조선시대 제주도 漂流·漂到人을 통한 정보·지식의 유입 양상

Abstract

This paper traces the patterns of information and knowledge that have flowed through ‘Jeju castaways’ and ‘foreign castaways’ and ultimately examined the impact on the Joseon society. Unlike Joseon, which was enclosed world during the 15th~19th centuries, East Asian countries had formed a wide trade network based on international trade ports. In other words, Fujian and Guangdong in China, Kiushu in Japan, Vietnam, Philippines, Portugal and Netherlands in the west have been exchanged and entered into friendly relations with each other in the East Asian waters. At this time, Jeju Island which is located in the center of the East Asian Maritime transportation route was a milestone and port of call (occasionally served as a water source), and a major spot where many dangerous elements were scattered. Many foreigners who traveled to and from the ocean were often drifted on Jeju Island. In addition, the number of Jeju Islanders who were drifted to a foreign country and then returned after barely survived were significant. Hence, the ‘Jeju castaways’ and the ‘foreign castaways’ provided opportunities to explore outside for intellectuals including the Joseon government who could hardly access information about the foreign countries. Moreover, the Joseon government attempted to change and open up their country by organizing and writing castaways’ experience. In other words, the ‘Jeju castaways’ and the ‘foreign castaways’, who were engaged in the business of the ocean more than anyone, were familiar with the surrounding situation of various regions, acted smartly to external forces, and delivered the extraordinary information and knowledge from abroad. The delivered information and knowledge stimulated the curiosity and acted as a driving force for Joseon intellectuals who had attempted to change and open up the country through ideological awakening of Neo-Confucianism at that time. Thus, this suggests that it played a mediating role in opening the closed world of Joseon at that time. Regardless of their intention, these castaways played an important frontier role to deliver the extraordinary information (geography, topography·climate, product, foreign affairs), and advanced technology and knowledge (hydraulic turbine and weapon producing, vessel system․shipbuilding, foreign language). In this regard, they were responsible for international exchanges in the informal sphere. At the same time, they were used as an opportunity to share knowledge and reproduce such as transferring learned knowledge to other third parties.