This article aims to analyzes those records related to Korea critically founded in ‘Mongolian chronicles’ in the 17th century.
Koryo(高麗) had an unprecedented relationship with the Yeke Mongγol Ulus[Yüan, 元] from the mid 13th century to the mid 14th century. However, as it had gradually waned since the end of the 14th century, the Yüan ended up splitting over. Meanwhile, in Korean peninsula, Goryo had collapsed and subsequently Joseon was founded, which made the relationship with the Mongol distant. In the 17th century, the Manchu(Ch’ing) rose and Joseon encountered the Mongol again in direct and indirect ways. Mongol, even though they used to have close relationship with Goryo, also recognized Joseon newly under the changed circumstances from that of Goryo.
Before ‘Mongolian chronicles’ in the 17th century, the Mongolian records related with Korea are shown only in the article no. 197 and no. 274 in The Secret History of the Mongols(Mongγol-un niγuča tobčiyan). Since The Secret History of the Mongols until the 16th century, no record on Korea is found on the side of the Mongols. At present, there are five kinds of ‘Mongolian choronicles in the 17th century’ were survived: ‘Quriyangγui Altan tobči’ by an anonymous author, ‘Lu. Altan tobči’ by Lubsangdanjin, ‘Erdeni-yin tobči’ by Saγang sečen, ‘Asaraγči neretü-yin teüke’ by Jamba(tib. Byams pa) and ‘Šira tuγuj’ by an anonymous author(perhaps Jamba ?).
These records tell mostly about Čingγis qan, the ruler of the Yeke Mongγol Ulus, and his descendents. And the first part of the books described the royal lineage of India(Enetkeg) and Tibet(Töbed). Occasionally, they narrated the history of Ming and the mutual exchange between the Ming and the Mongols. On the contrary, very fragmentary records on Goryo and Joseon just appeared in them.