Research Trends in the Field of Joseon Tongsinsa Studies

Abstract

This review of materials begins with an overview of early Joseon Tongsinsa, the Joseon diplomatic missions to Japan. The origin of Tongsinsa goes back to the late Goryeo dynasty in Korea, as the Korean government dispatched diplomatic missions to the Japanese government in order to curtail pirate activities. Then, the introduction of basic materials in the study of Tongsinsa begins by referring to Miyake Hideyoshi’s 1968 work on Korean-Japanese relations during the Joseon dynasty. Excellent sources for the study of Joseon Tongsinsa identified are Joseon wangjo sillok and Haehaeng chongjae, the latter a record translated into Korean in the 1970s. Sinsa girok of Daemado jongga munseo, stored at the National Institute of Korean History, is also noted. Japanese materials that are useful in Tongsinsa studies, including Ch?sen ts?ko? taiki and Ts?k? ichiran, a collection of historical records pertaining to foreign relations, compiled by the Tokugawa bakufu in 1853, are also canvassed. A discussion of representative works of the field makes certain observations, including the assessment that there are not many comprehensive and thorough studies among the Tongsinsa-related works, that there is an overemphasis on cultural exchange among them, and recommends that future research to focus more on political, diplomatic and economic aspects of Tongsinsa instead of its role in cultural exchange.