earticle

영어

Mainstream scholars in the academic circle in Japan has adopted a view that Shilla was a subject state of Japan based on the principles of then law and regulations and applied this view when interpreting diplomatic practices implemented at that time.
However, I cannot help voicing different idea on this explanation of the diplomatic practices between Shilla and Japan in this simple hierarchical relationship. Since 8th century, it seems that there might have been an implication of something more than a simple ideological one in the diplomatic relationship between Shilla and Japan even though almost all the studies on this subject previously conducted focused on this aspect. This paper attempts to look into this issue in more depth by reviewing the actual event of Dispatch of the Prince of Shilla (752) in terms of the relationship between Japan and Shilla, Consequently, it became clear that the event should be looked at interpreted from the perspective different from the simple viewpoint of Japan- regarding itself as a small China (small but great country), thinking highly of itself. In other words, conventions already established in the East Asian region, ideology in terms of law, which was present in both Japan and Shilla at that time, and domestic political situation of Japan were all combined to have an impact on Japan's diplomacy to Shilla. And most of all, Japanese Royal Court at that time put importance to the relationship with Shilla in an attempt to insist its legitimacy and wanted to actively utilize this relationship.