9세기 전반 신라와 일본의 외교 양상

Abstract

This paper is to restore the historical substance of relationship between Silla and Japan, focusing on their public diplomacy in the first half of the 9th century. The record of the Samguk Sagi about the agreement concerning interchange of envoys between Silla and Japan during the reign of King Aejang shows that the two countries settled their long diplomatic tussle and restored equal diplomatic relations (Gyobingyeoho交聘結好). Thus, Japan gave up Ji Wang's sino-centrism of treating Silla as a tributary state and took an attitude of trying to cater to Silla, which was an inevitable measure to ensure the safety of Gyeongdangsa (Japanese envoys to China in the Dang dynasty) during the sea journey to China. It seems that Silla, which was taking control of the East-Asian waters in the 9th century, was leading diplomacy with Japan while providing convenience for Japanese envoys or relaying communication with the Dang dynasty. However, the close relationship between Silla and Japan eventually ended in 836 when mutual distrust prevailed due to Japan's ambivalent attitude. It is expected that the elucidation of Silla-Japan relationship in the first half of the 9th century will provide an opportunity for overcoming Japan's distorted view of Shilla and opening a new horizon for bilateral relationship. At the same time, it is confirmed that Japanese Ritsuryou State's international consciousness of considering Silla as a small empire in the eastern part of China or a tributary state was nothing but an illusion and could not be admitted in the practical diplomacy.