Song Hui-gyeong (Korean: 송희경; Hanja: 宋希璟; 1376–1446) was a Korean scholar-official of the Joseon period in the 15th century. He also served as a diplomat and ambassador, representing Joseon interests in the Hoeryesa (reciprocal diplomatic mission) to the Ashikaga shogunate in Japan.
Life and Career
Song Hui-gyeong was born in 1376 in Korea and died in 1446. He served as a civil official during the early Joseon dynasty.
1419–1420 Mission to Japan
King Sejong dispatched a diplomatic mission to Japan in 1419–1420. This embassy to the court of Ashikaga Yoshimasa in Kamakura was led by Song Hui-gyeong. Its purpose was to respond to a message sent to the Joseon court by the Japanese shogun. While the Japanese hosts may have construed this mission as tending to confirm a Japanocentric world order, Song Hui-gyeong's actions were more narrowly focused on negotiating protocols for Joseon-Japan diplomatic relations.
Travel Sketches (Saehaengrok / Ilbonhaengrok)
Song Hui-gyeong is also known for his travel sketches (saehaengrok), which describe his travels to Japan as a hoeryesa (reciprocal envoy) in 1420 (the 2nd year of King Sejong's reign). The contents can be divided into journals and poetry, and Song expressed his thoughts more through poems than through journals. The poetic works include 227 poems, among them quatrains and other forms. The work is currently housed in the Korea University Library.
Romanization
| Form | Script |
|---|---|
| Hangul | 송희경 |
| Hanja | 宋希璟 |
| Revised Romanization | Song Huigyeong |
| McCune–Reischauer | Song Hŭigyŏng |
