본 논문은 老松堂宋希璟의 생애와 그의 使行詩를 다루었다. 그는 回禮使로 일본을 使行하면서 일본 사회의 생활과 풍속, 문화 등 여러 모습을 詩로 표현하였으며, 주로 객관적 묘사를 통한 사실 전달에 치중하여 보다 진솔하고 현실적인 느낌을 갖게 하는 등 후대의 일본 기행문과는 또 다른 면모를 보였다. 宋希璟은 使行중 일왕의 부당한 요구와 회유에도 交隣의 道를 강조하고 절의를 굽히지 않는 등 강직한 성품을 보였다. 일본인 高僧을 비롯하여 그가 교유했던 지인들과 나눈많은 詩작품, 그리고 일본 견문을 기록한 使行詩에서도 진솔한 인간적 모습을 보여주고 있다. 宋希璟의 使行詩는 그의 소박한 성품처럼 꾸밈과 화려함이 없는 간결하고 淡淡한 표현으로 그 여운이 깊다. 특히 儒者로서의 편견을 露呈하지 않고, 있는 그대로의 현실을 사실감 있게 표현하고 있는 점에서 그의 使行詩가 갖는 의미는 더욱 크다 할 수 있다.
This a paper has been considered about Nosongdang, Song Hui-gyeong (1376-1446)’s life and Envoy poetry. 『Ilbonhaengrok』, there were also records of reporting schedule to the ex-king, King Taejong on the next day. Through this record of visit to Japan as an envoy, we can see the rising gentries` recognition of Japan and all the circumstance related to such visits directly after establishment of the Chosun. 『Ilbonhaengrok』 have on envoy poetry. Song Hui-gyeong’s visit to Japan as an envoy was made under an anxious and critical situation. There was fear of ‘political retaliation’ because it was the next year of an expedition to the Daemado and there were also anxious elements such as the ‘rough and difficult sea’ and ‘pirates’. However, in expressing his experience of visit to Japan in poems, he showed an attitude to ‘record all things he could contact by means of his ears and eyes without thinking of vulgarness’. While visiting to Japan on relations with neighboring countries. he found a strange quirk Japanese society and suggested countermeasures thereof, but he didn’t despise Japan. he recognized Japanese as an existence having same ‘disposition’ as the Chosun people. Because of such reasons, he tried to keep an objective view as the 3rd party of Japanese society and customs being different from Chosun’s. his poetry is characterized by abundant use of sensuous literature flavor.