A Study on the Transmission and Influence of Dongguoshilüe in China

The 『Dongguoshilüe』, compiled by Park Sang during the mid-Joseon period, is a historical record covering the era from the Dangun period to the fall of Goryeo. This book spread to China during the Imjin War period and circulated in various types of manuscript and printed editions. Reviewing historical catalogues and bibliographical records reveals that 『Dongguoshilüe』 was one of the most widely read and intensely studied books among those transmitted to China. This paper examines how Chinese intellectuals of the Ming and Qing dynasties evaluated and received 『Dongguoshilüe』 from three perspectives. First, 『Dongguoshilüe』 corrected errors in Chinese historical texts and aided historical verification. Second, 『Dongguoshilüe』 enabled Chinese intellectuals to properly understand the history and culture of neighboring Joseon. Third, Chinese intellectuals highly valued the objective historical narrative approach of 『Dongguoshilüe』. Despite being a historical text written during the Joseon Dynasty, it did not conceal the truth about King Taejo’s rebellion during the founding of Joseon or the loyalty of the former Goryeo officials. Scholars of considerable stature and influence in Chinese academia, such as Qian Qianyi (錢謙益), Qian Daxin (錢大昕), Weng Shukun (翁樹崐), Fu Zengxiang (傅增湘), and Yang Shoujing (楊守敬), highly valued the content of 『Dongguoshilüe』 and actively utilized it in their scholarly research and writing. These examples reflect the reception and influence of 『Dongguoshilüe』 within Chinese academic circles.