[New Book] The Paradox of Sadae, Made by Joseon

[Financial News] Wang Sixiang, a professor at UCLA in the United States, offers a fresh reading of the relationship between Joseon and the Ming dynasty in a new book, The Paradox of Sadae, Made by Joseon. It traces the diplomatic strategies Joseon pursued to safeguard its security and status within “sadae,” the practice of serving a great power. The original edition received the James Palais academic award from the Association for Asian Studies last year.
Drawing on the annals of Joseon and the Ming dynasty, diplomatic letters, poetry collections and reports by envoys, the book examines how language and ritual were used. It shows how procedures for receiving envoys and the exchange of poems became ways to convey Joseon’s demands and negotiate its status.
The author argues that Joseon participated in the Ming-centered order and helped shape its norms. By portraying the Ming as a moral empire, Joseon persuaded it to respect Joseon’s political autonomy. The author proposes understanding sadae in light of the conditions and choices of the time.
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