『항한필휴(航韓必携)』에 보이는 제1차 수신사의 모습

Abstract

An Aspect of The First Susinsa, Envoy to Meiji Japan in late 19th Century viewed based on Koukanhitsukei Lee, Hyo-Jeong Upon the Chosun-Japan Treaty of 1876, the first Susinsa of Chosun recovered the rupture of diplomatic relations between Chosun and Japan for 60 years and experienced the new modern civilization as a national delegation. The studies of Susinsa have been conducted mainly on the basis of Ildonggiyu, the official history written by Kim Ki-su. Although Changsagihaeng and recent translation of Japanese materials improved the accessibility to the references, related researches are still lacking. To broaden our horizons for the research of Susinsa, therefore, we investigated the Koukanhitsukei which contains most of data from the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Koukanhitsukei consists of 18 books and were published by Sakada Morodo of the Japanese ministry of foreign affairs to assist Miyamoto Kouichi for his task in Chosun after return of Susinsa. In these references, not only fragmentary events such as participating in magic banquet and physician’s visiting from Juntendo for a sick envoy member, but also detailed stories such as the painter Kim Yong-won’s purchase of machines and chemicals (zinc and hydrochloric acid) and Park Young-sun’s learning of vaccination from Juntendo were contained, which were not included in the record of diplomatic journey of Chosun. Such a positive attitude toward modern civilization has been hard to find in the records by Kim Ki-su or his personal assistant Ahn Gwang-mook. We can also figure out the Japanese viewpoint on the Susinsa by Koukanhitsukei. Japanese in the meiji era had an antipathy to the arrogant attitude of Chosun’s Tongsinsa and attempted to impair the relation between two countries. They regarded Chosun as an uncivilized country clinging to old customs and had a perception that they must civilize people of Chosun. Consequently, though there was no practical outcomes, they tried to let the first Susinsa enlarge the knowledge about multiple government organizations, and the products of civilization.