the cause of war by Hideyoshi, which recently became a topic in Japan. In addition, around the 7th sexagenary cycles of the Japanese Reinvasion of Korea in 1597, I reexamined the ‘issue of visiting Japan by the prince of Joseon’ which is argued as the background of an outbreak of Japanese Reinvasion of Korea in 1597 by Japan. As a result, it is indisputable that Hideyoshi did not start the Japanese Invasion of Korea in 1592 against the Joseon only according to documents issued by Hideyoshi around the time of the outbreak of war. I also paid attention to consistent records of missionaries that Hideyoshi’s intention to conquer Ming dynasty was to raise his honor and authority. However, the basic power structure of Hideyoshi regime was neither nationwide unitary governance system nor he had military power enough to prevail daimyos of a few regions simultaneously. Therefore, it seems that he had the highest goal of centralized power formation by strengthening his foundation through military mobilization, and aimed to expand territory and raise his ambition and honor by conquering the Ming dynasty. As the war was not going in his favor, he seemed to secure Busan and Southern Gyeongsang-do area of Joseon through peace negotiations to secure a base for trade. In this regards, Hideyoshi emphasized subjection and payment of tribute to marginal states of East Asia and the Philippines while delcaring the Japanese Reinvasion of Korea in 1597; especially, he emphasized trade with the Philippines. It seems that he aimed to strengthen his control over entire Japanese islands through military economy of Osaka- Fushimi-Nagoya-Joseon-Philippines for the sake of continuous conduct of war. Under such a background, he had to secure Southern Gyeongsang-do area and Busan. Therefore, it is reasonable to understand the cause of outbreak of the Japanese Reinvasion of Korea in 1597 as ‘securing territory in southern part of Gyeongsand-do, Joseon and reopening trade’ rather than ‘issue of visiting Japan by the prince of Joseon.’