뉴스레터

In traditional, or pre-modern, East Asia, foreign relations were basically governed by the tributary system. Some place too much emphasis on the tributary system as a reflection of the Sino-centric international order, disparaging tributary states as local governments of the Chinese dynasty. Some others have misrepresented the tributary system by highlighting the independence of neighboring countries. What we call the tributary system represents a form of diplomacy established on the premise that China as a superior state was the center of East Asia, and its neighboring countries paying tribute to it had their independence recognized in return. Therefore, it is not desirable to place too much emphasis on either aspect of the system. Instead, it is necessary to take a balanced approach, treating the international order of East Asia and the independence of countries as closely connected to each other.

Border Organizations Established to Rule Other Peoples and Conduct Foreign Affairs

As is well known, there had been dramatic changes in the international situation over the course of history. Consequently, there had been also constant changes in the framework and details of the tributary system as a form of diplomacy. Against this backdrop, there had been also endless changes in foreign policy aimed to realize the interests of East Asian nations. The tributary system in the pre-modern period was a form of diplomacy established, in principle, based on foreign relations between the Chinese dynasty and the central governments of its neighboring countries. Since the means of transportation and communication during the pre-modern period were primitive compared with what is available today, East Asian countries established and operated a variety of organizations in the border and frontier regions in order to complement foreign affairs between central governments. Many Chinese dynasties established border organizations not only to effectively rule residents in frontier regions and non-Chinese peoples living outside the border but also to efficiently conduct foreign affairs with many neighboring countries. Those neighboring countries are also known to have established organizations in frontier regions in order to administer foreign affairs with other countries including the Chinese dynasty. This book was prepared to shed new light on the various forms and reality of diplomacy in East Asia by examining many organizations established in the border or frontier regions by East Asian countries during the pre-modern period.

This book consists of three parts, each examining the border organizations of Korea, China, and Japan, respectively. Part 1 reviews the border organizations and border policies that appeared primarily in Korean History. "The Western Border of Koguryo and Muryeora" examines how Koguryo built Muryeo Fortress as a frontline base east of the Liaoho and established a line of defense connecting it to many military bases of 'ra(邏)' west of the Liaoho. "Paegangjin Established in the Late Silla Period and its Characteristics" argues that Unified Silla established a military organization called Paegangjin (浿江鎭) in the border region in preparation against the invasion of Balhae, and that it took care of public order and security as the military administration of the Paegang region. "A Study on Changes in the Boundary Between Goryeo and Khitan and its Operations" studies the establishment of a buffer zone between Liadong and the Abrok River by Goryeo and Khitan to prevent armed conflicts and maintain amicable relations from the King Seongjong period onward, and the formation of a new border zone later on during the King Hyeonjong period with Khitan's forced occupation of the region east of the Abrok River.

Part 2 analyzes the border organizations and border policies of different Chinese dynasties and how they ruled the non-Chinese peoples living outside the borders. "The Rule of non-Chinese Peoples During the Qin & Han Empires and Sub-Commandery" reviews Sub-Commandery (部都尉) and the Dependent Commandery (屬國都尉) widely known as the proof that the outer prefecture (邊郡) was ruled differently from the inner prefecture (內郡) during the Qin and Han periods, confirming that the universal principle of commandery rule applied to the outer as well as the inner prefectures. "The Bian Zhou Issue in the Early Tang Period" examines the roles and responsibilities of Bian zhou (邊州), a regional administrative body established by Tang, and their changes. "Foreign Strategy in the Border Region by Emperor Xuanzong of Tang" explores how the flexible foreign policy enforced on the peoples in the border region by the Tang government during the Emperor Xuanzong era made the border region stable for a long time. "The Maps and Geographical Books of Northeast China During the Ming and Qing Periods and How They Relate to Joseon's Border Defense Maps" examines how Joseon in the late period produced northern border defense maps by referring to the border maps of Ming and Qing.

East Asia Seeking Coexistence Through Human and Cultural Exchange

Part 3 deals with the border organizations and boundary cities established by Japan. "The Function of Dazaifu and the Silla Issue in Ancient Japan" examines that ancient Japan established Dazaifu (大宰府) as a diplomatic office in Tsukushi Province (筑紫國), a major transportation point connecting to Silla, in order to efficiently handle political and diplomatic affairs between the two countries. And "The Port City of Nagasaki as a Boundary of Modern Asia" examines that Nagasaki was the fringe of Japan as a state of the bakuhan system (幕藩制國家) and it was also a port city serving as a boundary with East Asian society, and that the authority of the bakuhan state not only discriminated against mixed-bloods or foreign residents belonging to the boundary area but also segregated foreigners completely for separate management. Finally, "The Tsushima Domain and the Japanese Trade House in Modern Korea-Japan Relations" discusses a number of diplomatic incidents that occurred between Korea and Japan in the late 17th century to review the functions and roles of the Tsushima Domain and the Japanese Trade House as organizations for negotiating foreign affairs.

Unfortunately, the papers presented in this book lack a unifying theme because the authors have failed to share with one another their concerns and questions or research methodologies properly. This book has also failed to highlight the distinctive differences among China, Japan, and Korea differed in their border organizations and border policies. Nevertheless, this book's accomplishment is that it highlights how all the East Asian countries during the traditional period established border organizations complementing foreign relations between central governments and tried to seek coexistence through active human and cultural exchange through those organizations. That it presents a fresh perspective on foreign relations in East Asia through the discovery and reinterpretation of new material is also another accomplishment.