本文旨在探討神功皇后征三韓傳說的內容、衍化，及近現代日本政府如何利用此一傳說教育民眾，藉此觀察各時代日本人的朝鮮觀。《古事記》和《日本書紀》是最早記載神功皇后傳說的二部書，其中充滿神異。日本學者從二書的編纂、取材、紀年等，提出各種不同的看法，但對皇后的存在，日本學界基本上沒有太多的異論，問題在於是何時的人物。有學者推斷是四世紀後半，但實際上仍未能有肯定的結論。至於皇后征三韓的事蹟，疑點亦甚多。日本學者亦從皇后的諡號、風土記、地方祭儀等各種角度作探討，說法不一。但可以推測，此一傳說大約是朝鮮問題、現實歷史、地方信仰三方面的結合。 元軍征日後，神功皇后的傳說增加更多新內容，對皇后的記載增加更多神秘性。尤其將異國人形容成狀如鬼神，將新羅王視為「犬」。這種蔑視朝鮮的心理，影響後世日本的朝鮮觀。近世日本一些思想家受儒學影響，強調禮的秩序，以致否定皇后的神怪傳說，認為視新羅為「犬」的傳說是附會，並試圖將此一傳說給予合理的、道德的再建構。但此對民眾影響不大，民眾社會經由節慶、戲劇流傳的皇后傳說內容，大致仍沿襲中世的模式。 近現代日本積極對外擴張，朝鮮是其遂行大陸政策的首要目標。日本政府透過歷史教學，將神功皇后征三韓的傳說視為是解釋日韓合併、日韓民族融合的最好教材。戰後，因學界的影響，此傳說被否定，並從學校教育中消失。但就一個民族的歷史傳承而言，神功皇后的各種傳說，似乎不可能這麼容易被忘掉。其真實性，在學界亦必就各學者的立場，而有各種不同的論說。

This article explores the legend of Empress Shenkung’s invasion of the Three Kingdoms of Korea—Hsinlo, Paichi, and Kaojiuli. Analysis is focused on the content and transformations of the legend, how contemporary and modern Japanese governments have adopted it as an educational material to influence the Japanese public, and as a means to observe how Japanese of different eras have viewed Korea. Many questions remain unresolved about the legend of Empress Shenkung’s invasion of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. However, we can safely presume that the legend is rooted in a combination of Korea problems, historical reality, and local beliefs. New materials have been continually been added to the legend since the twelth century. Legend had it that the King of Hsinlo was once regarded by ancient Japanese as a dog. This attitude of contempt had a tremendous effect on the later perspectives of Japanese toward Korea. In modern modern times expansionist Japanese governments consistently targeted Korea as the primary goal of continental policy. The Japanese government tried to justify its annexation and consolidation of Korea through public education and by adoption of the legend of Empress Shenkung into history textbooks. After World War II, the legend was refuted by the academic community and disappeared form formal school education. But the legend of Empress Shenkung’s invasion, rooted as it is in national historical consciousness, cannot easily be relegated to oblivion.

朝鮮觀；神功皇后；三韓

Japanese perspectives on Korea; Empress Shenkung; hree Kingdoms of Korea (Hsinlo; Paichi; and Kaojiuli)