16세기 조선 對明 사행단의 정보수집과 정보력

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to understand the intelligence-gathering of the envoy of Chosŏn to Ming Dynasty in the early Chosŏn by examining the actual figures of intelligence- gathering activities of Chosŏn from Ming in the 16th century, which is often referred to as 'stabilized period in the relationship between Chosŏn and Ming'. Until recently the studies on the ntelligence-Gathering of Chosŏn in its early period have been conducted focusing on the 15th century, when there were conflicts with Ming. It is because Chosŏn took active attitude to use all kinds of measures to solve the crisis in national security when it was enhanced. Then, it is needed to determine whether or not the importance and active attitude of information collection also decreased in the 16th century when relatively more stable relationship with Ming was maintained than previous years. Since the information activities in the 16th century could be understood successively in relation to those in the 15th century and makes it possible to evaluate the information activities from Ming in the early Chosŏn period, a study on this issue is required. Looking at the information acquisition system of Chosŏn envoy, the director of envoy supervised information search and the translator became the primary actor under the supervision of the director. The recording officer submitted official report on the acquired information, which became a preserved record to be used in the mid-to-long term responses in the diplomacy with Ming. The envoy recruited information collectors through many passengers whom they met on the way to Beijing. They established such information as reliable information through consistent inquiry to and verification from the officers in Liao-dong and Beijing. Beyond these, they acquired the official documents of Ming from Lia-dong and Beijing. All envoys dispatched 4 times a year verified the same information through the same processes. Thus, the information of Chosŏn was not only accurate but also very sophisticated. The 16th century was the period when there was long-term peace between Chosŏn and Ming and Ming dynasty emphasized the principle to protect their confidential information from being disclosed to the foreign countries. Nonetheless, the active information collection activities of the envoys in the 16th century allowed Chosŏn to acquired very sophisticated information very quickly. It was possible because the envoys dispatched successively under the powerful will toward information collection of Chosŏn played the role of 'moving ambassador' beyond the boundary to Beijing and persistently engaged in information collection activities.