View source for Yang Zai

*''Born: [[1271]]''
*''Died: [[1323]]''
*''Chinese/Japanese'': [[楊]] 載 ''(Yáng Zài / Yô Sai)''

Yáng Zài was a [[Ming dynasty|Ming]] official who in [[1369]] led the second mission to demand [[tribute]] from Japan, and in [[1372]] the first mission to demand tribute from the [[Ryukyu Islands|Ryukyuan]] kingdom of [[Chuzan|Chûzan]].

After arriving in [[Dazaifu]] in 1369 and meeting with [[Prince Kanenaga]], Yáng was imprisoned for three months while five of his men were beheaded. Yáng was eventually permitted to return safely to China, and a new mission, this time led by an official named [[Zhao Zhi|Zhào Zhì]], traveled to Dazaifu and was ultimately successful in convincing Prince Kanenaga to begin sending tribute missions, to quell the ''[[wako|wakô]]'', and to take on the title of [[King of Japan]].

Prior to returning to China, Yáng is believed to have traveled directly from Kyushu to Okinawa, where he may have met with King [[Satto]] of Chûzan, explaining to him the meaning and functioning of tributary relations, and then returning to the imperial capital of [[Nanjing]] via [[Fuzhou]]. Yáng then returned to 1372 to [[Okinawa Island|Ryûkyû]] in a more official capacity in [[1372]], bringing with him official imperial edicts demanding tribute; King Satto quickly agreed and formal tribute and investiture embassies were exchanged between the Ming and Chûzan shortly afterward. Yáng was accompanied on this embassy to Chûzan by two Ming officials, Chéng Fù 程復 and Yè Xīyǐn 葉希尹, who served dual roles as interpreters and guards.<ref>Sakima Toshikatsu 崎間敏勝, ''Shurijô to Sanshin'' 首里城と三絃, Yonabaru, Okinawa: Ryûkyû bunka rekishi kenkyûjo (2009), 163.</ref>

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==References==
*Gregory Smits, ''Maritime Ryukyu'', University of Hawaii Press (2019), 62-65.
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[[Category:Muromachi Period]]
[[Category:Diplomats]]
[[Category:Foreigners]]