The Goryeo Dynasty, a trading power in East Asia

 In Gaegyeong, the capital of Goryeo, there is a building called Objectives. Gaekgwan is the place where foreign merchants and travelers stayed. At that time, there were Yeongeungwan and Ineungwan for the Khitan people in Gaegyeong, and Yeongseongwan and Yeongeungwan for the Yeojin people, Suncheongwan where the Chinese stayed, Hongwigwan, Cheongju, Chungju, Sajo, and Yibin. It is not in the record, but there must have been a residence for people from Japan or other countries. At that time, the appearance of the guesthouse was unknown, but Seo Geung, who wrote "Goryeo Dogyeong", said that the guesthouse was as big as a palace. The fact that there were as many as ten large accommodations for foreign merchants in the capital means that active international trade took place in Gaegyeong at the time. There is an interesting record of Goryeo's international trade. Japanese history book Baeknyeoncho pays attention to an incident that took place in the early 10th century. According to records, in 997, Goryeo sent three letters to Japan asking for commerce. However, Japan rejects Goryeo's demands and strengthens defense in Tsushima and Kyushu provinces. Details are unknown, but it is recorded that Goryeo invaded the Kyushu area. Another record also shows that Goryeo forces posted urgent news on the Japanese government after Dazaifu in Kyushu, saying they were trying to invade with 500 warships. These two records convey an unusual atmosphere at the time. How should I look at this series of events? Goryeo dispatched envoys to Japan several times from the beginning of its foundation, but Japan refused every time. In response, Goryeo staged an armed protest to ask Japan to open its doors and establish diplomatic relations based on powerful maritime forces. From the beginning of the founding of Goryeo, foreign trade was actively carried out. Looking at the Yesunggang River, an international trade port at the time, poet Lee Gyu-bo sang that Goryeo's merchant ships traveled back and forth between Southman. This suggests that China and Japan were not the only trading partners at the time. Goryeo traded with Daesikguk, Mapalguk, Seomagokguk, and Gyojiguk. The macrophages are the countries in what is now Arabia and the Mapalguk are the countries in the Indian Peninsula. The island country is now Thailand, and the pyoji country is Vietnam. It is highly likely that the merchants of Daesikguk came to Goryeo through South China or came directly. So they also met with Goryeo merchants in South China, and in this sense, it is possible that the Goryeo fleet went to the lower part of South China and traded. In addition, there were Goryeo's maritime activities in the southern part of the country, for example, the Japanese archipelago and Okinawa. Overall, Goryeo engaged in active marine activities, traveling between Northeast Asia, Japan, northern and southern China, and Southeast Asia. At that time, bronze products were one of the important trade products. But is it a coincidence? On the back of the bronze mirror of the Goryeo Dynasty, a ship pattern sailing through the sea is engraved. This shape of mirror is also housed in the National Gongju Museum. The bronze mirror here is also engraved with the sea and ships on the back. Why did they draw the same boat picture behind the mirror? Goryeo would have created a large number of ship-shaped mirrors as trade goods. It is presumed to symbolize the sea trade that flourished at the time. Maritime trade brought abundance to Goryeo. Goryeo expressed its confidence in this way. "Goryeo's culture and courtesy flourished, and merchants constantly entered and received valuable treasures every day, so there is nothing to be helped from China." Goryeo took control of the sea with excellent warships. With its power, it has accumulated wealth by trading with various countries and secured a dominant position internationally. However, Goryeo was the last maritime kingdom in our history. The Yuan Dynasty banned activities in the sea to dampen the power of Goryeo, and the Joseon Dynasty also tied the sea. Since then, we have lost our leadership in East Asia. Whether or not to dominate the sea is an important key that determines a country's national power. The warship was a measure of Goryeo's national power at the time.