통신사가 일본에 체류할 때의 역관은 조선인과 일본인 사이에서 통역을 하는 것이 주된 역할이었다. 또한 일본사회와 일본인에 대한 정보와 지식은 조선인 가운데에서 가장 많이 가지고 있었으므로 각종 사안에 대해 일본인과 논의하는 외교관의 역할도 수행하였다. 일본에서 문학작품을 남기고, 일본인과 교류하는 文人의 역할도 적지 않았다. 이 글에서는 지금까지 알려져 있지 않았던 통신사 일행 속의 역관 활동을 살펴보았다. 掌務官과 乾粮官이라는 것이다. 관련 자료들을 살펴보면 장무관과 건량관은 역관 가운데에서 선발되었으며 장무관은 총 사절단 중 1명이, 건량관은 2~3명이 임명되었다. 장무관은 말 그대로 ‘업무를 관장하는’ 職位로서, 그 역할은 매우 다양하였다. 일본으로 출발하기 전부터 禮單을 마련하고 가져갈 각종 물품을 점검하였으며, 國書의 운송에 이르기까지 관여하였다. 이러한 장무관의 활동을 통해 보면 역관이 수행한 다양한 역할을 알 수 있는 한편, 통신사가 출발 전에 어떠한 준비를 해나갔는지, 어떤 절차나 의례를 밟았는지도 알 수 있었다. 통신사 구성원들은 통신사 전 일행의 관리자인 正使, 副使, 從事官에게 각각 소속되었다. 건량관 역시 세 사신에게 배속되어 통신사 선박에 나누어졌다. 요약하자면 건량관은 통신사 선박에 설치된 乾粮所를 관리하던 역할이었다. 따라서 건량관은 조선에서 가져가는 음식물, 일본에 체류하는 동안 일본에서 지급하는 음식물 관리등 통신사의 식생활과 밀접한 관련을 가지고 있었다. 또한 일본 체류 때 음식물 수급(수요와 공급)과 관련하여 일본측과 잦은 접촉을 했으므로 건량관을 역관으로 임명한 것이다. 장무관과 건량관이란 직위를 통해 통신사를 수행한 역관의 역할을 새롭게 살필 수 있었다.

While the delegation had stayed in Japan, the main role of the translators was translating between the Chosun people and Japanese. Inaddition, since they were the most knowledgeable among the Chosun people about the Japanese society and people, they played a role as diplomats, discussing with Japanese with respect to several pending issues. As exemplified by Hong Setae and Lee Eunjin, there were many instances that they acted as writers who leftliterary works and made exchanges with Japanese. This paper examined the activities of the translators with the focus on Jangmugwan and Geollyanggwan, which were not much known until now, as part of the mission of the delegation. According to the related materials, they were selected from the translators, of whom 1 Jangmugwan(掌務官) and 2~3 Geollyanggwan(乾粮官) were appointed from the entire delegation. Jangmugwan, as it literally means, had various roles as a ‘position taking charge of tasks.’ Even before leaving for Japan, they were involved in such tasks as preparing gifts, checking all the items they would bring, and carrying a royal letter. The activities of Jangmugwan revealed not only the diverse roles played by thetranslators, but also what the delegation prepared before the departure and what kind of procedures or rituals were taken. The members of the delegation belonged to the leader, deputy leader, or Jongsagwan, and were divided into three different groups accordingly. Geollyanggwan also were assigned to three separate envoys and divided into the different delegation ships. In summary, Geollyanggwan was responsible for the management of the Geollyangso(乾粮所), installed in the delegation ships. Therefore, the Geollyanggwan was closely associated with the dietary life for the delegation, including the management of the food bringing from Chosun, and the distribution of the food during their stay in Japan. In addition, since they made frequent contacts with their Japanese counterparts concerning the demand and supply of food while they had stayed in Japan, the Geollyanggwan were appointed as translators. Through the investigation on the positions of Jangmugwan and Geollyanggwan, the role of the translators who accompanied the delegation to Japan could beidentified for the first time.

While the delegation had stayed in Japan, the main role of the translators was translating between the Chosun people and Japanese. Inaddition, since they were the most knowledgeable among the Chosun people about the Japanese society and people, they played a role as diplomats, discussing with Japanese with respect to several pending issues. As exemplified by Hong Setae and Lee Eunjin, there were many instances that they acted as writers who leftliterary works and made exchanges with Japanese. This paper examined the activities of the translators with the focus on Jangmugwan and Geollyanggwan, which were not much known until now, as part of the mission of the delegation. According to the related materials, they were selected from the translators, of whom 1 Jangmugwan(掌務官) and 2~3 Geollyanggwan(乾粮官) were appointed from the entire delegation. Jangmugwan, as it literally means, had various roles as a ‘position taking charge of tasks.’ Even before leaving for Japan, they were involved in such tasks as preparing gifts, checking all the items they would bring, and carrying a royal letter. The activities of Jangmugwan revealed not only the diverse roles played by thetranslators, but also what the delegation prepared before the departure and what kind of procedures or rituals were taken. The members of the delegation belonged to the leader, deputy leader, or Jongsagwan, and were divided into three different groups accordingly. Geollyanggwan also were assigned to three separate envoys and divided into the different delegation ships. In summary, Geollyanggwan was responsible for the management of the Geollyangso(乾粮所), installed in the delegation ships. Therefore, the Geollyanggwan was closely associated with the dietary life for the delegation, including the management of the food bringing from Chosun, and the distribution of the food during their stay in Japan. In addition, since they made frequent contacts with their Japanese counterparts concerning the demand and supply of food while they had stayed in Japan, the Geollyanggwan were appointed as translators. Through the investigation on the positions of Jangmugwan and Geollyanggwan, the role of the translators who accompanied the delegation to Japan could beidentified for the first time.

, , , , , , ,

Chosun Envoys(通信使), Japanese interpreter(倭學譯官), Chinese interpreter (漢學譯官), Jangmugwan(掌務官), Geollyanggwan(乾粮官), Gifts(禮單), A royal letter(國書), Geollyangso(乾粮所)