Recognition o Toyotomi Hideyosi during the Edo Period (에도시대 豊臣秀吉에 대한 인식)

KIM MOON JA (김문자)

Recognition o Toyotomi Hideyosi during the Edo Period

중앙사론
2017, (46), pp.293-326
Publisher : Institute for Historical Studies at Chung-Ang University
Research Area : Humanities > History

KIM MOON JA ¹

¹상명대학교

Accredited

ABSTRACT

This research examines how recognition of Hideyosi during the Edo Period changed based on contemporary literature from Confucian scholars, classical scholars, statesmen, and Taikôki for the general public. For 200 years of the Edo Period, recognition of Hideyosi was not uniform. In the seventeenth century, during the early Edo Period, neo-Confucian intellectuals who protected the Shogunate regime, in an atmosphere of anti-Hideyosi, critically understood Hideyosi’s invasion of Korea as an unjustifiable war. In recognition of Hideyosi, the invasion of Joseon was identified as the arrogant and atrocious behavior of a shameful man who was ungrateful of Nobunaga. Thus, during this period, criticism of Hideyosi was expected from pro-Shogunate scholars. In the mid-Edo Period, pro-Shogunate scholars continued to denigrate Hideyosi’s achievements, saying that the invasion to Joseon was useless. Most underestimated him as a treacherous man toward Nobunaga from Confucian logic. That is, literature by these scholars does not blindly praise the invasion to Joseon and describes Hideyosi’s limits and mistakes without any omissions or rewrites. However, unlike early scholars, who criticized the complete victory of conquering three Han countries by the Empress Zingu and the invasion of Joseon by Hideyosi, Hideyosi’s invasion was first highly regarded as national defence. Empress Zingu’s military successes and Hideyosi’s invasion were both praised as achievements that showed the divine glory of Japan. Resistance to criticism of Empress Zingu was common among Confucian scholars, who brought foreign theories, such as Buddhism. Statesmen and scholars influenced by classical studies during the late Edo Period intended to protect the country by overseas expansion, targeting Joseon for its proximity to Japan and for conquest as emancipation. In this respect, Hideyosi’s invasion was viewed in a positive light. Additionally, Taikôki literature gained public popularity at this time, and Hideyosi was embellished as the smartest and most perfect man, who made his fortune as a commoner in a strict social hierarchy, rather than focusing on his achievements or expansion-related military prestige. This change was closely related to the Tokugawa shogunate’s power and emancipation, as well as Japan’s defence, and the image of Hideyosi’s as a hero and pioneer of overseas invasion was formed from the mid to late Edo Period, rather than the modern era, in which his image continues to change.

KEYWORDS

Edo Period, Toyotomi Hideyosi, Confucian scholar, Statesman. Emancipation, Empress Zingu, Invasion of Joseon, Taikôki, Kabuki/ Bunraku

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