9세기 초 일본의 변경과 통역 –쓰시마에 배치된 신라역어를 중심으로–

Abstract

This study focuses on contact and exchange between different cultures in the borderland areas of the ancient Japanese islands and examines the actual condition of interpretation in those regions. In the early ninth century, an unknown number of Silla people frequently went to the Japanese islands. The specific roles of interpretation in the context of conflict and of the blending of different cultures are examined. The use of Silla yeogeo(新羅譯語), or oral interpretation between Tsushima and Silla, aimed to prevent possible trouble and also inquired into reasons for visits to Silla as the influx of foreigners whose reasons for visiting were uncertain increased and suspicious ships frequently appeared. The assignment of a baksa(博士), or a translator of written texts, was a measure to treat envoys bearing diplomatic documents among a group of ships or large groups. In other words, the Silla yeogeo handled spoken communication while the baksa focused on written documents. It is a common idea that in the ancient period people freely crossed a country’s border, but extant records show the difficulty of making a categorical statement in that regard. Those who crossed a border met restrictions, regulations, supervision, and confirmation, although the fact that people were not totally free to cross the border did not necessarily mean the “rarity of trans-boundary movement.” Rather, there are numerous records regarding control of border-crossing because people did so frequently, and regulations in that context have come to be clarified. The Silla yeogeo discussed in this article was essentially a measure to strengthen immigration controls. However, ironically, it also was a result of the dynamic exchange between the two countries near islands, such as Tsushima, and the coastal areas, as well as being an indication of frequent transit in borderland areas.