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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]].

The first several missions, in [[1605]], [[1607]], [[1617]], and [[1624]], are generally counted separately from the ''tsûshinshi'' ("diplomatic embassies"), as these missions focused on the repatriation of captives (from the 1590s wars), and for the negotiation of the resumption of relations. It was only from [[1636]] onwards, according to many interpretations, that formal relations were established and were being performed.<ref>Marco Tinello, "The termination of the Ryukyuan embassies to Edo : an investigation of the bakumatsu period through the lens of a tripartite power relationship and its world," PhD thesis, Università Ca' Foscari Venezia (2014), 38-39.</ref>

The first several missions, in [[1605]], [[1607]], [[1617]], and [[1624]], are generally counted separately from the ''tsûshinshi'' ("diplomatic embassies"),<ref>Though ''tsûshin'' 通信 is often translated as "diplomatic" or "formal relations" in contrast to the "trade relations" (通商, ''tsûshô'') maintained by the Tokugawa shogunate with Chinese and Dutch merchants, the term ''tsûshinshi'' might be more literally translated as "embassies conveying sincerity" or "trust." To at least some extent, at least nominally, these Korean embassies were said to be a demonstration of continued relations of mutual trust between the Joseon and Tokugawa courts. Aoyanagi Shûichi 青柳周一, "Ikoku no shisetsu, Ômi no kuni wo tôru - Ryûkyû shisetsu to Chôsen tsûshinshi" 異国の使節、近江国を通るー琉球使節と朝鮮通信使, talk given at Kusatsu rekishi hakken juku くさつ・歴史発見塾, 2 March 2019.</ref> as these missions focused on the repatriation of captives (from the 1590s wars), and for the negotiation of the resumption of relations. It was only from [[1636]] onwards, according to many interpretations, that formal relations were established and were being performed.<ref>Marco Tinello, "The termination of the Ryukyuan embassies to Edo : an investigation of the bakumatsu period through the lens of a tripartite power relationship and its world," PhD thesis, Università Ca' Foscari Venezia (2014), 38-39.</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>

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>