Conclusion: Revering the Zhou, Longing for the Ming, and Sino-Chosŏn Relations in the Qing Dynasty

The concept of Revering the Zhou originated in China’s Spring and Autumn period when feudal lords enhanced their own prestige and authority by revering the Zhou court. The core of this concept was to uphold orthodoxy. This ideal of Revering the Zhou and longing for the Ming permeated the entire Chosŏn dynasty. The people of Chosŏn declared, “The Ming is to us as the Zhou was to the state of Lu,” meaning that the Ming dynasty’s relationship with Chosŏn was analogous to the Zhou dynasty’s relationship with the state of Lu. Historically, it was said that the complete Rites of Zhou was preserved only in Lu. After the fall of the Ming, Chosŏn believed that Chinese orthodoxy, as represented by the Ming, should rightfully be inherited by them. This demonstrates that the essence of Chosŏn’s advocacy for Revering the Zhou and longing for the Ming was to strengthen its connection to the Ming, thereby establishing its own legitimacy and, in turn, denying the Qing dynasty’s claim as the successor to Chinese orthodoxy.