朝贡制度转变的契机——基于1873~1876年间《燕行录》的考察

虽然中国已经历了两次鸦片战争,允许外国公使常驻北京,但朝鲜执政的兴宣大院君仍固守锁国政策,国内舆论也一直主战。1873年高宗亲政以后,政策发生变化,1876年与日本签订《江华岛条约》。在这期间,朝鲜希望从中国得到有关外国情况,但是从张世准、万青藜、李鸿章与朝鲜使行人员的交往来看,中国士人则因顾忌朝鲜国内舆论和人臣外交的嫌疑而相当谨慎,即使坦诚相待,也因大多数朝鲜士人的谨慎和固执而不能发挥很大作用。在韩日修交之后,朝鲜派遣修信使出使日本,从此重视从日本了解外部世界,甚至派遣绅士游览团到日本考察,相反对中国无类似举动,只是选派留学生到中国学习机械制造而已,恐怕部分原因也在于此。宗藩关系在这个时候本来有一个很好的时机,可以根据形势变化做出调整,更好地应对外部世界的冲击,结果却顾忌重重,因循守旧,埋下了后来宗藩关系终结的种子。
Abstract：Although China had experienced two Opium Wars and allowed foreign ministers to take permanent residence in Peking, the Heungseon Daewongun of Korea still adhereed to a policy of national isolation, and the domestic public opinion also favored resistance against foreign powers by force. After Gojong announced his assumption of direct royal rule in 1873, the aforementioned policy was changed. In 1876, Korea and Japan signed the Ganghwa Treaty. During this period, Korea wanted to acquire information about foreign affairs from China, but judging from the contacts between Chinese officials, such as Zhang Shizhun, Wan Qingxuan, Li Hongzhang, and Korea's envoys, the former had scruples in communication with the latter lest Korea's domestic public opinion might be offended and the suspicion raised that private diplomacy was being conducted. Even if both sides had adopted a more candid attitude, its result would not have made significant difference in the long term because of the prudence and stubbornness of most Korean scholars and officials in their dealings with China. After the establishment of diplomatic relations between Korea and Japan, Korea dispatched the Susinsa to Japan. From then on, Korea paid more attention to learning the outside world from Japan, and even sent a delegation of gentlemen to visit Japan. Korea did not developed the same policy toward China to further bilateral cultural exchanges, and it only sent students to China for studying machinery manufacturing. At this crucial historical juncture, the Tributary Appointment relationship had a good opportunity to make adjustments according to the changed situation and respond properly to the impact of the outside world. However, China had too many scruples and clung conservatively to the old system, and this mentality and the policy therefrom implanted the seeds of the Tributary Appointment relationship's expiration.