근대 동아시아 공간의 중국인 이주—구조적 배경을 중심으로 —

Abstract

Chinese emigration unprecedently increased since mid-19th century was triggered by modern environment newly formed in East Asian region. This article examines the structural background of the Chinese emigration in the modern times, focusing on four factors such as imperialism, modern treaty system, introduction of new type of transportation and communication, and native place and kinship networks. According to the author, the Chinese emigration in modern times was characterized by labor migration. This characteristics derived from the colonialist development strategy used by Western and Japanese imperialism. The treaty system provided the fast-growing emigration with legal basis: The extra-territoriality within the treaty ports was protective device for the illegal and inhumane Chinese coolie traders; Various treaties signed between China, Japan and Korea created favorable conditions for the emigres. Steamship navigation competitively introduced in East Asian waters made possible the massive and rapid transport of emigres who came to pay much more moderate fare than ever. New institution for remittance and delivery of letters, called Xinju, facilitated the possibility of the communication between native place and new settlement of emigres. The networks formed between emigres and their homefolks on the basis of the native place and kinship relations were 'pull factors' and a sort of ‘corridor’ through which people could make decision to emigrate. Author argues that all of the factors mentioned above closely interacted in East Asian region during the modern times and so formed a influential structure facilitating the Chinese emigration in the region.