朝鮮史料から見た「倭城」

Abstract

In the course of prosecuting the invasion of Korea, begun in 1592 by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the Japanese forces constructed a string of Japanese style castles, wajo 倭城 (K. waeseong), along the southeastern coast of the Korean peninsula. In regard to the wajo, a great deal of detailed research based on Japanese source materials has been compiled in recent years, but the number of studies employing Korean historical materials, including the Seonjo sillok (Veritable Record of King Seonjo) has been extremely limited. For that reason, how the wajo were seen in the eyes of those who suffered the invasion has not been made sufficiently clear. Thus by building on the achievements of the scholarship that has relied on Japanese materials and also making full use of the historical sources from the Korean side, this article attempts to reconsider three points: 1, the construction and strategic location of the Japanese castles, 2, the leadership and size of the Japanese forces deployed there, and 3, the structure and layout of the castles themselves. First, as the Japanese strategic goal changed from invading Ming to securing the southern portion of the Korean peninsula, approximately 20 castles were constructed around Busan, strategically placed on the communications network of rivers and waterways. In opposition to this, the Korean side worked to collect intelligence on the castles and fought back using naval forces effectively. Second, comparing the lists of Japanese castles in sources from both the Japanese and Korean side, it is possible to trace to a great extent the changes over time in leadership and numbers of troops deployed in each castle-something that has not hitherto been clarified in previous studies. On the basis of such considerations, how the Japanese forces carried out the system of re-supplying food and supplies and rotation of troops has become clear. Third, the evacuation of Japanese castles was agreed upon in the negotiations between Japan and the Ming dynasty in 1595, and the Korean and Ming side observed the progress of its execution on numerous occasions. In their reports are included valuable records of their observations regarding the structure of the Japanese castles themselves as well as the area surrounding them. In short, various matters were recorded, including the fact that the outer ring of the fortress was surrounded by stone walls and wooden staves in concentric circles, that in the center were located the principal castle tower, armory and storehouses, that white plastered walls were constructed atop the stone castle walls, that the ship landing and the castle gate were directly connected, and that local Korean residents were involved in securing supplies to support life in the castles.