Changes

The issue of terminology is thus quite central to discussion of the ''wakô''. The question arises as to why Chinese and Korean authorities, and the official records they produced, employed the term when, arguably, in many cases, that being described was either not Japanese, or not a band of pirates. Yet, as with many historical terms, the issue is complicated by the fact that officials, historically, had no intention, and made no conscious effort, to employ the term in a consistent manner. Rather, the term was often used, or avoided, for explicit political purposes - such as to attack or protect certain parties or interests; its usage also varied from individual to individual, from case to case, and from time to time.<ref name=so209>So. p209.</ref>

The issue of terminology is thus quite central to discussion of the ''wakô''. The question arises as to why Chinese and Korean authorities, and the official records they produced, employed the term when, arguably, in many cases, that being described was either not Japanese, or not a band of pirates. Yet, as with many historical terms, the issue is complicated by the fact that officials, historically, had no intention, and made no conscious effort, to employ the term in a consistent manner. Rather, the term was often used, or avoided, for explicit political purposes - such as to attack or protect certain parties or interests; its usage also varied from individual to individual, from case to case, and from time to time.<ref name=so209>So. p209.</ref>

Nevertheless, in aggregate, an image emerges of Chinese and Korean use of the term ''wakô'', or "Japanese pirates," to refer not only to Japanese raiders, brigands and the like, but also to raiders and brigands of a number of other ethnicities (mainly Chinese), to smugglers and traders less involved in violent or predatory activity, and to the formal samurai invasion forces of [[Toyotomi Hideyoshi]].

Nevertheless, in aggregate, an image emerges of Chinese and Korean use of the term ''wakô'', or "Japanese pirates," to refer not only to Japanese raiders, brigands and the like, but also to raiders and brigands of a number of other ethnicities (mainly Chinese), to smugglers and traders less involved in violent or predatory activity, and to the formal samurai invasion forces of [[Toyotomi Hideyoshi]]. The 17th century Official History of the Ming (''[[Ming shi]]''), among other primary sources, links the ''wakô'' to Japanese foreign relations policy, implying if not stating outright that the ''wakô'' were agents of the central Japanese authorities, and conflating pirate raids and the like with Hideyoshi's formal invasion forces. These sources also make little or no distinction between those who committed violent acts of piracy and coastal raids, and those who simply engaged in maritime trade in violation of Ming law. These conflations and distortions are reflected in much later scholarship, and in modern-day textbooks as well.

 

==Early Wakô==

==Early Wakô==