Trade Relations Of Chosun With Ming China And Japan During 14～(th)-17～(th) Centuries

The main theme of this dissertation is about characteristics of trade relations of Chosun with Ming China and Japan during the period of 14^th -17^th centuries. These characteristics can be summarized for four Chinese letters, shi dajiao lin that is literally translated to "respect strong nations and maintain good relationship with neighbors." In other words, the motive of building good political relations with other nations was the main characteristic of trade of Chosun during the period. In addition to suggesting this theme, this research also provides comprehensive information on trade relations of Chosun with Ming China and Japan such as lists of products traded, changes in trade patterns during the period, and respective characteristics of trade between these trading partners.This research consists of five chapters. The chapter one, first, explains the concept of shi da jiao lin. shi da jiao lin literally means "respect the strong, and maintain good relations with neighbors." This chapter shows how this concept is applied in Chosun's relations with Ming China. Ming China in Asia during the period was the superpower in the region; building good relationships with China based on shi da spirit, that is, showing respect, was the main motive for Chosun to have trade relations with Ming China. By providing China with periodic offerings of various products in the form of trade, Chosun could attain military protection of China for herself in the case of national emergency. The Chosun government also attained legitimacy from her people for its governing activities by having endorsement from China, which most Chosun people culturally admired at then.Chapter two applies the "shi da jiao lin" concept to the case of Chosun's trade relations with Japan. Japan is the case of jiao lin, "maintaining good relations with neighbors." Due to barrenness of her land, Japan suffered from chronic shortage ofagricultural products, which created various economic problems in the time of agriculture-leading economy. As a result, Japan often became a troublesome neighbor to Chosun by some of her people landing on seaside villages of Chosun and plundering them. The Chosun government needed to keep a good relationship with the Japanese government by sending periodic gifts so that she could have a motive to control her people.Chapter three presents details of Chosun's trade with Ming China and Japan such as trade routes, lists of products traded at different times, trading places, and types of trades. Whereas the government-leading trade for political purpose mentioned above was the main one, we can see there were other types of trades existed. There were various types of private-level trades; their main interest was making profits. These trades were explained in this chapter.Chapter four focuses on studying types of products traded and trade balance of Chosun in the government-leading trades with the two nations. Whereas Chosun's trade with Japan was relatively balanced, the trade with Ming China was unbalanced; Chosun often provided more offerings to China than she received from China. This unbalance was inevitable due to the main motive of the trade, which was a political one rather than economic one.During 16th-17th Centuries, we can see an emergency of different motives in trade relations compared to that of 14lh -15th centuries, which was mainly a political one based on shi dajiao lin. This is the topic of Chapter 5. lEconomic interests gradually emerged in Chosun's trade relations with the two nations. Being located in a peninsular between the two nations, many individual merchants in Chosun realized they could make profits by reselling what they bought from one nation to the other. By the end of 17th century, this private-leading trade gradually started to lead trade relations of Chosun more than the previous government-leading trade did.Concluding, we can sec that the government was the main player in Chosun's trade relations during 14" 17" centuries and her main motive for trades was maintaining good political relations, which arc summarized in the concept of shi da jiuo ////. However, the private-leading trades based on personal interests started to emerge as a major driving force for trades during 17th century. Intermediary trades helped by geological location of Chosun helped the emergence of private-leading trades.This study contributes to the past studies on international relations of Chosun by studying trade and economic parts of Chosun's relations with other countries, li defines main characteristics of her trades during the period of 14(n-17lh centuries and provides ample information on details of trades such as lists and amounts of products. trade routes, trading market places, and so on.