A Study On The Issues Of “King Injo's Taking The Throne” And His “Conferment” By Ming Empire

The tribute relationship between Ming Dynasty and Chosun Dynasty can be traced back to ancient times.Accordingly,it is legitimate for Chosun Dynasty's king to be entitled by Ming Dynasty.It should be informed to Ming Dynasty of the death or abolishing of Chosun Dynasty's king as well.Gwanghaegun of Joseon was entitled as the King of Joseon by the Ming Empire in 1609.Gwanghaegun has never been seen as the Crown Prince by the Ming Empire due to his identity of concubine's second son before his succession.After his succession,he killed his brothers Prince Imhae and Grand Prince Yeong-chang,imprisoned Queen In-mok,built his palace through expending the financial resources of the people in the long run,met the demands of conscription of the Ming Empire protractedly and tried to keep a friendly relationship with the Manchus furtively under the support of the Great Northerners Faction to consolidate his reign,all of which finally resulted in the opposition of his reign.In 1623,Neungyanggun launched a coup with the support of Westers and some Southerners.The Gwanghaegun was sentenced by Queen In-mok for his killing brothers,imprisoning Queen In-mok,betraying the Ming Empire and the like.After his deposition,the Neungyanggun took the throne as the King Injo.After his succession,he expelled the Great Northerners Factions,put the Westners in an important position and promulgated pro-Ming and anti-Manchu policies that are different from the previous ones which sought a balance between the Ming Empire and the Manchus.The King Injo sent envoies to state the situation and asked for being conferred by the Ming Empire to prove the legality of his reign.After being acknowledged,King Injo re-sent the envoies to gain the imperial mandate and conferring letters from the Ming Empire.The King Injo was finally conferred in 1625.The Ming Empire took a long-term consideration to the conferment of King Injo,considering his own situation and the threat brough about by the Manchus regime.The Ming Empire had to take the Joseon into his military layout especially after the successive occupations of Shen Yang,Liao Yang and Guang Ning by the Manchus.Therefore,the Ming Empire finally consent to the conferment of King Injo as a result of his own military needs and the maintenance of traditional tribute system.The King Injo's taking the thorne was caused by the triumph of Westners over the Great Northerners and the conflicts between different parties reflecting on different political views.There was no essential difference between the pro-Ming and anti-Manchu policy of King Injo and the policy that sought a balance between the Ming and the Manchus of Gwanghaegun.They were all made to protect their own interests.Based on his own condition,the King Injo anchored his hope in Ming Empire and hoped to sustain their tribute system under the protection of Ming Empire after his conquering of Manchus.