Bak Hui-jung
Encyclopedia
Bak Hui-jung was a scholar-official of the Joseon Dynasty
Korea
in 14th and 15th centuries.
He was also diplomat
and ambassador
, representing Joseon Dynasty
interests in a diplomatic mission to the Ashikaga shogunate
in Japan.
was led by Bak Hui-jung.
The delegation from the Joseon court traveled to Kyoto in response to a message sent by the Japanese shogun; and also, the delegation was charged with conveying an offer to send a copy of a rare Buddhist text.
A diplomatic mission conventionally consisted of three primary figures—the main envoy, the vice-envoy, and a document official. Also included were one or more official writers or recorders who created a detailed account of the mission. In this instance, the vice-envoy was Yi Ye
, who would return to Japan in 1432 as ambassador.
The Japanese hosts may have construed these mission as tending to confirm a Japanocentric world order. The Joseon diplomats were more narrowly focused in negotiating protocols for Joseon-Japan diplomatic relations.
In the West, early published accounts of the Joseon kingdom are not extensive, but they are found in Sangoku Tsūran Zusetsu (published in Paris in 1832), and in Nihon ōdai ichiran (published in Paris in 1834). Joseon foreign relations and diplomacy are explicitly referenced in the 1834 work.
Joseon Dynasty
Joseon , was a Korean state founded by Taejo Yi Seong-gye that lasted for approximately five centuries. It was founded in the aftermath of the overthrow of the Goryeo at what is today the city of Kaesong. Early on, Korea was retitled and the capital was relocated to modern-day Seoul...
Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
in 14th and 15th centuries.
He was also diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
and ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
, representing Joseon Dynasty
Joseon Dynasty
Joseon , was a Korean state founded by Taejo Yi Seong-gye that lasted for approximately five centuries. It was founded in the aftermath of the overthrow of the Goryeo at what is today the city of Kaesong. Early on, Korea was retitled and the capital was relocated to modern-day Seoul...
interests in a diplomatic mission to the Ashikaga shogunate
Ashikaga shogunate
The , also known as the , was a Japanese feudal military regime, ruled by the shoguns of the Ashikaga clan.This period is also known as the Muromachi period and gets its name from Muromachi Street of Kyoto where the third shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu established his residence...
in Japan.
1423 mission to Japan
King Sejong dispatched a diplomatic mission to Japan in 1423. This embassy to court of Ashikaga YoshinoriAshikaga Yoshinori
was the 6th shogun of the Ashikaga shogunate who reigned from 1429 to 1441 during the Muromachi period of Japan. Yoshinori was the son of the third shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu.-Shogunal succession:...
was led by Bak Hui-jung.
The delegation from the Joseon court traveled to Kyoto in response to a message sent by the Japanese shogun; and also, the delegation was charged with conveying an offer to send a copy of a rare Buddhist text.
A diplomatic mission conventionally consisted of three primary figures—the main envoy, the vice-envoy, and a document official. Also included were one or more official writers or recorders who created a detailed account of the mission. In this instance, the vice-envoy was Yi Ye
Yi Ye
Yi Ye was a military-official of the Joseon Dynasty Korea in 15th century.He was also diplomat and ambassador, representing Joseon interests in two diplomatic missions to the Ashikaga shogunate in Japan....
, who would return to Japan in 1432 as ambassador.
The Japanese hosts may have construed these mission as tending to confirm a Japanocentric world order. The Joseon diplomats were more narrowly focused in negotiating protocols for Joseon-Japan diplomatic relations.
Recognition in the West
Bak Hui-jung's historical significance was confirmed when his mission was specifically mentioned in a widely-distributed history published by the Oriental Translation Fund in 1834.In the West, early published accounts of the Joseon kingdom are not extensive, but they are found in Sangoku Tsūran Zusetsu (published in Paris in 1832), and in Nihon ōdai ichiran (published in Paris in 1834). Joseon foreign relations and diplomacy are explicitly referenced in the 1834 work.