「歸化」에 대한 小考

Some Notes on “Naturalization” in Early East Asian History

The purpose of this study is to find out, on one hand, one aspect of ancient political systems and ideals of China, Korea and Japan, and on the other hand, to give certain hint to the study of cultural exchange of these nations, particularly of the activities of emigrants and immigrants, by examining the words bearing the meaning of naturalization(歸化) as appeared in the historical records of ancient China, Korea and Japan. According to the ancient historical records of China, Korea and Japan, we find that words bearing the meaning of “naturalization”(歸化) amount several scores and these words were not used for exactly same meaning, but each had a little different meaning (nuance). Most of the words “naturalization” (歸化, kuei-hua) meant receiving education(敎化) or moral influence(德化), and it had its foundation in the ideas of China’s Confucian moral excellence(德化) and Sino-Centrism(中華主義, Such meaning of “naturalization” of China was carried on in the historical writings of early 8th century Japan which copied T’ang’s lega nlad political systems and established a centralized political institution. And in the first writings of Rikkoku-shi(六國史) of Japan “Civilizing Influence of the Ruler”(王化) is strongly indicated. But in the later Rikkoku-shi this idea is weakened. In the Korean ancient historical records, however, such words as meaning moral excellence(德治) or civilizing influence of the ruler(王化) are hardly found, and they were expressed simply by words such as flight(奔), low(降), subordination(屬), and therefore, it is difficult to say that the idea of centralized government of China was reflected upon Korea.