Studies On Resettlement And Repatriation Of "Tangren" In Early Choson Dynasty (1392-1450)

Ming Dynasty and Korea established Suzerain-vassal relations since the Choson Dynasty was found. Choson's "Tangren" are subjects of Ming Dynasty with the attribute of overseas Chinese, who became destitute and homeless by the war, or looted and captured by Nuzhen tribes and Japanese bandits from later Yuan Dynasty and Early Ming Dynasty. They fled into Choson from China and Japan. Choson Dynasty ensured Tangren's safety and accommodated them well. Choson's resettlement and repatriation of Tangren was mainly based on the Shida Principle in which Choson waiting upon Ming Dynasty as small state, in order to keep Ming-Choson political relations well. But Choson also maintained its interests through flexible diplomacy, such as detaining and appointing some Tangren with good ability and craft, deciding whether to repatriate some Tangren. From 1392 to 1450, Choson Dynasty dealt succesfully with the resettlement and repatriation of Tangren with Ming Dynasty, which promoted Ming-Choson relations well, and was helpful to the Ming-centered East Aisa interantional system. The flexible diplomacy exerted by Korea enriched the Suzerain-vassal relations between Ming Dynasty and Choson Dynasty, and made the investiture-tributary system effective in concrete context.