‘영고탑회귀설’로 살펴본 18~19세기 조선의 서북 경계

Abstract

Joseon thought that if the Qing Dynasty declined, they would return to their original hometown, Ningguta.(寧古塔) At this time, their return route must pass through the northwestern border of Joseon, so they thought about defense against it. This ‘The Rumor of Manchurian return to Ningguta’ continued for over a hundred years from the time of King Sukjong. Joseon’s greatest concern was that the Qing Dynasty returned to Ningguta, attacking private houses on the northwestern border of Joseon and usurping their food. Therefore, the Joseon Dynasty had to make a thorough defense against it. The traffic route from Beijing, the capital of the Qing Dynasty, to Ningguta is the route through Sanhaiguan, Gaewon, and Jilin. A faster way is to go from Shenyang, passing between the Longgang Mountains(龍崗山脈) and the Huifahe(輝發河) area to reach Ningguta. However, if the present Yalu River is the northwestern border of Joseon, it all passes through a road far from Pyeongan-do of Joseon. In other words, it does not match the records of historical that say, “The direct road from Shenyang to Ningguta is very close to the northwestern part of Joseon.” In another paper, I have reviewed the latitude and longitude recorded in the Cheongbuk region of Pyongan Province in 『Daedongjiji』 and argued that the northwestern part of Joseon included the present-day Liaoning and Jilin provinces in China. This northwest boundary of Joseon can be seen more clearly when compared with the Manchurian return to Ningguta. In other words, the northern border issue that Joseon had been contemplating for over a hundred years did not stem from a vague hatred for the barbarian Qing Dynasty, but because it was the northwestern boundary of Joseon including the present-day Liaoning and Jilin Provinces in China. Therefore, it was a concern about the very realistic and urgent national task that Joseon faces.