中國朝鮮商民水陸貿易章程による中朝關係の變容 (一八八二～一八九二年)

Abstract

This paper introduces new historical documents titled a “Collection of Diplomatic Documents from Old Korea” that were entrusted to the Seoul National University Kyujanggak Institute for Korean Studies by The Bank of Korea in 2017. The collection includes diaries covering daily-affairs from 1886 to 1894 about the Trade Affairs of the Korean Consul to Tianjin (Jujin-Dongni : 駐津督理), and this paper examines the diaries written from March 7th to April 14th, 1892. In the traditional Chinese world order, China had a special relationship with Korea that amounted to suzerainty over Korea. In addition, Korea also had an equal relationship with the other countries known as gyorin, which means “friendship with neighboring countries, ” and Korea also concluded treaties with Western countries after 1882. The situation for Jujin-Dongli at Tianjin was very complicated because Korea and China maintained their unequal traditional relationship, but both Korea and China had equal relationship with the other foreign countries. However, in commercial affairs, the Jujin-Dongli had an equal relationship with Chinese Maritime Customs at Tianjin under the Regulations on Private Maritime and Overland Trade (1882) that were established between China and Korea. In 1892, the Jujin-Dongli negotiated with the Maritime Customs at Tianjin arguing that Korean paper conveyed by Korean merchants was not the same as Chinese paper. The Maritime Customs at Tianjin accepted his request. The Jujin-Dongli gradually adopted a policy of commercial affairs based on what the Western countries did at Tianjin and tried to institute a cargo inspection system following the Western practice. Since the first article of the regulations treated the relationship as one between equals, there was the possibility of transforming the suzerain-vassal relationship in trade at Tianjin.