Scholars’ Understanding Of The ImJin War And Japan In Late Ming Dynasty(1599-1644)

Reflection on history is an important part of Chinese traditional political culture.As a major historical event,whether people reflect,how to reflect and how to understand the ImJin war and Japan after it is over is also an important topic in the study of the history of the ImJin war.In the ImJin War(1592-1598),the Ming Dynasty helped the Chosun Dynasty recover and defeat Japan.In the long process of the war,the scholars’ understanding of Japan became more and more precipitation with the reflection of the ImJin war.In the turbulent period of the late Ming Dynasty,the understanding of Japan and the ImJin war is not only a recollection,but also a reobservation of the current situation.Scholars,namely ancient Chinese scholars,are a unique social group cultivated by Chinese traditional morality.The scholars passed the imperial examination and got the qualification to further participate in the national politics.Huang Kezuan and Li Banghua,the senior officials of the late Ming Dynasty,were similar in age and were both important officials on the same side.Their understanding of the war itself changed after they were influenced by the Imjin war,and their views and practice on coastal defense,especially in the northern coastal areas,deepened their worries.Not only senior officials,but also ordinary officials such as Huang Ruheng are paying attention to the follow-up of the war and the dynamics of Japan.Mao Yuanyi and Wu Yingji,who were not qualified as scholars,saw the Ming Dynasty die out.As ordinary scholars,they had different perspectives on the ImJin war from officials.The drastic changes in the political structure and the reality of internal and external troubles made them more active in reflecting on the past and looking for ways to manage the world.At this time,the Liao issue became their most concerned issue,and their vigilance to Japan remained unchanged.Among the classics compiled by scholars in the late Ming Dynasty,though Ming Jingshi Wenbian edited by Chen Zilong,Xu Fuyuan and song zhengbi was late,it was rapidly completed.When the compilation group selected the relevant literatures,they also paid attention to the scholars and anthologies related to the Imjin war and Japan.Compared with the Jiajing Period,the scholars in the late Ming Dynasty had a new understanding of the "Wo plague" because of the Imjin War for aiding the Chosun Dynasty.It is not only a floating bandit endangering the coastal disorderly party,but also a serious problem threatening the central government and national security.Although the Liaodong problem became the most urgent problem in the minds of the scholars,but for Japan’s defense and early warning consciousness has not attenuated.