The Song Dynasty limited trade to countries which represented a military threat to their regime. However, when a country did not impinge upon Song’s safety, then that country was permitted to trade. In the case of Khitan(遼), which the Song regarde...
The Song Dynasty limited trade to countries which represented a military threat to their regime. However, when a country did not impinge upon Song’s safety, then that country was permitted to trade. In the case of Khitan(遼), which the Song regarded as a hostile country, land trade(?場交易) monitored by authorities was permitted, but marine trade(海上交易) was forbidden.
After the invasion of Khitan, Goryeo broke off relations with Song, and was forced to align with Khitan. Consequently Song regarded Goryeo as under the control of a hostile country, Khitan. As such, Goryeo could not dispatch its own marine merchants to Song.
During the King Renzong’s (仁宗) reign, the Song Dynasty had intentions to align with Goryeo to restore its diplomatic power. As such, Renzong of Song suggested that if Goryeo aligned with Song, it could trade with Song. After Shenzong(神宗) of Song ascended the throne, he suggested this issue to Goryeo again, and following Goryeo eventual acceptance, the alliance was formalized.
Since Munjong of Goryeo allied with the Song, the activities of Goryeo merchants had been identified as of particular interest. Due to the participation of Goryeo merchants, sea trade in East Asia was no longer exclusively composed of Song merchants, which triggered increases in multilateral trade. Meanwhile Goryeo merchants continued to come and go to official ports in Southern China except during the outbreak of war in China itself.