2024, Vol., No.38

Journal of Manchurian Studies 2023 KCI Impact Factor : 0.33

pISSN : 1738-3668
https://journal.kci.go.kr/manchuria

This study analyzes Goryeo’s political and military strategies in Liaodong during the mid-14th century, prior to the Ming dynasty’s eastward expansion. Following the uprising of the Red Turban Army, Goryeo faced multiple threats but successfully navigated these challenges and the shifting regional dynamics that followed. Although the army invaded Goryeo twice, it was defeated, suffering significant losses to the Mongols. The paper unveils how, in the aftermath, several Mongol princes, commanders, and officials who contributed to suppressing the Red Turban Army established independent spheres of influence in Liaodong. The research also explores how King Gongmin’s anti-Yuan policy shaped Goryeo’s efforts to sever ties with the Mongols and reassert control over key territories. The research further explores the strategies Goryeo used to attack the eight post stations in the northwest to recapture the Ssangseong Commandery (쌍성총관부) in the northeast. Gongmin’s campaigns against the Dongnyeong Commandery (동녕부) demonstrated how these expeditions neutralized the threats posted by Kisain Temur and stabilized the frontier. Through an investigation of these strategies adopted during Ming dynasties consolidation of power and advance into Liaodong in 1368, the paper shows how the Goryeo strategically maintained relations with these warlords to contain the Ming’s influence and preserve a balance of power in the region.

This study examines how political power in Manchuria shifted during the transition from the Yuan to the Ming, with particular attention to the reigns of King Gongmin (1351-1374) and King Woo (1374-1388) of Gorgyeo. The weakening of the Yuan authority over Manchuria, following the Red Turban Rebellion, opened the way for the Goryeo to reclaim former territories and extend its influences over the Jurchen tribes. The study also explores how early Ming rulers, constrained by internal instability, relied on Goryeo to stabilize the northeastern frontier. The findings reveal how, as the Ming consolidated power, the Hongwu Emperor asserted territorial control over the region by establishment of the Tieling Garrison (鐵嶺衛) without consulting Goryeo, provoking diplomatic tensions. In response, Goryeo demanded the abolition of the garrison and planned the Conquest of Liaodong (遼東征伐). These escalating tensioned culminated in the Wiwha Island Retreat (威化島回軍), which enabled Yi Seong-gye to seize power and establish the Joseon dynasty. This study highlights the critical role of Manchuria as a contested space in these transitions. It offers new insights into how regional power struggles shaped Korea-China relations and contributed to the political transformation from Goryeo to Joseon.

This study examines efforts to reconstruct Chinese civilization through Confucian principles that were made during the early Republic of China period, which culminated in the establishment of Manchukuo. It focuses on the Late Qing Loyalists (Yilao) and their plans to reinstate Puyi (Emperor Xuantong) to power using a Confucian revival framework that operated in tandem with Japan’s “Imperial Way Confucianism.” This dual ideological system embodied continuity with Chinese traditions alongside Japanese imperial ambitions. The paper analyzes the contrasting perspectives of two key Qing loyalists, Shen Zengzhi and Zheng Xiaoxu, on how Confucianism should be applied to the state. Shen emphasized personal cultivation and self-expansion (自我擴大), focusing on the moral development of individuals, while Zheng prioritized the normative role of Confucianism in addressing moral governance and societal reform. These divergent views reveal how Manchukuo served as a platform for enlightened conservatives to bring their beliefs and aspirations to fruition, blending Confucian ideals with transnational influence and de-Sinicized elements.