Shin Suk-ju

Japanese: 申叔舟 - シン・スクチュ

Year of death: 6th year of Seongjong (1475)
Year of birth: King Taejong 17.4 (1417)
A diplomat and politician in the early Joseon dynasty. His Japanese pronunciation is "Shin Shukushu". His hometown was Goryeong, Gyeongsang-do, Korea. His pen name was Beomwong. He was also known by the names Heehyeondang and Bohanjae. He was the son of Shin Yu. In 1439 (the 21st year of King Sejong's reign), he passed the civil service examination and entered Jihyeonjeon. In 1443 (the 3rd year of Gagyeol's reign), he accompanied a mission to Japan as a letter officer and came to Kyoto. In 1452 (the 3rd year of King Sejo's reign), he accompanied Suyang Daegun (Seijo), who was an emissary to express his gratitude to the Ming Dynasty, to Beijing. He was instrumental in King Sejo's seizure of the throne through a coup d'état in 1455 (the 3rd year of King Danjong's reign), and was highly valued, being sent to the Ming Dynasty as an emissary to request recognition of his accession to the throne. In 1460 (the 5th year of King Sejo's reign), he was instrumental in subjugating the Jurchen people in the north as the chief inspector of Gangwon-do and Hamgi-do. In the same year, he was appointed as the highest government position in the country, the Prime Minister of Uijeongbu. After the death of Sejo, he served and assisted Yejong and Seongjong. In the second year of Seongjong's reign (1471), he became the Prime Minister again. In the same year, he wrote Haedong Shokokuki (Records of the History of the Land of the East and the Provinces of Korea) at Seongjong's command. This is a record of the history of Japan and the Ryukyu Islands, the national conditions, geography, and relations with Korea at that time, and is a fundamental historical source for medieval Japan-Korea relations. His obituary states, "I made it my duty to maintain friendly relations with Korea" (Sealjong's Annals), and Haedong Shokokuki condenses the experience and knowledge of Shin Suk-ju, a diplomat and Japanophile. It is said that on his deathbed, he told Seongjong, "I hope that we will not lose peace with our country and Japan," and willed to him the importance of friendly relations with Japan. He was also skilled in Chinese poetry, and his poetry was compiled after his death as Bohanjaeji. He also contributed to the establishment of Sejong's Hunminjeongeum (Hangeul). <References> Takeo Tanaka, translated and annotated, "Kaito Shokokuki"

(Saeki Hirotsugu)

Source: Asahi Japanese Historical Biography: Asahi Shimbun Publications Inc. About Asahi Japanese Historical Biography

Japanese:

没年：成宗6.6(1475)
生年：太宗17.4(1417)
李氏朝鮮前期の外交官,政治家。日本語読みは「しん・しゅくしゅう」。朝鮮の慶尚道高霊が本貫地。字は泛翁。希賢堂,保閑斎と号す。申檣の子。世宗21(1439)年文科(科挙)に合格し,集賢殿に入る。嘉吉3(1443)年,日本への通信使に書状官として随行し,京都に来た。景泰3(1452)年には明への謝恩使首陽大君(世祖)に書状官として従い,北京へ赴いた。端宗3(1455)年の世祖のクーデタによる王位奪取に功績があり,その即位承認を求める使者として明に使いするなど,重用された。世祖5(1460)年には,江原道,咸吉道の都体察使として北方の女真人討伐に功績があった。同7年,官職の最高位である議政府領議政に任命。世祖没後は睿宗,成宗に仕え,これを補佐した。成宗2(1471)年再び領議政となる。同年,成宗の命によって『海東諸国紀』を著した。これは,当時の日本と琉球の歴史,国情,地理,朝鮮との関係などを記したもので,中世日朝関係の基礎史料となっている。その死亡記事に「事大交隣を以て己が任となす」(『成宗実録』)とあり,『海東諸国紀』には,外交官で知日家の申叔舟の経験と知識が凝縮されている。また,臨終のとき成宗に対して「願わくば国家,日本と和を失うことなかれ」と述べ,日本との交隣の重要性を遺言したという。漢詩文も得意で,その詩文は死後『保閑斎集』としてまとめられた。世宗の訓民正音(ハングル)の制定にも寄与している。<参考文献>田中健夫訳注『海東諸国紀』

(佐伯弘次)

出典　朝日日本歴史人物事典：（株）朝日新聞出版朝日日本歴史人物事典について　情報

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