The Choryang Waegwan in Dongnae (草梁倭館) 

A waegwan (倭館) refers to a diplomatic compound where representatives from Joseon and Japan carried out trade and affairs of state. 

The Choryang Waegwan, originally located in Dongnae (near the current city of Busan), was the fourth largest Joseon waegwan, after the Busanpo Waegwan founded in the early Joseon Dynasty, and the Jeolyeongdo Waegwan and Dumopo Waegwan that were constructed after the Imjin War. Unlike the other waegwan, the Choryang Waegwan included Japanese residences that housed close to five hundred Japanese nationals including envoys, officials and merchants. As such, it became a major center for cultural exchange where intellectuals from both countries gathered to discuss any number of topics from food to art production. Even after diplomatic relations were suspended in the late Eighteenth century, the Choryang waegwan continued to serve as an important hub for cultural exchange. In fact, Joseon artists were employed at the Waegwan to produce paintings for export to Japan where Korean paintings were in high demand. 

The fact that one of the panels in Painting of the Magistrate of Dongnae welcoming the Japanese Envoys provides a detailed overview of the Choryang Waegwan, speaks to its important role in facilitating cultural exchange between Korea and Japan even during periods of political tension.

Painting of the Magistrate of Dongnae Welcoming the Japanese Envoys (東萊府使接倭使圖)

Joseon dynasty, 17th century, ink and color on paper, 81.5×460cm, National Museum of Korea ⓒNational Museum of Korea

After the Japanese Invasion of Korea, Japanese envoys to Joseon were prohibited from entering the capital city of Hanyang and meeting the King in person. Instead, a diplomatic welcoming party was arranged at the Choryang Waegwan in Dongnae. This screen represents important moments from the welcoming ceremony chronologically across ten panels including the procession of the Dongnae Magistrate to greet the envoy, the Japanese envoy paying respect to the Joseon King through the symbol of the jeonpae*, and the banquet held at at Yeonhyang Daecheong. All of the scenes are depicted from an elevated perspective and contain historical details of key buildings and the surrounding region that provide a wealth of information about the Dongnae area at that time.

*Jeonpae (殿牌): A wooden plate that functions as a symbol for the king. Government officials were required to bow to the jeonpae to show their respect and loyalty.

  Various scenes from Painting of the Magistrate of Dongnae Welcoming the Japanese Envoys

Dongnae is located in the south-east region of Miryang. Due to this location, Dongnae is the first Korean territory you will encounter when travelling from the Wae (Japan). 

Prior to the Imjin year, the Waegwan was established on the south coast of the village, and wooden fences were constructed to separate it from the surrounding villages. 

Every year, the people of Daemado receive documents from their ruler and take hundreds of Wae people (Japanese) to stay in the  Waegwan.

“密陽東南爲東萊卽東南海上自倭登陸之初境也自壬辰前於邑南海上創置倭館周圍數十里設木柵爲限對馬島人受島主文引數百倭來留館中”

- Lee Joong-hwan (李重煥), Taekliji (擇里志), 1751.