『高麗史』가 Asia史의 硏究에서 차지하는 位相 - 國際關係記事의 精密度가 最上으로 評價되는 高麗王朝의 正史 -

Abstract

History of Goryeo (高麗史) is a history book that focuses on the history of emperors and courtiers. Although it is designated as a formal annalistic form, there is no account of the emperors' history. Instead, the history of feudal lords divided by the emperor, known as Sega (世家), is used in place of bon-gi (本紀). To understand the background, it is necessary to examine the national status of the Goryeo Dynasty. It is said that in 918, Wang Geon ascended to the throne with the endorsement of his generals, adopting the title of emperor and establishing an era name (稱帝建元). However, it is likely that he was referred to as a king and instituted an era name (稱王建元). When Goryeo overhauled its system of civilization, it took the Tang Empire (唐帝國, 618-907) as a model. The Tang became a model of the imperial state because of its vast territorial area, the establishment of the ruling system, the stability of the social order, the development of the economy, the flourishing of traditional culture, and the fact that it was the center of Eastern and Western cultures, which would have led to its later designation as the Empire. In comparison, Goryeo seems to have imitated the foreign policy of Wu Yue (吳越國, 907-978) and Min (閩國, 909-945) of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms (五代十國, 902-979), with which the previous dynasty, Taebong (泰封國), interacted. Wu Yue and Min continued to exist as an incomplete small empire (小帝國), calling the monarch the emperor and establishing an era name according to the changes in the political situation at the time, and then paying tribute to the big country as a feudal lord when their power weakened. It seems that Gon Gye(弓裔), Gyeon Hwon (甄萱), and Wang Geon (王建), who witnessed their political activities, imitated the system and diplomacy adopted by the Ten Kingdoms, and advocated a system of calling the emperor at home and the king abroad. However, in the late 13th century, they were incorporated under the ruling order of the Mongol Empire and were relegated to the status of princely states. Later, they were compelled to submit to the Ming Empire(明帝國). Due to this situation, it seems that the rulers of the 15th century Joseon Dynasty, who considered themselves princely states following the Ming Empire, did not establish a bon-gi (本紀) in the compilation of History of Goryeo, reflecting their perception of reality as it was at the time. Therefore, History of Goryeo can be described as an incomplete historical record in annalistic form without bon-gi. However, this weakness can also be viewed as a potential strength in historical research, making it a valuable historical document. In the formal history of China, which proclaimed itself as an empire, various facts about contacts and negotiations with neighboring countries were recorded in the Biographies (列傳篇) under the names of countries, peoples, regions, etc. Except in special cases, only the year and month(年月) or year(年度) were provided, and the sexagenary cycle(sexagenary cycle) was not indicated. On the contrary, History of Goryeo holds the advantage that, since the Biographies of Foreign Countries (外國列傳) has not been compiled, the comings, contacts, and exchanges with neighboring countries, peoples, and merchants are all documented in the Sega. Consequently, the chronological record (編年) is likely to be accurate, and there are minimal errors in arranging the year, month, and day. Therefore, despite its deficiencies in the system, History of Goryeo can yield productive outcomes, shedding clearer light on the societal realities of that time. One of the distinctive features of History of Goryeo, not found in other history book, is the inclusion of specific diplomatic documents. These diplomatic records are not only historically significant as the sole materials excluded from the formal history of the dynasty at that time but are also crucial for studying the language of the period since they are written in spoken language, reflecting the linguistic characteristics of that era. In addition, History of Goryeo extensively documents Goryeo's contact and negotiation with the rising Khitans, Jurchens, and Mongols in the interior of Asia, providing valuable insights into the growth process of nomadic empires. At the same time, History of Goryeo contains articles that specify the periods of national-level negotiations and contacts with India in South Asia, Arabs in Southwest Asia, the Ilkhanate in Western Asia, and the Ryukyu Kingdom (琉球) in Japan. These articles cover interactions with monks, merchants, and individuals, making it a superior source compared to other formal histories.