A Preliminary Study On Japanese Various Stratums' Concept To China, 1369-1599

In order to set up hegemony in Asia, Japan started the Imjin War at the end of the 16th century. This war affected East Asia deeply. This dissertation attempts to explain the reason of the war through analyzing the conversion of Japanese concept about China from the second half of 14th century to the end of 16th century, and tries to answer three academic questions as follows: firstly ,the differences of the concept about China which Japan's different social stratums possessed; secondly, the process of the conversion of their concept about China from the second half of 14th century to the end of 16th century and how the concept in different period affected the Sino-Japanese relations; thirdly, how the varied international situation of East Asia of this period affected Japanese international concept and Japanese diplomatic policies, and how Japanese diplomatic policies affected the international situation of East Asia. This dissertation uses social stratum analytic method to build the frame, and uses the study method of course study, case analysis and comparison study to investigate and analyze the characteristic and conversion of Japanese concept about China from second half of 4th century to the end of 16th century.The dissertation consists of six chapters. Chapter one "introduction" mainly illustrates the academic value and realistic magnificence of studying Japanese concept about China through this historic period. Meanwhile, it summarizes extant achievement and puts forward the study means and thoughts of this dissertation.Chapter two inspects the Japanese concept about China before 14th century and the Sino-Japanese relations from the second half of 14th century to the end of 16th century. These are the historical and realistic backgrounds of the Japanese concept about China during this period.From chapter three to chapter five, the dissertation uses the method of Sociology and Political science, divides Japanese into three stratums: the Ruler stratum, the Intellectual stratum, the Japanese feudal lord and Businessman stratum, and analyzes the concept of these three stratums respectively. Chapter three analyzes Japanese rulers' concept about China. Section one analyzes Prince Kaneyoshi's concept about China and his policy to China. Section two analyzes the concept about China of the generals of Muromachi Shogunate. Section three analyzes the motivation that made Hideyoshi Toyotomi start Imjin War.Chapter four mainly analyzes the concept about China of Japan's intellectuals, which took Wushan Monks as representative. Section one analyzes how Shunoku myoha played his role in Sino-Japanese relations before Muromachi Shogunate established diplomatic relations with Ming Dynasty. Section two analyzes the concept about China of Wushan Monks who wrote Diplomatic correspondence to Ming Dynasty. Section three analyzes how Wushan Monks who were sent to China on a diplomatic mission thought about China. Section four analyzes how Wushan Monks played their roles in Imjin War, and their concept about China and Sino-Japanese relations during that period.Chapter four inspects Japanese feudal lord and Businessman stratum's concept about China. Section one analyzes the concept of Japanese businessmen who took part in Kanhe Trade. Section two analyzes the concept of the Japanese feudal lord and Businessman who united with Japanese pirates. Section three analyzes the concept of the Japanese feudal lord and Businessman who participated in Imjin War, and the differences of different people's concept about China during this war.The analysis of chapter six is based on summarizing the content of foregoing five chapters. This chapter focuses on analyzing the relations of Japanese concept about China and the situation of East Asia during that period, and illustrates how Japanese concept about China affected Sino-Japanese relations, and even affected the international relations of East Asia.