如果中國崛起為東亞的霸權,區域國家會如何反應?會順從或抗拒?對此,僅是霸權與他國間實力巨大差距此一條件,似乎不足以推導出確切答案,而得取決於中國與東亞國家之間是否有文化認同。在過去中國曾是東亞霸權的時光裡,朝鮮對明朝持續效忠到最後,甚至延續到清朝建立之初,這正是因為對明朝的文化認同感;但在明朝建立之初,朝鮮對明朝卻是口服而心不服。究竟這前後迥異的變化是如何發生的?朝鮮對明朝的文化認同感是如何建立的?是逐漸產生或驟然產生?本研究嘗試探索明代中期以後1449~1618年間的中韓關係,進而揭露韓國對中國建立文化認同的過程,作為在未來掌握區域國家與中國之間,能否建立文化認同的重要指引。
How will regional states react if China achieves hegemony in East Asia? Obey or resist? In this regard, the mere fact that such a huge power disparity between hegemons and other states does not seem to be enough to derive a definitive answer. The key is whether there is a cultural identity between China and East Asian countries. When China was the hegemon of East Asia, Korea sustained its royalty to the Ming against Qing to the very end precisely because of the shared cultural identity. Nevertheless, at the beginning of the Ming, Korea was anything but submissive. How did Korea establish its shared cultural identity with the Ming? Gradually, then Suddenly? This study attempts to inquire the relations from 1449-1618 in depth to provide an important guideline for forecasting the future of East Asia under a rising China.