The purpose of this essay is to notice the relation between Koguryo and Northern Ch'i centering around the problem 0 repatriation of the migrants in 552. The migrants were not mer refugees who had flown into Koguryo in order to avoid the disorder of l...
The purpose of this essay is to notice the relation between Koguryo and Northern Ch'i centering around the problem 0 repatriation of the migrants in 552. The migrants were not mer refugees who had flown into Koguryo in order to avoid the disorder of late Northern Wei. The problem of the migrants was related t that of the international order around Ying-zhou. This is why th migrants are so important to understand the relation between Koguryo and Northern Wei during the first half of the sixth century
With disappearance of Northern Wei power around Ying-zhou Koguryo tried to expand her power around that region. As a result though Koguryo did not occupy that region, she could secure a lot of the migrants. The fact that Northern Wei demanded the repatriation of the migrants in 552 and that Koguryo refused that demand reveals that the problem of the migrants was very important to both parties.
In the end, by repatriating the migrants Koguryo chose a friendly relation with Northern Wei rather than an opposition to Northen Wei. The result was that Koguryo could escape a military tensio from the west and achieve the balance of power with regard to Northern Wei. Besides, Koguryo's friendly relation with Norther Wei was a firm foundation on which Koguryo could deal with threat from T'u -chueh, Silla, Paekche.
Thorough this essay, we can see the process that Kogury attempted to expand her power toward Ying-zhou and her attemp was deflected during the first half of the sixth century. Further, this essay tries to achieve a new understanding about the international order during the first half of the sixth century. That is, the collaps of the international order around Ying-zhou due to Northen Wei' disorder caused Koguryo to explore a new international order in which Koguryo took the initiative.