麗末鮮初 對明外交에서의 使行詩에 대하여

Abstract

After Ming Dynasty was established in 1368, Goryeo and Joseon set up an active diplomatic relationship with Ming China by frequent dispatchment of envoys. Korean envoys who visited China at that time could have hands-on experiences on China, not just indirect ones through the books. On their trip to Nanjing, capital of Ming, they passed by such historic sites as Wuhudao Island, Han Xin's tomb and Laundrywoman's tomb, which naturally resulted in the composition of poems of historical memory. They could vividly include on-site atmosphere in their poems, and many of those poems were later highly praised to be selected in such anthologies as Dongmunseon. There were frequent diplomatic conflicts with Ming in the late Goryeo-early Joseon period, when Korean envoys' safety was jeopardized. Kim Guyong, Jeong Chong, and Jo Seo experienced their lives in exile in Ming China, and even their lives were sometimes threatened. However, instead of pains and agonies of the exile in a foreign country, their exile poems display undaunted dignity. Kweon Geun also risked his life and went on an envoy trip to China, trying to normalize the diplomatic relationship between the two countries. When in Ming China, he composed and submitted 24 poems to King Taizu of Ming at his order. As these works were also recognized as masterpieces later, we can get a glimpse that envoy poetry from the envoys' trip to Ming China were highly praised during the Joseon period.