Research On The Warfare In The Tumen-river And YaLu-river Basin Under The East Asian Tributary System

“Two Rivers” are short for the Tumen River and Yalu River and are now the border rivers between China and the Joseon Dynasty.However,it was the historical territory of ancient China until the middle of the 15 th century.The Two-river Basin enjoys unique geographical advantages,so historically,it has been a field of competition between various ethnic groups,countries,and political powers.This dissertation takes the tributary system in East Asia in the early modern period as the macro vision,the warfare in the Two-river Basin as the carrier,and the historical evolution of the Jurchens toward ethnic unity from the 10 th to the mid-17 th century as the main thread.The dissertation discusses the relationship between the Jurchens and central dynasties(Liao,Jin,Yuan,and Ming Dynasties),the Goryeo Dynasty,and the Joseon Dynasty,thereby revealing how the Jurchens survived in the gap between the two powers,underwent vicissitudes from decentralization to centralization and from being weak to strong,finally finished ethnic unity and established regimes,and replaced the Ming dynasty as the common master of East Asia.This dissertation is divided into three historical stages based on the development process of the Jurchens,namely Liao,Jin and Yuan Dynasties,Early and Middle Ming Dynasty,and Late Ming and Early Qing Dynasties.The first historical stage is the warfare and the vicissitudes of Jurchens in the Two-river Basin in Liao,Jin,and Yuan Dynasties.This part of the dissertation focuses on the following issues for discussion.Firstly,the distribution,migration,and jurisdiction of the Jurchens in the Two-river Basin.This part mainly focuses on discussing the following three dimensions: the distribution and migration of Jurchens in the Liao Dynasty,the distribution and migration of Jurchens in the Jin and Yuan Dynasties,and the distribution and migration of such ethnic groups as Bohai and Qidan;jurisdiction of the Liao,Jin and Yuan Dynasties on Jurchens and administrative establishment in Two-river Basin;and the setting of the eastern and northern borders of Goryeo.Secondly,the warfare between Jurchens and central dynasties in the Two-river Basin.This part examines the relationship between the Jurchens and central dynasties in terms of Jurchen border invasion,the conquest of the Jurchens by central dynasties,and assistance offered by the Jurchens to the warfare of central dynasties.Thirdly,the warfare between the Jurchens and Goryeo and coping measures adopted by Goryeo.This part examines the northern advance warfare of Goryeo under the assistance of Jurchens,Jurchens’ plundering of Goryeo’s border towns,and Goryeo’s defense facilities.Fourthly,the relationship between the central dynasties,Jurchens,and Goryeo under the tributary system and the vicissitudes of Jurchens.Based on the above discussions,taking the tributary system as the macro perspective,this part discusses the tributary relationship between central dynasties and Goryeo and policies on Jurchens,the northern advance of Goryeo under the tributary system and expulsion of Jurchens,and the tortuous development of Jurchens in the gap between the two powers of central dynasties and Goryeo.The second historical stage is the warfare and the vicissitudes of Jurchens in the Two-river Basin in the Ming Dynasty.The time frame lasted from the founding of the Ming Dynasty(1368AD)to the military rise of Nurhaci in the 11 th year of the Wanli Emperor(1583 AD).The discussion centers around the following research issues.Firstly,the distribution,migration,and cohesion of the Jurchens in the late Yuan and Ming Dynasties.This part focuses on the following three areas: the distribution of Jurchens in the Two-river Basin and their relations with the Joseon Dynasty;the Jurchens’ acceptance of the Ming royal court’s appeasement and the Ming royal court’s establishment of garrisons to govern various tribes of Jurchens;the successive migration of Three Garrisons of Jianzhou away from the control of the government of Joseon Dynasty to the Suzi River of the Yalu River Basin.Three Garrisons of Jianzhou started to live together,signifying the formation of the community of Jianzhou Jurchens.The formation of the community of Jurchens was achieved under the continuous crackdown of the Joseon Dynasty and with the permission of the Ming government.Secondly,the warfare between Jurchens in the Two-river Basin and Joseon Dynasty and coping measures adopted by the two sides.This part focuses on Jianzhou Jurchens and the “Battle of Qingyuan”,“Lvyan Incident” and two conquests of the Jurchens by Joseon Dynasty,Wudiha Jurchens and “Zaoshan Fortress Incident”,coping measures adopted by the Joseon Dynasty on the warfare with Jurchens(resorting to force on Jurchens,reinforcing the defense of the eastern and northern borders,and appeasing Jurchen tribes,etc.),and coping measures adopted by Jurchens on the warfare with Joseon Dynasty(migration to avoid disasters,revenging raids,and union of Jurchen tribes).Thirdly,the warfare between Jurchens in Two-river Basin and Ming Dynasty and coping measures adopted by the two sides.This part investigates the plundering of the Ming border in Liaodong by Jurchen tribes,two Ming expeditions to Jianzhou Jurchens during the Chenghua years,construction of the border walls and castles of Liaodong,and the rise of strong chiefs including Zhao Nake,Wang Gao,and Wang Wutang.Fourthly,based on the above investigations,the dissertation sorts out the relationship between the Jurchens in the Two-river Basin,Ming Dynasty,and Joseon Dynasty and the reunification trend of Jurchens from the macro perspective of the tributary system.The following four problems are analyzed: Ming Dynasty’s attitude of “playing one barbarian state against another” on Jurchens and “trying to be tolerant as long as core interests are not affected” on Joseon Dynasty,Joseon Dynasty’s strategy of tempering justice with mercy and adopting both suppression and appeasement under the policy of northern migration,Jurchens’ offering of tributes to Ming Dynasty and “coming when there is a profit to earn and going after obtaining the profit”to Joseon Dynasty,and the Jurchens’ game between the two powers and its trend of reunification.The third historical stage is the warfare in the Two-river Basin and the development from Jianzhou Jurchens to the Later Jin(Qing)Dynasty in the Late Ming and Early Qing Dynasties(1583-1644).Firstly,the Later Jin(Qing)Dynasty launched warfare to reunify Jurchen tribes.This part discusses the following areas: the Jurchen reunification warfare before the establishment of the Later Jin(Qing)Dynasty,and dispatch of troops by the Later Jin(Qing)Dynasty to conquer the wild Jurchens and patrol for defense to clean up the Hans and Koreans at the Yalgoo.Secondly,the Later Jin(Qing)Dynasty’s warfare with the Ming Dynasty and the shaking common master status of the Ming Dynasty.This part examines the “Seven Hatreds” for sending troops,seizing Fushun and Qinghe,“Battle of Salhu”,the evolution of the relationship between the Ming Dynasty,Joseon Dynasty,and Later Jin Dynasty,the military performance of Ming troops at Pi Island,weakening mutual-aid relationship between Ming Dynasty and Joseon Dynasty,the launch of the Battle of Pi Island by the Qing Dynasty and Joseon Dynasty’s refusal to back up the Ming Dynasty.Thirdly,the war of the Later Jin(Qing)against the Joseon Dynasty and the transformation of the Joseon Dynasty into a vassal state of the Qing Dynasty.This part discusses the competition for the Joseon Dynasty after the “Battle of Dingmao”,the “Battle of Dingmao” and the conclusion of“Brotherhood Nations”,and the “Battle of Bengzi” and confirmation of “Emperor-Subject Kingdom”.Fourthly,the evolution of the feudal tributary relationship between the Ming,Joseon Dynasty,and Qing Dynasties and the replacement of the Ming Dynasty by the Qing Dynasty.This part examines the loss of common master status of the Ming Dynasty in the East Asia tributary system,the shift of the Joseon Dynasty from the vassal state of the Ming Dynasty into that of the Qing Dynasty,and the role transformation of the Qing Dynasty in the traditional tripartite relationship.