通信使 外交儀禮에서 茶의 중요성에 대한 고찰

A Study on the Significance of Tea in the Diplomatic Ceremony to Tongshinsa

This study is focused on figuring out the significance of tea in the diplomatic ceremony to Tongshinsa in 17-18th centuries. On their way, envoys and followers received daily rationed goods every fifth day. Japanese officials supplied rice, firewood and some essential goods, including tea. In the whole process of the reception ceremony, sharing tea was one of the most important parts. Starting the Celebratory Banquet on landing, they had confabulation over a cup of tea, and they also closed the tea ceremony for conveying sovereign’s message with the last tea drinking. Such cases show that tea was considered as a ceremonial item. A newly found document “Sou family’s Archives of Tsushima” gives much to mention about the significance of tea as a ceremonial item in diplomacy. The document has illustrated how to serve tea to the envoys in detail.