외교문서를 통해 본 후백제와 일본의 외교 양상

Abstract

In 922 and 929, GyeonHwon of The Later Baekje sent Japan an envoy with a letter(牒) for the purpose of opening diplomatic relations with Japan. This paper examines those letters as official diplomatic documents exchanged between states. The reason why The Later Baekje’s attempts to open diplomatic relations with Japan ended in failure is that the Japanese court was pursuing a passive, closed-door policy to maintain national security in the midst of rapid changes taking place in East Asia during the late ninth and early tenth centuries. Thus, the Japanese officially refused GyeonHwon’s requests on the ground of ‘no diplomatic relations with a vassal(爲人臣者 無外交)’ that had become their guiding principle for diplomatic relations since the establishment of a uniform code of law. On the other hand, GyeonHwon stabilized his ruling system after the designation of Jeonju as the capital of The Later Baekje and established friendly relations with several states including Wuyue(吳越), which boosted his confidence to dispatch an envoy to Japan in 922 to open diplomatic relations with the islanders. The second envoy of 929 was sent to Japan after the assassination of King Gyeongae of Silla in order for GyeonHwon to throw off his vassalage and establish him as the king of The Later Baekje. GyeonHwon sent Japan an envoy not as a vassal of Silla but as the king of The Later Baekje. In short, GyeonHwon attempted to have The Later Baekje recognized as not a local but a legitimate state power by establishing diplomatic relations with Japan.