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Twelve Korean embassies visited [[Edo period]] Japan between [[1607]] to [[1811]]. These were perceived as [[tribute]] missions by the [[Tokugawa bakufu]], and paralleled [[Ryukyuan embassies]] sent by the [[Kingdom of Ryukyu|Kingdom of Ryûkyû]].

Twelve Korean embassies visited [[Edo period]] Japan between [[1607]] to [[1811]]. These were perceived as [[tribute]] missions by the [[Tokugawa bakufu]], and paralleled [[Ryukyuan embassies]] sent by the [[Kingdom of Ryukyu|Kingdom of Ryûkyû]].

Unlike the shogunate's relationship with Ryûkyû, which was seen as a vassal to [[Satsuma han]], however, the shogunate regarded [[Joseon Dynasty]] Korea as an equal, at least nominally, in certain respects. In practice, while the two countries spoke of one another as equals in certain contexts, in other respects they actively looked down upon one another, with the shogunate seeing these Korean embassies as "tribute" missions, and the Korean court seeing the [[So clan|Sô clan]] of [[Tsushima han]], who facilitated such relations, as their vassals. The Korean court is said to have seen these missions to [[Edo]] as "inspection tours," in which Korean envoys kept an eye out to ensure the Japanese were not planning or preparing for another invasion of Korea, as they had done under [[Toyotomi Hideyoshi]] in [[Korean Invasions|the 1590s]].<ref name=mitani7>Mitani Hiroshi, David Noble (trans.), ''Escape from Impasse'', International House of Japan (2006), 7-8.</ref>

Unlike the shogunate's relationship with Ryûkyû, which was seen as a vassal to [[Satsuma han]], however, the shogunate regarded [[Joseon Dynasty]] Korea as an equal, at least nominally, in certain respects. In practice, while the two countries spoke of one another as equals in certain contexts, in other respects they actively looked down upon one another, with the shogunate seeing these Korean embassies as "tribute" missions, and the Korean court seeing the [[So clan|Sô clan]] of [[Tsushima han]], who facilitated such relations, as their vassals. The Korean court is said to have seen these missions to [[Edo]] as "inspection tours," in which Korean envoys kept an eye out to ensure the Japanese were not planning or preparing for another invasion of Korea, as they had done under [[Toyotomi Hideyoshi]] in [[Korean Invasions|the 1590s]].<ref name=mitani7>Mitani Hiroshi, David Noble (trans.), ''Escape from Impasse'', International House of Japan (2006), 7-8.</ref>

==Timeline of Missions==

==Timeline of Missions==

*1605 - [[Samyeongdang]] and [[Son Munik]], the first Korean envoys to Japan since the [[Korean Invasions|invasions of Korea]] of the 1590s, meet with [[Tokugawa Ieyasu]] and [[Tokugawa Hidetada|Hidetada]] at [[Fushimi castle]], having traveled to Kyoto with [[So Yoshitoshi|Sô Yoshitoshi]], lord of [[Tsushima han]], despite the Korean Court having likely only expected the envoys to go as far as Tsushima. They meet as well with [[Honda Masanobu]] and [[Saisho Shotai|Saishô Shôtai]], while staying at the temple of [[Honpo-ji|Honpô-ji]] in Kyoto. This is not counted among the twelve official missions of the Edo period, but represents the beginning of rapprochement. Among other terms of negotiations, 3000 Korean prisoners of war are returned to Korea.

*1605 - [[Samyeongdang]] and [[Son Munik]], the first Korean envoys to Japan since the [[Korean Invasions|invasions of Korea]] of the 1590s, meet with [[Tokugawa Ieyasu]] and [[Tokugawa Hidetada|Hidetada]] at [[Fushimi castle]], having traveled to Kyoto with [[So Yoshitoshi|Sô Yoshitoshi]], lord of [[Tsushima han]], despite the Korean Court having likely only expected the envoys to go as far as Tsushima. They meet as well with [[Honda Masanobu]] and [[Saisho Shotai|Saishô Shôtai]], while staying at the temple of [[Honpo-ji|Honpô-ji]] in Kyoto. This is not counted among the twelve official missions of the Edo period, but represents the beginning of rapprochement. Among other terms of negotiations, 3000 Korean prisoners of war are returned to Korea.

*1607 - The first formal ''tongsingsa'' mission travels to Japan. The mission is led by Ryeo Ugil (aka Chiwon <!--呂祐吉、号：癡湲-->, with Vice Envoy Gyeong-seom (aka Chil-song)<!--慶暹、号：七松-->, and Secretary (''[[jongsagwan]]''<!--従事官-->) Jeong Ho-sil (aka Il-chwi)<!--丁好實、号：一翠-->.<ref>''Shirarezaru Ryûkyû shisetsu'' 知られざる琉球使節, Fukuyama-shi Tomonoura rekishi minzoku shiryôkan (2006), 92.</ref> Many members of the mission are former samurai who, after surrendering to Korean forces during Hideyoshi's invasions, were permitted to take Korean names and to assimilate into Korean society, becoming either court officials of some sort, or soldiers (warriors) in service to the court.

*1607 - A mission is led by Ryeo Ugil (aka Chiwon <!--呂祐吉、号：癡湲-->, with Vice Envoy Gyeong-seom (aka Chil-song)<!--慶暹、号：七松-->, and Secretary (''[[jongsagwan]]''<!--従事官-->) Jeong Ho-sil (aka Il-chwi)<!--丁好實、号：一翠-->.<ref>''Shirarezaru Ryûkyû shisetsu'' 知られざる琉球使節, Fukuyama-shi Tomonoura rekishi minzoku shiryôkan (2006), 92.</ref> Many members of the mission are former samurai who, after surrendering to Korean forces during Hideyoshi's invasions, were permitted to take Korean names and to assimilate into Korean society, becoming either court officials of some sort, or soldiers (warriors) in service to the court.

*1617 - A Korean mission meets with Tokugawa Hidetada in Kyoto. [[Hayashi Razan]] is among those invited to attend the reception.

*1617 - A Korean mission meets with Tokugawa Hidetada in Kyoto. [[Hayashi Razan]] is among those invited to attend the reception.

*1624 - A mission travels to Edo. Led by [[Chong Ip|Chŏng Ip]], it is the smallest of the missions, involving only 300 members.<ref>Toby, "Carnival of the Aliens," 424.</ref>

*1624 - A mission travels to Edo. Led by [[Chong Ip|Chŏng Ip]], it is the smallest of the missions, involving only 300 members.<ref>Toby, "Carnival of the Aliens," 424.</ref>

*1636 - A mission led by [[Im Kwang]] travels to Edo and to [[Nikko Toshogu|Nikkô Tôshôgû]]. Among the terms discussed is the frequency of ''munwigwam'' missions to [[Tsushima han|Tsushima]].

*1636 - The first formal ''tongsinsa'' (''tsûshinshi'') is dispatched. It is led by [[Im Kwang]], and travels to Edo and to [[Nikko Toshogu|Nikkô Tôshôgû]]. Among the terms discussed is the frequency of ''munwigwam'' missions to [[Tsushima han|Tsushima]].

*1643 - The mission is led by [[Yun Sunji]] and consists of 462 members. It is sent nominally to congratulate the shogunate on the birth of a shogunal heir ([[Tokugawa Ietsuna]] was born in [[1641]]). The envoys travel to Nikkô Tôshôgû, where they present a temple bell as a gift from [[King Injo]], cast on the orders of the shogunate. The bell continues to hang at the Yômeimon in [[Nikko|Nikkô]] today.

*1643 - The mission is led by [[Yun Sunji]] and consists of 462 members. It is sent nominally to congratulate the shogunate on the birth of a shogunal heir ([[Tokugawa Ietsuna]] was born in [[1641]]). The envoys travel to Nikkô Tôshôgû, where they present a temple bell as a gift from [[King Injo]], cast on the orders of the shogunate. The bell continues to hang at the Yômeimon in [[Nikko|Nikkô]] today.

*1655 - The mission, led by [[Cho Hyong]] and consisting of 488 members, travels to Edo, and to Nikkô, where they present a number of lanterns for the mausoleum of [[Tokugawa Iemitsu]]; this is the last time a Korean embassy visits Nikkô.

*1655 - The mission, led by [[Cho Hyong]] and consisting of 488 members, travels to Edo, and to Nikkô, where they present a number of lanterns for the mausoleum of [[Tokugawa Iemitsu]]; this is the last time a Korean embassy visits Nikkô.