17세기 후반 臺灣 鄭氏海上勢力에 대한 조선의 정보 수집과 그 의미

Abstract

Jeong’s maritime powers who based on the coast region of the south China resisted Ching in the later Ming Dynasty and the early Ching Dynasty. Since then, they were chased by Ching Dynasty so they entered Taiwan which is across the sea, established an independent kingdom and resisted Ching but finally they were subjugated to the Ching Dynasty. Joseon was not contact with Jeong’s maritime powers by land but located in a geographical position that is possible to meet by a sea route and Jeong’s maritime powers resisted Ching Dynasty as surviving powers of Ming Dynasty so Joseon could not but be interested in the Jeong’s. Joseon was interested in the trend of Jeong’s powers and gathered information about them. As a result there was much information about them in the Joseon’s historical records. In this manuscript, using these historical records as a base material I tried to understand the way that Joseon government collected information about Jeong’s maritime powers and what the standard of the collected information was. The main way that Joseon collected information about Jeong’s maritime powers is dispatching envoys to the Ching Dynasty. By sending envoys periodically or irregularly, Joseon always detected the internal affairs of Ching and especially when collecting information about Jeong’s maritime powers is needed Joseon paid sharp attention to collect information. Joseon also got important information through Japan and Taemado(對馬島). To check accuracy of information Joseon had sent envoys to Taemado intentionally. Besides, Joseon got information through drifting foreigners in the coast or several islands. Although the information that was collected by Japan or drifting foreigners was usually used to check and supplement the information collected by the Ching, sometimes by Japan or drifting foreigners Joseon could get new information faster than by the Ching. In addition sometimes there was conflicting information with the information from the Ching and at this time to make sure of accuracy of the information Joseon took measures to detect additionally. Like this, Joseon tried to synthesize the information from the Ching, Japan and drifting foreigners and secure its credibility and accuracy. Getting information about Jeong’s maritime powers took at least several months or years. Furthermore there was information that was controversy in accuracy and its efficiency was decided by additional detection. Generally Joseon was behind in the speed of collecting information because Joseon usually collected information by dispatching envoys. However it is sure that the level of accuracy of the information is high relatively. That’s because Joseon got information that has public confidence and collecting information is done by relatively a people on a high intellectual level. The king or ruling powers who were responsible for government affairs of Joseon judged the international situation by these information and their judgement of the international situation of East Asia including Jeong’s maritime powers was quite accurate itself. Therefore in the 17th century although Joseon’s ability of collecting and understanding information is not enough, it was enough to maintain one nation.