Changes

New sets of tallies were issued by some Ming Emperors, but not all, in conjunction with their ascension to the throne; over the course of the period of Ming-Ashikaga relations, this occurred six times, at the ascensions of the [[Yongle Emperor|Yongle]], [[Xuande Emperor|Xuande]], [[Jingtai Emperor|Jingtai]], [[Chenghua Emperor|Chenghua]], [[Hongzhi Emperor|Hongzhi]] and [[Zhengde Emperor]]s. Each time, one hundred tallies were prepared, and numbered sequentially. Japanese ships arriving in China were expected to carry a number of the forms, arranged sequentially beginning with one; each of these borne by the Japanese side would bear the character ''hon'' 本, of ''Nihon'' 日本. Upon arriving at [[Zhejiang]] and [[Beijing]], the tallies would be checked against the port officials' registers, and the cargoes and inventory lists checked as well, along with various other figures such as the number of ships and number of crew members, to make sure these were in line with proper tributary protocol.

New sets of tallies were issued by some Ming Emperors, but not all, in conjunction with their ascension to the throne; over the course of the period of Ming-Ashikaga relations, this occurred six times, at the ascensions of the [[Yongle Emperor|Yongle]], [[Xuande Emperor|Xuande]], [[Jingtai Emperor|Jingtai]], [[Chenghua Emperor|Chenghua]], [[Hongzhi Emperor|Hongzhi]] and [[Zhengde Emperor]]s. Each time, one hundred tallies were prepared, and numbered sequentially. Japanese ships arriving in China were expected to carry a number of the forms, arranged sequentially beginning with one; each of these borne by the Japanese side would bear the character ''hon'' 本, of ''Nihon'' 日本. Upon arriving at [[Zhejiang]] and [[Beijing]], the tallies would be checked against the port officials' registers, and the cargoes and inventory lists checked as well, along with various other figures such as the number of ships and number of crew members, to make sure these were in line with proper tributary protocol.

Tally trade relations between the Ming Dynasty and Ashikaga shogunate began in the wake of the end of the [[Nanboku-cho|Nanboku-chô period]], when the shogunate (with the backing of just one, recognized, Imperial Court) became more able to claim authority as the sole legitimate power in Japan. Shogun [[Ashikaga Yoshimitsu]] had previously tried to establish relations with the Ming, sending envoys in [[1374]] and [[1380]], but was rebuffed both times. Following the fall of the [[Southern Court]] in [[1392]], however, Yoshimitsu sent a new mission in [[1401]], and was able to secure a positive response. For the next several years, Japanese and Ming envoys traveled together back and forth between the two countries roughly once a year. Yoshimitsu received formal [[investiture]] as "King of Japan" in [[1402]] or [[1403]].

Tally trade relations between the Ming Dynasty and Ashikaga shogunate began in the wake of the end of the [[Nanboku-cho|Nanboku-chô period]], when the shogunate (with the backing of just one, recognized, Imperial Court) became more able to claim authority as the sole legitimate power in Japan. Shogun [[Ashikaga Yoshimitsu]] had previously tried to establish relations with the Ming, sending envoys in [[1374]] and [[1380]], but was rebuffed both times. Following the fall of the [[Southern Court]] in [[1392]], however, Yoshimitsu sent a new mission in [[1401]], and was able to secure a positive response. For the next several years, Japanese and Ming envoys traveled together back and forth between the two countries roughly once a year. Yoshimitsu received formal [[investiture]] as "King of Japan" in [[1403]].

The first tally ship was sent from Japan in [[1404]], and the last in [[1547]]. Over the course of that period, a total of 84 Japanese trading vessels visited China on formal tally trade journeys, spread out across seventeen individual trips.<ref>These took place in 1404, 1405, 1406-1407, 1408 (two missions that year), 1410, 1432-1433, 1434-1435, 1451-1453, 1465-1468, 1476-1477, 1483-1484, 1493-1495, 1506-1511, 1523, 1520-1523, 1538-1540, and 1547-1549. Where a span of years are given, the mission departs in the former year, and arrives in China in the latter year.</ref>

The first tally ship was sent from Japan in [[1404]], and the last in [[1547]]. Over the course of that period, a total of 84 Japanese trading vessels visited China on formal tally trade journeys, spread out across seventeen individual trips.<ref>These took place in 1404, 1405, 1406-1407, 1408 (two missions that year), 1410, 1432-1433, 1434-1435, 1451-1453, 1465-1468, 1476-1477, 1483-1484, 1493-1495, 1506-1511, 1523, 1520-1523, 1538-1540, and 1547-1549. Where a span of years are given, the mission departs in the former year, and arrives in China in the latter year.</ref>