“The sense of Hwa- Yi”(華夷觀) - The distinction of China Civilization vs Outer Civilization - is not only the ideology needed to govern China domestically, but the principle of the international relationship which China demanded to surrounding nations, It had a far-reaching influence on the internal systems of many East -Asian countries as well as China. Therefore, we can find that “The sense of Hwa-Yi”(華夷觀) is the major topics of many realms related to East-Asian nations, not to mention China-related realms.
This study aims to examine how “Sadaebu(士大夫)” - the ruling class of Chosun dynasty - accepted “The sense of Hwa-Yi”(華夷觀) which originated in China, how they applied it in governing the nation and formulating the diplomatic relation with China, and especially how it affected the perception on foreign nations among Chosun Sadaebu.
“Sadaebu” of the later Chosun dynasty advocated Chosun-Sinocentrism, belief that since the Ming dynasty was perished the Sinocentric civilization remained only In Chosun, It was intended in part as a means to exalt the national self-respect. Contrary to some criticism that to judge the latter part of the Chosun dynasty from this point of view is a sort of nationalism, Chosun-Sinocentrism among the ruling class of the later Chosun dynasty is Quite different from the aggressive nationalism which was prevalent in Europe and Japan, It served mainly as a means to enhance the cultural self-respect.
We can point out the mistakes of Chosun-Sinocentrism that it degraded to the empty idealism by placing lOa much emphasis on self-identity, and that it was recognized as a general principle, though the true nature and intention of Chosun-Sinocentrism was only a means to encourage the self-respect.
Due to revulsion against the fact that other race than the Han occupied the home of the Sinocentric Civilization, the ruling class of the later Chosun dynasty rejected the Qing dynasty firmly and continuously, The sentiment of revulsion lasted too long, and it resulted in the distorted foreign relations of the Chosun dynasty. Owing to the perverted perception, Korean people spent nearly 100 years without understanding China exactly.
It is very important for Korean people to understand China exactly in the first place, in order to get the correct perception on the foreign countries, It is possible by exactly understanding the perception on China in the past. Therefore, we need to comprehend the cause and effect of the distorted recognition on China among Chosun Sadaebu.