The relationship between the Joseon Dynasty and China developed with a balance in justification and practicality, reflecting the comprehensive change in international and domestic environment. Joseon, belong to the World System of Centering around Chi...
The relationship between the Joseon Dynasty and China developed with a balance in justification and practicality, reflecting the comprehensive change in international and domestic environment. Joseon, belong to the World System of Centering around China, applied the Official Document System of China and exchanged their diplomatic documents. The diplomatic documents to Ming and Qing dynasty during Joseon period are: Danja(單子), Jeongmun(呈文), Sinmun(申文), Gyemun(啓文), Jumun(奏文), Jamun(咨文), Jangmun(狀文), Jonmun(箋文), P`yomun(表文) and so on. Later, Johoe(照會) was added in the late 19th century. These documents were influenced by China; therefore, they were produced, delivered, received and stored according to the Chinese Official Document System. Among these diplomatic documents of Joseon period, Jamun was the documents so-called, Pyunghangmun(平行文) which was exchanged between the governments of higher than the second grade. The documents of Joseon were issued by the King of Joseon dynasty, and received by the Board of Rites(禮部), the Board of War(兵部), the Five Army office of the Commander-Governor(五軍都督府), and the Liaodong Commander-Guard(遼東都司) of Ming dynasty, and by the Board of Rites, the Board of War, and the Shenyang Board of Rites(盛京禮 部), the Shenyang Board of War(盛京兵部) of Qing dynasty. Jamun among diplomatic documents was the most exchanged documents between Joseon and China because of its practical use. Though the specified forms of Jamun in Ming dynasty were handed down to Qing dynasty, some partial changes were made, reflecting the weakening of China`s status in the course of modernization. Its contents include all kinds of diplomatic affairs occurred between China and Joseon in a comprehensive manner. The administrative system of Jamun may be classified by their final destination, whether it is to Beijing or to Shenyang, and also by the use of the administration system of official documents( ) of China. Since the documents delivered to Ming 行移體系dynasty were finally received by the Chinese emperor in the end, they were generally handled with more care than the ones that are being sent to Shenyang. In addition, delivered Jamun by Sahaeng(使行) a dispatched envoy from Joseon dynasty contained relatively more important information than the ones delivered under the administration system of official documents of China. Through the format, contents, and administration system of this type of Jamun, we may identify that the Jamun was the key diplomatic document within the world System of Centering China during Joseon period. Moreover, we may also understand the characteristics of the international order of Joseon dynasty through an analysis of Jamun. In the early 19th century, the Western Powers` advance into East Asia radically changed the traditional conception of the East Asian international order. The decline in Qing`s international standing brought changes in fundamental World-view(世界觀) for Joseon who was keeping its national security under the World system of centering Around China. This naturally led to a change in diplomatic policy and diplomatic documents. The changes occurred in the format, contents and its administration system of the Jamun caused Joseon, who was attempting to reform and modernize its diplomatic system to establish modern diplomatic organizations and to formulate appropriate diplomatic document system. Meanwhile, Qing dynasty tried to maintain their world system of centering around Qing(淸中心國際秩序) to Joseon. The gap between Joseon and Qing dynasty`s foreign policy became more deepened by not only their relation itself, but also their relation with the Western Powers including Japan. In conclusion, a traditional diplomatic document Jamun lost its identity as a diplomatic document in accordance with the defeat of Qing dynasty in the Sino-Japanese War which signifies the collapse of the traditional international order.