조선 후기 倭館의 정보수집에 관한 연구—『分類紀事大綱 25』 「風說之事」를 중심으로—

Abstract

Although Waegwan(a Japanese Settlements) at the latter half of the Joseon Dynasty was responsible for diplomacy and trading between the Joseon Dynasty and Japan, it was collecting information on the Joseon Dynasty and reporting Tsushimahan. Information collected covered all kinds that could be helpful to analyze the conditions of the Joseon dynasty such as the change of revolutions, uprisings and the governmental authority, bad crop-situation because of a drought, sudden climate change, etc. In addition to information on the Joseon Dynasty, information reported to Tsushimahan also included information on China gained from Cheonchusa(千秋使) or Dongjisa(冬至使). After Japanese invasion of Korea in 1592, the Edo dynasty was enthusiastic to collect overseas information through so called 「four windows(四つの口)」 in order not to be isolated from the international order of East Asia. From the end the Edo-Bakuhu made a lot of efforts to collect information on China because it had a great interest in changes of the conditions in China. Therefore, the Edo-Bakuhu had all foreign ships arriving in Nagasaki submit Hu-Sethugaki containing overseas situations. Information on China the Edo-Bakuhu obtained from Satsma via Ryu-kyu from Fu-Jian or Guang-Dung, or information through Chinese ships arriving in Nagasaki were important sources for information. Information in China reported by Tsushimahan via Waegwan had a difference with information gained from Satsuma and Nagasaki because high-ranking officials of the Joseon Dynasty gained the information while staying in Beijing and meeting the emperor in person. Tsushimahan could make a strong impression of its existence by demonstrating that it was faithfully implementing duties by promptly providing northward information the Edo-Bakuhu was interested. In addition, overseas information gained through 「the four windows」 greatly contributed to maintaining the modern Bakuhu-System. The ultimate purpose that Tsushimahan collected information on the Joseon Dynasty was for stable import of goods. That is, Tsushimahan didn’t have a great interest in the reason of a revolution itself, its leaders or progress, otherwise it concerned how the revolution will influence the economy of Tsushimahan by disturbing distribution network.