임진왜란기 일ㆍ명 강화교섭의 파탄에 관한 一考察

This report analyzed the background, progress, details, and results of the four sets of negotiations that were initiated by Samyoungdang and Chungjung during the Japanese Invasion in the years 1592-1598. The common view that Poungshinsoogil (豊臣秀吉) broke off the treaty between Japan and the Ming Dynasty from rage because of Hangjang (行長) and the Ming Dynasty’s attempt to elect a king for Japan is examined by reviewing the negotiation procedure that took place between Samyoungdang and Chungjung. The analysis reveals that the primary goal of the Samyoungdang-Chungjung Negotiations was to break the relationship between Poungshinsoogil and Chungjung and that of Chungjung and Hangjang through a diplomatic conference; the results did not meet up to expectations. However, through these negotiations, the nature and the process of the ongoing peace treaty between Japan and the Ming Dynasty was examined, the standing of Chosun, in comparison, was reinforced and the fallacy behind the Japan-Ming treaty was revealed and emphasized. All this contributed to the eventual abolishment of the Japan-Ming Dynasty’s peace treaty. As a result, one may conclude that the negotiations between Samyoungdang and Chungjung were short yet successful from the standpoint that it was able to abolish the peace treaty between Japan and the Ming Dynasty, which may have been its main motive! Through the negotiations of Samyoungdang and Chungjung, the intentions of Poungshinsoogil were revealed and the conditions between Hangjang and Shimyookyung (沈惟敬) were publicly disclosed to Chosun and to the Ming Dynasty, which contributed to the abolishment of the treaty between Japan and the Ming Dynasty. In Japan, through the influence of Chongjung, the information was spread to Poungshinsoogil which facilitated the nullification of the Japan-Ming peace treaty. Subsequently, Samyoungdang had many accomplishments during the lmjin War and earned the trust of Japan. When the war ended in 1604, Samyoungdang was delegated as the representative to establish the peace treaty between Chosun and Japan (江戶幕府) and through that process he helped build a formal diplomatic relationship between the two nations.