Ginseng and Borderland: Territorial Boundaries and Political Relations Between Qing China and Choson Korea, 1636-1912

by Seonmin Kim

A free ebook version of this title will be available through Luminos, University of California Press’s Open Access publishing program. Visit www.luminosoa.org to learn more.  Ginseng and Borderland explores the territorial boundaries and political relations between Qing China and Choson Korea during the period from the early seventeenth to the late nineteenth centuries. By examining a unique body of materials written in Chinese, Manchu, and Korean, and building on recent studies in New Qing History, Seonmin Kim adds new perspectives to current understandings of the remarkable transformation of the Manchu Qing dynasty (1636–1912) from a tribal state to a universal empire. This book discusses early Manchu history and explores the Qing Empire’s policy of controlling Manchuria and Choson Korea. Kim also contributes to theKorean history of the Choson dynasty (1392–1910) by challenging conventional accounts that embrace a China-centered interpretation of the tributary relationship between the two polities, stressing instead the agency of Choson Korea in the formation of the Qing Empire. This study demonstrates how Koreans interpreted and employed this relationship in order to preserve the boundary—and peace—with the suzerain power. By focusing on the historical significance of the China-Korea boundary, this book defines the nature of the Qing Empire through the dynamics of contacts and conflicts under both the cultural and material frameworks of its tributary relationship with Choson Korea.

Genres: History, China, Nonfiction

244 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 12, 2017

Reviews

[Bruce Graham · Rating 3 out of 5]

Much more about borderland than ginseng. I would put the content at 95% borderland and 5% (if that) ginseng. An excellent book if you like dry academic writing. Ditto if you like repetition. In fact, if you want to read about the confusion about the naming of a river, this book is riveting. It was a surprise to learn that French Jesuits revolutionized Chinese cartography. Similarly, the centuries long aggravations over the Chinese-Korean border were solved in quick order by the Chinese-Japanese War of 1894-95. Neither is considered in depth in this book. Did I mention repetition?

[Mary Catelli · Rating 3 out of 5]

A discussion of various issues about the borderlands of China and Korea. And it was a borderland, theoretically unsettled. (Dealings with the rest of the world helped push toward a border, which other nations had, but it doesn't get deep in those dealings.)

Ginseng, its licensed gathering and poaching, was an enormous issue in that. It was greatly valued, as long as it was wild. Cultivated ginseng was treated as if poached, which complicated issues.

Also such thing as the value for peasants of being on the road where Korean tribute traveled, how the Qing dynasty didn't regard ginseng as distinctively Korean, and more.

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very objective study of the relations between Ming-Qing China and Choson state which also goes into detail about ginseng trade.

[Ocean G · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found myself wondering if this book was written as part of the whole fight over the border between Korea and China, which I seem to remember was in the news a few years ago. Regardless, it deals almost entirely with that, and it changes nothing regarding the fact that it was pretty much the Yalu and Tumen rivers.

However, the book itself is very interesting. Obviously the border was never an issue before the Qing dynasty, since that area was Manchuria. Also, it seems like Ginseng was the main reason anyone had any interest in that area. Apparently some of the best Ginseng in the world grew there (but was over farmed, so you probably won't find any there now).

Interesting how the Chosun court gave Mu-ke-deng a faulty map, which placed the border somewhat more North than what it should have been, but this never got corrected nor was cared about too much. In fact, the Chosun court worried about it more and then found it a burden to try to send people to that area.
The more secure the Qing government was in its control over China, the more leeway they gave the Chosun government as regards the border, since they didn't feel any threat.