1870년대 전반의 중국 使行과 대외 정세 인식

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to identify what information the Joseon envoys had in China in the early 1870's and how the information they collected affected the Joseon government's foreign policy. Joseon envoys dispatched in the early 1870's conducted more active exploration activities than before to obtain various information. In particular, the envoys of 1873 and 1874 frequently contacted Chinese officials and obtained important information by researching magazine such as the Peking Magazine. Through diplomatic activities, the government of Joseon learned that the Japanese were so powerful that even Qing could not easily handle, that it made a policy toward strengthening negotiations with Japan. The envoys also confirmed that Qing's power is gradually weakening. Nevertheless, Qing was expected to play a role in curbing Japan's military invasion. Such expectation was attributed to the insertion of a clause in the "Sino-Japanese Amity Regulations" that would not violate 'each other's territory(所屬邦土)'. A positive perception of the modern treaty system and the international community was laid on the basis of faith in the "Sino-Japanese Amity Regulations". It is assumed that the change in perception of the international community has occurred after confirming that the British arbitrated the dispute in the Taiwan incident. One can guess that there will also be changes in relations with the Western countries. Of course, the process of foreign policy change could not be smooth, as there were only a few who had new perceptions.