龍州 趙絅의 대일인식

Abstract

Jo Gyeong(趙絅) tried to keep the Jurchens in check with the assistance of Japan, which is the most noteworthy in his perceptions of Japan. He experienced the invasions of both Japan and the Jurchens. While the invasion of Japan was a part of his second-hand experiences during childhood, that of the Jurchens had direct impacts on him. He understood the world of his time in relations among Ming Dynasty, Joseon, Japan, and the Jurchens, which was in line with people's view of world order during the former half of Joseon. His perceptions of Japan were thus in line with the idea of Japan as theory of the civilized and the barbarians. In his diplomatic mission to Japan, Jo Gyeong criticized Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who invaded Joseon, harshly and exhibited strong distrust in Tsushima as he believed that the main culprits of invasion of Joseon were Hideyoshi and Tsushima. He, on the contrary, had an amicable view of Tokugawa Ieyasu and Tokugawa shogunate. He praised the grand civilization of Japan and even called Japan a friend nation. His diplomatic mission to Japan changed his viewpoint of the country, but the change was restricted to the Tokugawa shogunate. That is, he had a dichotomous viewpoint of Japan between the main culprits of the war, which were Hideyoshi and Tsushima, and the Tokugawa shogunate, which brought Hideyoshi down. The changes to his perceptions of Japan did not mean that he recognized it as an equal to Joseon. He took pride in Joseon that learned civilization from Gija(箕子) and stood shoulder to shoulder with Samdae(三代) and emphasized that Joseon was superior to Japan. In other words, his view of the world in relations among Ming Dynasty, Joseon, Japan, and the Jurchens continued even though his view of Japan became more positive after his diplomatic mission to the country.