‘Imjinwoeran’, Japanese Invasion of Joseon in 1592 gave rise to a change of the ‘ Chinese Order’. Due to 7 year-lasted war, Joseon Intellectuals’ viewpoints on Japan became more realistic. During the war Joseon Intellectuals such as Kang Hang, Jeong Huiduek, Ro In were taken to Japanese army and moved to Japan. They left on records about what they saw, experience and felt in Japan as captives. ‘A Japan’ that those Intellectuals was very different from the images of Japan by Shin Sookju’s record in 15th century. Joseon Intellectuals had never doubt the doctrines of Zhu Xi, Neo-Confucianism. So When the Ch’ing dynasty was replaced with the Ming dynasty(and ‘Imjinwoeran’ also), to the Joseon Intellectuals, it meant that ‘Barbarians’ Japan had conquered the ‘ Chinese Order’ of the East Asia. This article wants to point out that those Joseon Intellectuals discovered themselves through the process of realizing others. Observing ‘Others’ triggered the effect to objectify as an image observing himself as a being who is observed back. This dynamism played a certain role in allowing the possibility of self-criticism among the intellectuals of Joseon dynasty.

‘Imjinwoeran’, Japanese Invasion of Joseon in 1592 gave rise to a change of the ‘ Chinese Order’. Due to 7 year-lasted war, Joseon Intellectuals’ viewpoints on Japan became more realistic. During the war Joseon Intellectuals such as Kang Hang, Jeong Huiduek, Ro In were taken to Japanese army and moved to Japan. They left on records about what they saw, experience and felt in Japan as captives. ‘A Japan’ that those Intellectuals was very different from the images of Japan by Shin Sookju’s record in 15th century. Joseon Intellectuals had never doubt the doctrines of Zhu Xi, Neo-Confucianism. So When the Ch’ing dynasty was replaced with the Ming dynasty(and ‘Imjinwoeran’ also), to the Joseon Intellectuals, it meant that ‘Barbarians’ Japan had conquered the ‘ Chinese Order’ of the East Asia. This article wants to point out that those Joseon Intellectuals discovered themselves through the process of realizing others. Observing ‘Others’ triggered the effect to objectify as an image observing himself as a being who is observed back. This dynamism played a certain role in allowing the possibility of self-criticism among the intellectuals of Joseon dynasty.

the Chinese Order, the Ch’ing dynasty was replaced with the Ming dynasty, images of others, self-criticism, the records of war