Choi Namseon’s Account of Manchurian Trip and Recognition on Old Joseon/Buyeo/Goguryoe/Balhae : Focused on 『Songmankyeonyunrok』 and Successive Change

This paper was focused on Choi Namseon’s recognition of the ancient Korea in Manchurian and his recognition change after writing the account of Manchurian trip, shown in 『Songmankyeonyunrok』. Old Joseon, Buyeo, Goguryeo and Balhae, which acted in Manchurian, are remarked at every parts of 『Songmankyeonyunrok』, the account of Manchurian trip written by Choi Namseon, suggesting that he highlights the activity and position of Korean people in Manchurian. Although the amount of contents about Old Joseon and Buyeo is relatively small, the fact that Liaodong was once an area of Old Joseon was stressed. He might partially change his view after writing the account of Manchurian trip, in that he regarded the Liaoding area and the Songhwa river basin as the early activity area of Old Joseon. He discovered some traces of Buyeo around the Songhwa river basin, and remarked the area as the origin of Bulham culture(不咸⽂化). Afterwards, Choi Namseon became interested in revealing the meaning of the Buyeo myth and its connection to the Tangun myth. Therefore, he understood the ancient history of Korea around the Buyeo tribe in 『Manmongmunhwa』. In particular, he examined the activity of Goguryeo around the Liaodong area in 『Songmankyeonyunrok』, as he was very interested in Gogyryeo. He also wrote three works about the remains of Goguryeo after the account of Manchurian trip was published. He recorded the detailed contents of stone lanterns and so on he observed, surveying the Sanggyeong castle of Balhae. Then, he recognized and emphasized that displaced persons from Balhae joined Goryeo. The writings left by him has a significant implication, in that there have been little scholars who presented any accounts of Manchurian relic trip or introduced remains at that time.