6세기 왜계백제관인을 통해 본 백제-왜 관계의 변화

Abstract

The “Japanese-Baekje” officials, who were Japanese-born individuals serving the Baekje government as officials, displayed impressive activities during the reign of King Seong-wang of Baekje, and particularly after the transfer of the Baekje capital to the Sabi region. At the time, Baekje was trying to expand its territory to cover the Gaya region, and “Wae” Japan was also trying to secure regions that would serve as stable portals through which they could continuously receive advanced culture from the outside. With situations unfolding on each countries showing potentials to not only overlap but also benefit both sides, an era of Baekje-Wae cooperation was formed which gave birth to a new breed of officials who were the aforementioned ‘Japanese-Baekje’ officials. Baekje’s exchanges with Wae became more important than ever during the 550s, as Baekje’s confrontation with Goguryeo and Shilla grew more and more intense. The Japanese-Baekje officials played a crucial role at this juncture, as they were dispatched to Wae and requested Japanese military support (more like dispatching of troops) for Baekje. Baekje’s goal, however, to expand its sphere of influence in the direction of the Gaya region was never accomplished, due to a series of failures such as Geumgwan Gaya’s integration into Shilla in 532, Baekje’s defeat at the Gwansan-seong fortress battle in 554, and Shilla’s annexation of Dae-Gaya in 562. The cooperative relationship between Baekje and Wae Japan also deteriorated around mid-6th century, due to changes in East Asian situations and not to mention disturbances in both Baekje and Wae’s political domains. Naturally, the role of the Japanese-Baekje officials was reduced, and those officials virtually vanished, with the Dalsol(達率) official Illa(日羅) as the last example we could confirm. The emergence and disappearance of this special breed of officials, whose actions were even more special because of the fact that they belonged to both Baekje and Wae at the same time, shows us they were directly responsible for maintaining connection of the two countries, and in the process embodied both sides’ struggle to become an Ancient state and continue a mutually beneficial relationship for that purpose.