Conflicting Emotions : Pak Taeyang’s experience of Meiji Japan in 1884 and Tongsa mannok

This article focuses on the experience of the Chosŏn literati in Meiji Japan in 1884 and their corresponding emotions by examining Pak Taeyang 朴戴陽(1848-1888) and his work Tongsa mannok 東槎漫錄. He travelled to Japan as a member of envoy immediately after the Kapsin Coup in the same year. Since the term “enlightenment” (kaehwa) caused turmoil in Chosŏn society, the 1884 mission consisted mainly of conservative officials. Their attitude vis-à-vis enlightenment strongly aligned with the expectations of the Chosŏn court. Pak Taeyang was not an exception. He did not fully embrace modern Japan and never expressed full admiration for technology. However, to simply conform to existing interpretations would make us overlook the inner conflicts that can be found in every corner of his records. Obviously, Pak Taeyang disliked modern society, yet he did not hesitate to observe it, and although it was rare, he expressed his surprise to some extent. The highlight of his dilemma became evident when interacting with young Chosŏn students studying abroad. His judgement of those who advocated enlightenment, including the instigators of the Kapsin coup, mirrored that of the Chosŏn government. Nevertheless, this did not apply in the same way to the young Chosŏn students he met in Japan. His emotions toward the two subjects also exhibited a significant difference. This article will first analyse how Pak Taeyang recognised the enlightened society. His representation of the newly discovered elements was relied on his establishment entailing the judgment. Then, we will examine which parts of the Japanese society were subjected to the emotional descriptions and how they were expressed. Finally, we will investigate the way he managed his emotions and any conflicts aroused during this process. By shedding light on his emotions and emotional expressions, we can have a more vivid picture of the reactions of the Chosŏn literati when they encountered the transitions of the time. Furthermore, this study demonstrates why it is vital to incorporate emotional context when identifying Korea’s transitional period.