五代시기 “燕雲16州” 割讓의 역사적 배경 고찰

Abstract

Historically, “Yan-Yun 16 Prefectures (燕雲16州)” were some of the important strategical places in early imperial China. These areas, which started in modern day Datong (大同) and ended in Tianjin (天津), included the capital city, Beijing (北 京) and were just below location of the Great Wall (長城). The main reason why the “Yan-Yun 16 Prefectures” were created by the imperial Chinese government was to better defend the border from threatening nomadic tribes such as the Xiongnu (匈奴), Xianbei (鮮卑), Youran (柔然), Turks (突厥) and Khitans (契丹), who had consistently attempted to break into the economically and culturally prospering Chinese empire. In other words, imperial China installed the prefectures as a major military bases to solidify state security. Although there are many past studies on the “Yan-Yun 16 Prefectures,” there are still many un-answered historical questions, including why the Later Jin (後晉) had ceded this strategic area to the Khitan Empire. More specifically, why the first emperor of the Later Jin agreed to this bad policy decision made by his main political advisor Sang Weihan (桑維翰)? And Why did Sang himself, who was one of the top elites in the Chinese Empire, made such a suggestion to the emperor? Finally, during the cessation of the prefectures to the Khitans, what was the position and role of the military warlords, Liu Zhiyuan (劉知遠) and Zhao Dejun (趙德鈞)? In order to answer these questions, this paper is delved into the historical background of the “Yan-Yun 16 Prefectures” in the first chapter and examines the strategic importance of these areas from the Qin-Han (秦漢) through late Tang (唐後期). Following this, the paper investigates the main reasons as to why the Later Jin ceded the prefectures to the Khitan empire through carefully analyzing the roles of four individuals, specifically emperor Shi Jingtang (石敬塘), Sang Weihan, Liu Zhiyuan and Zhao Dejun. Finally, in the last chapter, the paper discusses the historical significance of the “Yan-Yun 16 Prefectures” through analysis of the Later period of Five Dynasties up to mid Northern Song when the Chinese Empire significantly re-established its diplomatic relations with the Koryo dynasty in 1071. Through the re-examination of the “Yan-Yun 16 Prefectures,” this paper hope to make an academic contribution to the scholarly world and help us to understand the politically / militarily significant areas in imperial Chinese history.