通信使 往來를 通한 韓日 文化交流

Korea & Japan Cultural Interchanging Through Tongshinsa

"Tongshinsa(通信使)" was the diplomats sent to the Japanese Shogun by the king of Chosun from the 15th-19th Century. These officials were sent to realize the 'good-neighbor policy,' the basic Korean policy towards Japan. In this study, the cultural interchanging through Tongshinsa is sought in mainly two parts; 1)Various trends of cultural interchanging including literatures, sciences, arts, living cultures, technologies, etc, and 2)The significance of Tongshinsa in the aspect of cultural interchanging history between Korea & Japan. The cultural interchanging was variously made, mainly in the literature, science, art, living culture and technology areas. For interchanging activities in literature, there were mainly poetic conversations, literary gifts and proofreading made via poets. In addition, there were literary interests, comments and assessments on both countries made via conversational writings. In the aspects of science, also, Tongshinsa played a role of handing over the science of Chosun to Japan, as well as Japan to Chosun. They were sincere intermediates of cultural communications. In the fields of arts, such as painting & calligraphy, music, play, horse riding, etc, every Tongshinsa of Chosun showed outstanding performance, pleasing the Japanese. On the other hand, Tongshinsa showed great interest on the cultures of Japan as well, allowing active cultural interchanging possible through arts. For the living culture, the cultural interchanging was active through foods. Tongshinsa gave great influence to the mass society of Japan, even infiltrating deep into the folk customs of Japan. Technologies were also actively interchanged, including medical science and shipbuilding. For the significances of Tongshinsa in the aspect of cultural interchanging history between Korea & Japan, there can be factors such as being aware of domestic cultures, strengthening identity, developing competent people and the idea of self exalt. By establishing the tradition of mutual communication, also, the policy changed the image of the opposite country and allowed mass-production of artifacts related with Tongshinsa giving an opportunity of cultural prosperity.