The so called tributes are actually trade in disguise. And a quite unfair one at that (for Ming)

All the tributaries LOVED coming to China, because not only is all the expenses covered, they also get way more gifts in return (you bring a few apples or oranges call it “specialty” but get gold in return)

The rules where Joseon tributes can only come once every 3 years was so that Ming doesn’t go bankrupt. But even then there are records of Joseon emissaries bringing tributes (and getting gold in return) every year. Ryukyu was supposed to come every 2 years but came multiple times a year.

So tributes sounds great but was actually like a charity event. Hence why even countries in Indonesia and Malaysia loved going to China to do “tributes”

I agree there are a lot of Chinese nationalists who wants to claim that everything touched by Sinosphere of influence and confucianism belongs to modern day China which is obviously bs.

However, this still doesn’t change the fact that Joseon dynasty (at least the ruling caste) was very close to the Ming dynasty as they considered themselves to be part of the chinese culture sphere (again, nothing to do with china today). This connection is much to some korean nationalists’ dismay which leads them to change history and portray the Joseon-Ming relationship as some sort of mutual alliance etc.

Examples include Joseon officials strongly opposing Hangul as “only barbarians invent their own language” .

King Seonjo even suggested he would rather “die in the lands of the emperor rather than die at the hands of japanese bandits”

https://sillok.history.go.kr/id/wna_12506013_007

imo korea and japan preserved more Chinese culture than the entire China combined (especially after the communist takeover).

I’m merely stating facts and it has nothing to do with my nationality. I think people need to remember that China today has nothing to do with Ming Dynasty nor Qing. The rise of nationalism in countries such as Vietnam and Korea has lead to a lot of history denying/revisionism, it’s like French denying to be ever part of the Roman Empire because they are salty and don’t want to be associated with Italians. Chinese today to Ming is like Italians to Romans.

All of the points can be verified in Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty, as well as related historic records in Chinese.

Joseon and Vietnam were a bit different. Vietnam has historically been part of the Chinese dynasty through direct rule. Vietnam became initially independent in 938AD, and have defeated Chinese armies at various points later. Due to its location the ruler of Vietnam have always considered themselves to be emperors interiorly, only calling themselves king when communicating with china. Joseon kings have never claimed to be emperor up until the point where they were annexed by Japan. Again, all can be easily verified by looking at the veritable records. Albeit it’s easier for me as most of the records and historic texts in both korea and vietn were written in Chinese characters.

Tldr: I don’t care about reactions from “the international community” as history is fact not bed time stories that can be changed just because someone is unhappy. That is called revisionism.

Nor I am implying Joseon being tributary state /vassal to Ming means Korea today is related to China today. Also, Vassals in sinosphere is completely different to the vassals in medieval history.

It’s probably worth mentioning also, that Joseon was heavily integrated into the Chinese tributary system and considered itself more or less a vassal to the Chinese emperor.

Relevance:

1. The name Joseon was a choice of two names (Joseon and Honin 화령(和寧) )presented by Taejo Yi Seong-gye to the Hongwu emperor of China who chose it (東夷之號, 惟朝鮮之稱美, 且其來遠, 可以本其名而祖之. 體天牧民, 永昌後嗣)

2. The king of Joseon wore clothes similar to the level of Prince in Ming, and the Mianguan the king wears during ceremonies have 9 strands as oppose to 12 strands(emperor). Similarly all of the officials clothing is the same as those of Ming dynasty

3. The Kings of Joseon are not officially king until emissaries from the emperor confirms them to be. This is why Taejo were never officially king but instead “manager of the affairs of Joseon”(朝鲜国权知国事) as the Hongwu Emperor considered him a usurper

4. This is why Wanli emperor decided to help Joseon against the Japanese invasion and why Gwanghaegun was overthrown as he refused to help Ming fight against the Manchus

5. Joseon uses the same era name as Ming emperor and the first two letters of Joseon kings Posthumous name are given by Ming (and Joseon adds a bunch more)