최근 나당전쟁사 연구의 주요 쟁점

Abstract

Regarding the start and end of the Silla-Tang War, which occurred in the late 7th century due to the conflict over the postwar process after the fall of Goguryeo and Baekje, the descriptions of Chinese and Korean historical materials are sharply divergent, claiming that each country won the victory. Accordingly, the perspectives of domestic and foreign academic researchers are also sharply divided depending on how they accept and interpret these historical records. In particular, the main issues in the academic world that have been going on so far can be summarized as follows. First, it was a issues related to the timing of the start of the Silla-Tang War and the investigation of its cause. Second, it was a issues related to the location of major battlegrounds such as Maesoseong and the consequent understanding of the development of the war. Third, there was a issues related to the confrontation between the ‘Victory of Silla theory’ and the ‘Tang’s abandoning the Korean peninsula theory’ related to the process of ending the war. And there were also issues related to the discourse on the historical significance of the 'The Unification of Silla' or ‘The establishment of the South and North dynasties'.
 Looking at the previous discussions related to these Silla-Tang war history, the aspect of the completion stage of the so-called 'The Silla’s unification of the three kingdoms' or 'The establishment of the North and South dynasties' was mainly highlighted from the perspective of Korean history. However, in terms of East Asian history or world history, the aspect of the foreign policy of the Tang Empire was mainly highlighted. Therefore, naturally, there was a strong tendency for the absolute majority to constantly converge only on the beginning and end of the war, and various interpretations and discourses surrounding it, and revolve around it.
 As such, the following aspects need to be further considered for the development of research achievements in the field in the future. First, it is necessary to find new historical concepts or terms that can cover the reality of the 7th century’s international war and its long-term aftermath, including the Silla-Tang War, from the perspective of complementing internal and external factors by replacing simple dichotomy. Second, it is necessary to expand interest not only in Tang and Silla, the parties to the war, but also in other tribes and groups, such as the Malgal, Khitan, other northern nomadic forces, and the refugees of Goguryeo and Baekje, who directly or indirectly participated in the war. Third, it is necessary to understand the various internal contexts such as the political structure of each party to the war, such as Tang or Silla, or the changes in institutions, society, and culture, and the periodic influence of the Silla-Tang War more closely.