朝鮮時代 北方野人의 社會經濟的 交涉考

The Socio-Economic Negotiations with Northern Jurchen during the Yi Dynasty

The negotiations with Jurchen in the north(北方野人) during the Yi Dynasty were a diplomatic problem as difficult as the relations with the Ming(明) Dynasty of China. Although it was one of its three national policies of the Yi Dynasy to maintain amity with the neighboring peoples, the problem could not always be solved peaceably by diplomacy. While trying to preserve amicable relations with the Jurchen, the diplomatic officials of the Yi Dynasty resorted at times to a balanced policy of appeasement and subjugation. Such negotiations started from the end of the Koryŏ(高麗) and the beginning of the Yi Dynasties and continued to the latter part of the middle period of the Yi Dynasty. Rather than subjugating them, however, the Yi Dynasty moved in the direction of espousing their demands through socio-economic contacts. As the first instance, King Techong(太宗) found out that economic dissatisfaction on the part of the Jurchen had much to do with their gross ruthless inflictions on life and property and thus opened two trade centers on the frontier where they could exchange necessaries of life. But the establishment of trade centers achieved only a temporizing effect, and efforts were made to treat them favorably by socio-economic means on an extensive scale. As a result, those who chose to live under the Dynasty were given official positions ranging from Chong-ku-pum(從九品) up to Chŏng-i-pum(正二品), according to their original social standing and their merits earned after they changed their loyalty. And the chieftains in subjugated areas were placed in the posts of Ch’e-a(遞兒職); in the meantime, the Jurchen and their offspring were allowed to marry people below the class of Sang-in(常人) (common people), limiting their abode but providing them with houses, slaves, and necessaries of life. Moreover, a measure of naturalization was adopted for those living under the Dynasty, who were given Korean names, land, and food. On the other hand, sons of the Jurchen were made King’s guards in the palace as a means of appeasement. In short, the negotiations with Jurchen during the Yi Dynasty were designed to alleviate diplomatic difficulties by maintaining peaceful relations with them in socio-economic terms. Such policy toward the Jurchen was applied in the relations with Japan in the south as well with some modifications. It can be seen, therefore, that the policy of amity of the Yi Dynasy adhered as best it could to its raison d’être despite hindrances confronting it. But still the negotiations with the Jurchen had the problem of overall treatment unsolved such as the public and private trade relations centered in Seoul.