Abstract

This article will explain the Zhonghua community strategy and its impact on the formation of the self-identity of Joseon’s political elites, and the resulting change in the Ming court’s attitude toward the Joseon dynasty. The architect of the institutions of the early Joseon dynasty, Jeong Dojeon, insisted the Joseon dynasty should internalize Confucian moral values and become the model tributary in this world order. His plan was materialized by kings of the early Joseon dynasty. Among various policies, the establishment of new rituals was the key project of the Zhonghua community strategy. The political elites of the early Joseon dynasty prided themselves on representing the country of courtesy. In the mid-Ming period, the Ming court accepted Joseon’s claim, and began treating it as a civilized country distinctive from other barbarian nations. Far from being a purely anachronistic policy of a distant period, this “Zhonghua community strategy” of the early Joseon dynasty can be taken as a reference point for understanding the policy-making of modern Korea.