| Most of the research on the relationship between Koryo and Liao Dynasty focuses on the aspects of political, economic and cultural exchanges between the two. However, no adequate research on the envoy issue has been conducted till now. Taking Koryo’s envoys to Liao Dynasty as the research object, this paper has observed the following four aspects: different periods during which Koryo sent envoys to Liao Dynasty, the classification of the envoys sent by Koryo, the selection for such envoys and their rewards and punishments, and the ‘views about Liao Dynasty’ from Koryo in the perspective of envoys, in order to deeply understand the roles and influences that Koryo sent envoys to Liao Dynasty. Except for introduction and conclusion, this paper consists of four chapters.In introduction, the dissertation selection and the definitions of phases and objects are briefed. In addition, current research about this theme has been fully reviewed. The introduction then concludes the weaknesses of current research and narrates the innovations and difficulties of this paper.Chapter one is about the phases in which Koryo sent envoys to Liao Dynasty. According to two conditions whether Koryo was affiliated to Liao Dynasty and whether sending envoys to Liao Dynasty was a rule in Koryo, phases in which Koryo sent envoys to Liao Dynasty have been redefined into the following four phases: equal exchanges period, non-institutional envoys dispatched period, institutional envoys dispatched period and waning period.In chapter two, envoys sent by Koryo are classified. In accordance with the purposes and frequencies of such envoys dispatched by Koryo, they can be divided into regular envoys and interim envoys. Regular envoys are envoys sent by Koryo periodically for fixed occasions including celebrating birthdays for some important imperial members of Liao Dynasty, celebrating Spring Festival, showing thanks for Liao’s sending envoys to Koryo for birthday celebration and annual tribute. Interim envoys are those sent by Koryo on irregular or special interim conditions to Liao Dynasty, including extending greetings, reporting and notification, asking for help, mourning, celebrating, sending thanks, sending local specialties, going to Liaoyang and going to Laiyuan. Development of Koryo’s regular envoys to Liao Dynasty can be defined as four stages. Koryo made many innovative measures in institutional level for sending envoys to foreign countries in Korean Peninsula. Names of these envoys from Koryo suggest the inequality between Liao Dynasty and Koryo is under tribute and affiliation system.Chapter three mainly narrates the selection and therewards and punishments of Koryo envoys. In selecting and appointing envoys to Liao Dynasty, Koryo paid high importance to personal quality and family background. If an envoy’s office title did not meet the requirement of envoy mission, such envoy would be changed or another higher title would be used for this envoy to finish the mission. In the meanwhile, such method could enhance the position and status of the envoy to arouse the attention of Liao Dynasty so as to play a better role. Koryo mainly rewardedthe envoys through title promotion, preferential treatment and arrangement for envoys’ family members, while showed its punishments mainly through office title removal.Chapter four describes the ‘views about Liao Dynasty’ from Koryoin the perspective of envoyssent by Koryo to Liao Dynasty. Before 1030, in Koryo people’s views, Liao Dynasty was a ‘kingdom of beast’ and a ‘kingdom of evil’. In this period, Koryo actively developed its relationship with Hans regime in Central Plains of China and rejected to have exchanges with Liao Dynasty that stemmed from Khitan, a nomadic nationality. After 1030, Koryo regarded maintaining a good relationship with Liao Dynasty as a ‘best strategy to keep Koryo safe’, thus, taking various measures to strengthen the affiliation relationship with Liao Dynasty, and clearly ended its political inferior position to North Song Dynasty.The conclusion analyzes the roles and influences of envoys sent by Koryo to Liao Dynasty. |
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