Several Aspects Reflected in the Diplomatic Poems of So Seyang

This paper examines the diplomatic poems written by Yanggok So Se-yang(蘇世讓, 1486-1562) in 1533 (the 28th year of King Jungjong’s reign) while on a mission to celebrate the birth of the Crown Prince(進賀使). His diplomatic poems are collected in the Yanggokjip(陽谷集). The 130 poems he wrote en route are spread across three volumes, while the 130 he wrote on his return journey are collected in parts of the fourth volume, totaling 260 poems. During the reign of King Jungjong, So Se-yang served as a government official, playing a leading role in scholarly and policy matters, particularly in the field of diplomacy. At the same time, he was a prominent figure in the literary world, recognized for his talent and confidence in poetry. He held a wide range of key posts in the Office of Royal Writings (munhanjik, 文翰職) and ultimately rose to the position of Chief Scholar (daejihak, 大提學). Examining his literary works is crucial for understanding both the scholarship and literature of the Jungjong era and for examining the relationship with the Ming Dynasty at the time. Therefore, this paper examines his diplomatic poems, dividing them into five categories. First, the poems depict the landscapes encountered along the envoy’s route; second, they describe the accidents and hardships experienced during the journey; third, they express the impressions and reflections on the misery of foreign lands observed along the way; fourth, they convey homesickness and longing for family; and fifth, the remaining poems are classified into miscellaneous themes. The reason this study focuses on So Seyang’s diplomatic poems in examining his Chinese poetry is that, while the majority of the poems in the Yanggokjip were composed after he had retired from office and was living in seclusion in Geumma, Iksan, Jeonbukk, reflecting on the past or portraying the nature of his later years, the diplomatic poems were written when he was forty-eight years old, still relatively young and actively engaged in public life. This is because it is believed that we will be able to comprehensively, directly, and realistically examine not only his poetic world but also his perception and thoughts of the times.