6.2 The Gaoli Tujing: A travelogue of Goryeo by a Chinese scholar

The Gaoli Tujing, written by Xu Jing in 1124, offers a unique glimpse into 12th-century Goryeo society. This Chinese travelogue provides detailed accounts of geography, politics, economy, and cultural practices, serving as a valuable counterpoint to native Korean historical records.

The text sheds light on the complex relationship between Goryeo and Song China, revealing Chinese perceptions of Goryeo's significance. It offers insights into religious practices, urban life, social structures, and diplomatic exchanges, painting a vivid picture of medieval Korean society through a foreign lens.

Significance of the Gaoli Tujing

Comprehensive Foreign Account

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• Gaoli Tujing written by Xu Jing in 1124 provides one of the most detailed accounts of Goryeo society by a foreign observer during the 12th century
• Consists of 40 volumes covering various aspects of Goryeo (geography, politics, economy, social structures, cultural practices)
• Offers unique insights into Goryeo's culture, customs, and daily life from an outsider's perspective
• Serves as a valuable counterpoint to native Korean historical records (Samguk Sagi, Samguk Yusa)
• Contributes significantly to understanding of medieval Korean society's aesthetic and technological developments
  • Detailed descriptions of material culture (architecture, clothing, crafts)

Religious and Diplomatic Insights

• Observations on Goryeo's religious practices offer important insights into spiritual life and beliefs
  • Particularly focuses on Buddhism
  • Viewed through Chinese Confucian perspective
• Reflects diplomatic and cultural interests of China in neighboring kingdoms
• Sheds light on complex relationship between Goryeo and Song China
  • Commissioned by Song emperor
  • Reveals Chinese perceptions of Goryeo's political and cultural significance

Chinese Perspectives on Goryeo

Geography and Urban Life

• Provides detailed descriptions of Goryeo's topography, climate, and natural resources
  • Offers insights into physical environment's influence on society
• Observations on urban centers, particularly capital Gaegyeong (modern-day Kaesong)
  • Describes city planning, architecture, daily life of urban dwellers
• Accounts of agricultural practices, crops, and livestock
  • Paints comprehensive picture of kingdom's economic foundations
  • Illustrates food culture (rice cultivation, seafood consumption)

Social Structure and Culture

• Describes Goryeo people's physical appearance, clothing, and hairstyles
  • Reflects author's cultural biases and actual differences between Goryeo and Chinese fashions
• Offers insights into social hierarchy, family structures, and gender roles
  • Compares Goryeo social norms with Chinese counterparts
• Accounts of rituals, festivals, and entertainment
  • Provides vivid picture of kingdom's cultural life (Lunar New Year celebrations, traditional music performances)
• Describes educational system, literary culture, and artistic achievements
  • Offers information on intellectual and creative life (Confucian academies, poetry competitions)

The Gaoli Tujing as a Source

Diplomatic and Cultural Exchange

• Details diplomatic protocols, gift exchanges, and official communications between Goryeo and Song China
• Observes use of Chinese language, writing systems, and Confucian classics in Goryeo
  • Illustrates extent of Chinese cultural influence
• Describes Buddhist practices and their similarities/differences with Chinese Buddhism
  • Highlights complex religious exchanges (adoption of Chan Buddhism, unique Korean Buddhist traditions)
• Accounts of trade goods, markets, and economic activities
  • Provides information on commercial ties (ginseng trade, celadon pottery exports)

Military and Technological Aspects

• Describes Goryeo's military organization, weapons, and defenses
  • Offers insights into strategic aspects of Goryeo-China relations
  • Reveals mutual perceptions of threat or alliance
• Observes Goryeo's adoption and adaptation of Chinese technologies, crafts, and artistic styles
  • Provides evidence of selective cultural borrowing and innovation (movable type printing, metalworking techniques)
• Author's personal reflections reveal complex interplay of admiration, criticism, and cultural relativism
  • Demonstrates nuanced cross-cultural observations of the period

Gaoli Tujing vs Other Accounts

Comparative Analysis

• Can be compared with other Song dynasty travelogues of neighboring kingdoms (Liao and Jin dynasties)
  • Reveals broader patterns of Chinese perceptions of foreign cultures
• Contrasts with earlier Chinese accounts of Korea (Records of the Three Kingdoms)
  • Traces changes in Chinese perceptions of Korean culture over time
• Compares with contemporary Korean envoys' accounts of Song China
  • Illustrates reciprocal nature of cultural observations and misunderstandings

Evaluation as a Historical Source

• Structure and content can be compared with other official Song dynasty geographic and ethnographic works
  • Provides insights into genre conventions and political purposes of such texts
• Can be analyzed alongside later Joseon dynasty travelogues of China (Yeonhaengnok)
  • Reveals long-term patterns and changes in Korean-Chinese cultural perceptions
• Comparison with other foreign accounts of Goryeo (Japanese or Central Asian sources)
  • Helps evaluate reliability and comprehensiveness as a historical source
  • Highlights unique perspectives offered by Gaoli Tujing (detailed descriptions of court ceremonies, local customs)