A recording medium having an ink receiving layer comprising a porous pigment and a binder, wherein the ink receiving layer contains at least one benzotriazole compound represented by formula (I): wherein R represents hydrogen atom or an alkyl group; X represents a hydrogen atom, a sodium atom, a potassium atom or a primary, secondary or tertiary amino group. Also disclosed is an aqueous ink composition containing a compound of formula (I) and an ink jet recording method using the recording medium or the aqueous ink composition.