The Diplomatic Tea Ceremony in the Late Joseon Dynasty from the Tsusima Souke Archives

This study focuses on the Tsusima Souke archives and Jeungjeong-gyorinji with regard to the ritual tea ceremonies of the Joseon Dynasty and Japan. An additional analysis is presented on the state of the Japanese pavilion and the procession of Japanese envoys, referring to the pictures of Dongnae busa jeop waesado and Joseon zue. The formal national tea ceremony played an important role when Japanese envoys visited the Joseon Dynasty. Worship and banquets were solemnly held at the Busan Waegwan, but the scene where Japanese and Joseon Dynasty Joseons interacted freely with each other is also confirmed in Joseon zue. Dongrae-Busa and Busan-Cheomsa were in charge of the ceremony with Japan on behalf of the Imperial Court. The translators who were in charge were substantially important in the exchanges with Japan. When holding national ceremonies in both countries, precedent was very important, and if the ceremony was simplified, it was carefully recorded in documents so it would not set a precedent. Not only the letters of officials, but also the daily life at Waegwan and the name of the Japanese envoy and the name of the ship can be found in the records of the Waegwan Keeper’s Diary. This research found that the tea ceremony was solemnly held in accordance with the regulations of both countries to welcome both Japanese and Joseon Dynasty envoys. Joseon conducted a tea ceremony for each of the messengers who arrived from Japan, and held a feast and gave gifts the day after the ceremony. On the other hand, entertainment given for the Joseon Tsushinshi (Joseon communication officials) on the Japanese side was carried out in places where the Tsushinshi group passed by through the mediation of Tsushima. It is thought that the intention of the Edo shogunate to weaken the power of the local daimyo was included. The messengers were provided with rice and daily necessities according to their class. In the late Joseon period, Joseon and Japan not only had diplomatic exchanges at Waegwan, but also private exchanges and cultural exchanges. In addition to the old ships from Japan, countless ships came and went, and the economic burden of the Joseon Dynasty, which had to entertain all the messengers individually, is recorded. It seems that a Japanese-style building was not a place where Japanese people felt restricted, but was a special space where Japanese and Joseons easily interacted and the culture of both countries was condensed.