본 논문은 정유재란 당시 일본에 포로로 끌려가 안남에 세 차례 다녀온 趙完璧의 安南 체험에 대해서 살펴본 글이다. 조완벽은 1597년 정유재란때 포로로 잡혀 일본으로 끌려간 후, 1604년부터 1606년까지 倭主인 스미노쿠라 료이(角倉了以)가 운영하는 朱印船에 승선하여 세 차례 안남에 다녀왔다.
조완벽의 체험담은 진주에서 소촌도 찰방을 역임한 金允安에 의해서 鄭士信, 李埈, 李睟光에게 전해지게 되었으며, 이들에 의해 「趙完璧傳」으로 入傳되었다. 조완벽은 갑자사화 때 화를 당한 知足堂 趙之瑞의 증손으로, 字는 汝守, 號는 松江, 본관은 林川이다. 경상도 진주지방의 명문세족인 河魏寶의 손주사위이며, 처가와 외가가 모두 진주지역의 명문세족이었다.
조완벽은 안남 방문을 통해 이수광의 시가 안남 유생들 사이에서 애송되고 있다는 사실과 함께, 안남에 대한 상세한 정보를 전하였다. 조완벽이 방문했던 지역은 安南의 乂安 興元縣이었으며, 당시 안남은 남북 두 개의 정권으로 대립되어 있었다. 조완벽은 흥원현에서 그 지역의 해외통상을 관리하던 고관 文理候와 지역 유생들에게 초대를 받고 이수광의 시를 매개로 하여 그들과 筆談을 주고받았다. 조완벽은 안남인의 의식주 및 풍속, 기후, 동식물․과일 및 산물, 처첩제도, 안남인의 성품 등에 대해서 매우 자세히 전하고 있다. 조완벽은 안남에서 많은 사람들을 만나 필담으로 대화를 나누면서 한자문화권 내부의 동질감과 이질감을 느꼈던 것으로 보인다. 안남인에 대한 조완벽의 인식은 긍정적인 인식과 부정적인 인식이 교차하고 있었다.
조완벽의 견문에 기초한 안남에 대한 상세한 정보는 17세기 조선사회에 안남에 대한 지식을 높이는 계기로 작용하였다. 17세기 조선에서는 국가가 아닌 개인이 국제무역선을 운항해서 외국에 나가 교역하는 행위 자체를 상상할 수 없었다. 그러나 당시 일본에서는 동아시아 국가들을 상대로 한 국제무역 행위가 이미 활발히 진행되고 있었으며, 조완벽은 이를 실제로 목격하고 동참했던 최초의 조선인이었다.
This paper scrutinize the experience of Cho Wan-byuk in Annam, who was a captive during Japanese Invasion of 1597(丙子胡亂), and traversed Annam(安南) three times. Upon the Japanese Invasion of 1597, Cho Wan-byuk was abducted to Japan as a captive. In Japan, he was forced into labor on a Juinseon(朱印船), which was operated by a japanese slave owner named Suminokura Ryoi(角倉了以) from 1604 to 1606. During the period, he made three visits to Annam.
Cho Wan-byuk's experience as a captive was heard by Kim Yun-ahn(金允安) who served as a Chalbang of Sochon Do in Jinjyu region. The story was spread by Kim Yun-ahn, and eventually reached Jeong Sa-shin(鄭士信), Lee Su-Kwang(李睟光), and Lee Jun(李埈), who later published Cho Wan-byuk Geon(趙完璧傳).
Cho Wan-byuk was a great-grandchild of Jijokdang Cho Ji-seo(趙之瑞), who was executed during Gapjjasawa(甲子士禍). He had a childhood name of Yeosoo, and a pen name of Songgang, and his family clan originated from Imchon region. He was married to a granddaughter of Ha Wi-bo(河魏寶), a member of a powerful clan from Jinjyu region of Gyeongsang province. Both his wife's side and mother's side were all members of powerful clans in Jinjyu region.
After three visits to Annam, Cho Wan-byuk spread the detailed informations about Annam nation, along with the fact that poetry written by Lee Su-Kwang was very popular and loved to recite among Confucian scholars in Annam. The area where he visited, was Hung Nguyen huyen(興元縣), Nghe An(乂安), Annam. At that time, Annam was controlled by two governments, North regime and South regime, confronting each other.
Staying in Hung Nguyen huyen, Cho Wan-byuk was invited by a high government official, mun ri hu(文理候), who took charge of Foreign trade, and many other local Confucian scholars. In their meetings, he communicated with them by writing about Lee Su-Kwang's poetry.
Cho Wan-byuk described in detail the basics of Annam people, such as food, clothing, shelter, culture, climate, flora and fauna, fruits, principle products, concubine system, and the character of Annam people, etc. After contacting and communicating with lots of people in Annam, he seemed to feel both of cultural homogeneity and heterogeneity within chinese cultural zone. He expressed mixed feelings of positive awareness and negative awareness for the recognition of Annam people.
Due to the detailed informations on Annam nation based on the knowledge of Cho Wan-byuk, the 17th century Joseon society had become motivated to better understand Annam.
In the 17th century Joseon society, it could not be imagined the act itself, to navigate international trading ships and to trade abroad by individuals rather than a nation. But at that time in Japan, international trade practices against the East Asian countries were already in progress actively, and Cho Wan-byuk was the first Korean who had witnessed this activity and participated in actually.