The Transformation Of Korea’s Relations With China In Late19th Century

China and Korea are linked by common mountains and rivers, and have a long history of civilization since ancient times, the two countries have maintained closely and friendly relationship. After entering the modern era, the Asian countries faced with the huge impact of the Western capitalist powers, due to the intervention of the modern Western diplomatic system, the original suzerain-vassal system which maintained traditional Asian regional peace was weakened and disintegrated, especially in the relationship between China and Korea, The change is obvious.With the outbreak of the two Opium Wars, the forces which Qing maintain vassal relations with Korea fade gradually and its influence in Korea decrease too; concept of modern diplomatic system of sovereign states and the international law of equal affected Korea a lot; In addition, Korea had witnessed the development gap between the Qing Dynasty and Japan because of the choice of different development paths, the Korea hoped to embark on the road of reforms, independence and prosperity, but this is contrary to the position of China and Korea under the vassal system, Korea gradually began to have the use of the Modern Foreign principle the idea of work vassal relations.In1882, the signing of "Regulations of Commercial and Civil Trade through Maine and Land Ways between China and Korea", in1887, the event of Piao Dingyang, in1897, the establishment of the Korean Empire, and the Independent Association of "Get rid of China thoughts" reflect Korea’s strong sense of national independence, but China always take negative attitude. In1895, after the signing of the "Treaty of Shimonoseki", China-Korea get rid of Vassal relations since ancient times and ushered in equality and alliances," Treaty of Commerce between China and Korea" was signed in September1899, as the first equal treaty that Korean Empire and the Qing Dynasty signed, the treaty still has some limitations in specific practice, but compared with the previous "Regulations", there are considerable progress in relations positioning, sent envoys to Beijing and the concept of equality, This was the beginning of China and the Korean Peninsula official equal exchanges, and epoch-making significance in the history of China-Korea relations. After the modern state system entered into East Asia, in general, Korea was able to consciously adapt to the foreign policy of the modern state system, under the case of being suppressed by the Western capitalist powers, Korea did not stick to the feudal vassal relations with the Qing Dynasty, on the contrary, try to adapt to practical needs, gradually no longer thrall to imperial authority, and began to seek the commissioning of the Qing Dynasty actively, policy from the suzerain-vassal system "Shida principle" changes to "ally Japan and break away Qing Dynasty" to "equal relationship",but the switch may not be smooth.