ISSN : 1229-9618(Print)
ISSN : 2671-7506(Online)
ISSN : 2671-7506(Online)
Chinese Studies Vol.53 pp.223-239
DOI : https://doi.org/10.14378/KACS.2015.53.53.12
DOI : https://doi.org/10.14378/KACS.2015.53.53.12
The role of 'Gongnyeo' in the cultural exchange between Korea and China
Abstract
The Gongnyeo system is a conciliatory policy to prevent foreign invasion and war during the Goryeo Dynasty and the early days of the Joseon Dynasty. A great number of Korean women were taken to China due to the Gongnyeo system. Although this system caused Goryeo and Joseon a lot of pain, and had many negative effects, the tribute women taken to China had no small influence on China. For instance, their influence on many fields, such as politics, diplomacy, costumes, language, music and art, could be confirmed. Newly coined words like “Goryeo-poong or Goryeo-yang (Goryeo style or fashion) were used in China of those days. The Gongnyeo system is a painful scar that we don’t want to be mentioned anymore in the history of the Korean peninsula, and gave rise to the custom of early marriage, but this system spread the diverse cultures of the Korean peninsula, such as costumes, food, music and art, to China, and blossomed in China. It is no exaggeration to say that, in this context, Gongnyeo acted as a mediator that spread the diverse cultures of the ancient Korean peninsula to China and played a leading role in ancient Hallyu.