강항(姜沆) 이 본 일본(日本) = The Japan Landscape was seen by Kang Hang

국문 초록 (Abstract)

Sooeun Kang Hang(수은(睡隱) 강항(姜沆) 1567-1618) was kidnapped in 1597 by Japanese military to stayed 2 years 8 months. He returned back to Korea to write <<Kanyangrok(看羊 錄)>>, the document about Japan`s information. When he stayed Japan, he exchange friendshipwith Hujihara Seiga(藤原惺窩) who was the pioneer of neo-Confucianism in Japan. His kidnap root was from Tzushima(對馬鳥)-Ikishima(壹岐鳥)-Shimonoseki(下關)- pass to Nagasaki(長崎) and arrived Otsu castle(大津城) and had stayed there. Later, passed Osaka castle(大坂城) and moved Fushimi castle(伏見城) in Kyoto. He was well write about Japan overcame dangerous crisis. He recorded on castle and house, he wrote that Japanese houses use timber that made what it simple to slim and smooth and no care strong or not. The houses burned away by too many combats easily. The strong houses no more important then slim. Castles placed the top of the mountain, distant riverside and seashore. They flatten the top of mountain and make keen four corners with stone that impossible up and down anybody. In the gate pile up gravels and enclose wall outside castle. There are muzzles of gun here and there at the wall slope. The outside of wall dig deep hole and supply water from river. On Buddhist temples, he mentions that Japanese men became monks about 40-50%, they learn medical technology, doing business, fortune teller, and cleaner of tea room in Shogun house. They have family, drinking wine, eating meat and fish and living with mundane people. The monks belong to Shogun family named Su(寺), In(院), Houin(法印). While different monk group faithful Buddhist doctrine, they have no family, never eating meat and fish and hermit life in the forests. They positions rank named from Jousi(藏師), Shuso(首座), Toudou(東堂), Seidou(西堂), Wazhou(和尙) to Jourou(長老). On Jinja(神社), he mentions that the building decorate palatial, luxury and dazzling golden color. Dainsho Koutajingu(天照皇大神宮)`s ancestor is female god. Kumanosan(熊野山)`s avatar god is Seobok(徐福) from China, Atagosan(愛宕山)`s avatar god is Ila(日羅) from Korea. He talks gods of Japan such as Kasga(春日)`s Daimyoujin(大明神), Hatziman(八幡)`s Daibosatzu(大菩薩), Dairoubou(大郞房), Shouroubou(小郞房) and there are uncountable gods in Japan. When Japanese conclude a pact, they made somecommandment and necessarily swear before to these gods each other. At that time, there are 2,958 Buddhist temples and 27,618 Shintou shrines in Japan. He records that the population of men are 1,994,828 persons and women numbers are 2,904,820 persons. Men always bear sword except monks and farmer. Especially Shougun or soldiers always carry with long and short swords. Samurai(武士 )s enjoy fight against common emotion because of social trend. Then time oversea trade in Japan, they set much value international business. They welcomes from abroad merchants. If someone plunders foreigners then arrest and kill their all family members. They come-and-go to Indian, South East Asia(南蠻), Okinawa(琉球), Philippines (呂宋) for international trade. Kang Hang could record his life in Japan supported by neo-Confucianism scholars who against pro-war culture at that time.