白村江싸움 직후 일본의 大陸關係의 再開

The restoration of Japan’s relations with the continent right after the battle of the paekchon river

T’ang emperor T’ai-tsung promised to Kim Chun Chu that China would allow Silla to rule the former territories of Paekche of the south of Pyongyang when the latter visited China to ask China’s help in its struggle against Paekche and Koguryo. Based on this accord both T’ang and Silla conquered Paekche and Koguryo. After the fall of Paekche, however, it became obvious that T’ang wanted to put the Korean peninsula under its direct rule. This led to the conflict between T’ang and Silla, but both sides tried to avoid an armed conflict to achieve the common goal of conquering Koguryo. Japan was afraid that it could be the next target if T’ang came to rule Koguryo and Silla after Paekche. Japan and Silla wanted each other in this respect, but were exercising restraint in approaching each other to avoid the clash between them and T’ang. It became apparent that T’ang would invade Silla and Japan while it was waging a war against Koguryo. This common danger from T’ang made both Silla and Japan get closer publicly. Because Japan’s relations with T’ang could not be dealt with lightly its diplomatic approach to Silla was very cautious. The visit of Silla envoy led by Kim Dong Am in the 9th month of 668 and Japan’s envoy for returning courtesies led by Oyama opened the way for an alliance between two countries. They came to exchange intelligence on T’ang: the second Silla envoy sent in the 9th month of 669 led by Achandokyudung. In 671 T’ang sent its envoys to Japan four times, and Kwak Mu Chong with an embassy of 2,000 people asked a military aid. In the same year Silla’s envoys visited Japan three times. Japan could not but make clear its attitude toward T’ang. Silla finally took the pro-Silla stance: Japan rejected the Chinese offer and severed its diplomatic ties with T’ang. Unlike previous studies which emphasized a policy change between Teach and Tenmu, Japan’s foreign policy since the battle of the Paekchon river changed little.