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.

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. The shogunate (and the Japanese merchants) may have wished to maximize the amount of trade, but China placed regulations on the number of ships, and how often they could visit. For a certain span in the latter half of this period of trade, Japanese vessels were officially limited to coming to China once every ten years, with no more than three ships, and no more than 300 men per ship. In practice, 150-200 of the men on each ship were merchants, with the crew comprising the remainder.

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 shogunate (and the Japanese merchants) may have wished to maximize the amount of trade, but China placed regulations on the number of ships, and how often they could visit. For a certain span in the latter half of this period of trade, Japanese vessels were officially limited to coming to China once every ten years, with no more than three ships, and no more than 300 men per ship. In practice, 150-200 of the men on each ship were merchants, with the crew comprising the remainder.

Originally, tally trade ships typically departed Japan from [[Hyogo|Hyôgo-no-tsu]] (modern-day [[Kobe]]). Rather than building new ships specifically for the tally trade, the shogunate commissioned ships from [[Inland Sea]] merchants, and hired captains, helmsmen, and sailors from among that same group. A typical pattern was for the ships to depart from Hyôgo, pick up various goods at various Inland Sea ports, make their way to [[Hakata]] where they would formally assemble as a fleet, and then reassemble at [[Hirado]] or the [[Goto Islands|Gotô Islands]] to wait for favorable winds to make the sea crossing. The crossing was typically made in spring, though sometimes autumn winds were employed; the ships made landfall near [[Ningbo]]. While the crews were set up with lodging at the Zhejiang ''shibosi'' (port office), their ships, cargoes, and documents were inspected. In the early portion of this period of tally trade, the chief envoy would then journey to Beijing, along with much of the gifts/goods, and samples of some of the larger bulk goods, such as sappanwood, copper, and pepper, which would then be sent along in their full amounts shortly afterwards. In the 15th century, those who traveled onward to Beijing were generally limited to around 300-350 people, but in the early 16th century, this was further reduced, and only about 50 people were permitted to enter the capital.

Originally, tally trade ships typically departed Japan from [[Hyogo|Hyôgo-no-tsu]] (modern-day [[Kobe]]). Rather than building new ships specifically for the tally trade, the shogunate commissioned ships from [[Inland Sea]] merchants, and hired captains, helmsmen, and sailors from among that same group. A typical pattern was for the ships to depart from Hyôgo, pick up various goods at various Inland Sea ports, make their way to [[Hakata]] where they would formally assemble as a fleet, and then reassemble at [[Hirado]] or the [[Goto Islands|Gotô Islands]] to wait for favorable winds to make the sea crossing. The crossing was typically made in spring, though sometimes autumn winds were employed; the ships made landfall near [[Ningbo]]. While the crews were set up with lodging at the Zhejiang ''shibosi'' (port office), their ships, cargoes, and documents were inspected. In the early portion of this period of tally trade, the chief envoy would then journey to Beijing, along with much of the gifts/goods, and samples of some of the larger bulk goods, such as sappanwood, copper, and pepper, which would then be sent along in their full amounts shortly afterwards. In the 15th century, those who traveled onward to Beijing were generally limited to around 300-350 people, but in the early 16th century, this was further reduced, and only about 50 people were permitted to enter the capital. In later times, these goods would not be sent to Beijing, but instead the more nearby [[Nanjing]].

In later times, these goods would not be sent to Beijing, but instead the more nearby [[Nanjing]].

In the capital, following a series of official and ceremonial exchanges, the envoys would sell their official tribute/trade goods at prices set by the Chinese Court; the various members of the mission could then engage in private trade, both in Beijing, and on the way back south. Private trade was also performed in Ningbo, but only with certain authorized traders. When the mission was complete, the Japanese would depart from Ningbo, and make their way back to Hyôgo-no-tsu. When conflict between the [[Ouchi clan|Ôuchi]] and [[Hosokawa clan]]s made the normal route via Hakata and [[Shimonoseki]] too dangerous, ships would instead make their way around the west coast of Kyushu, and then into the Island Sea by coming up the west coast of Shikoku, eventually making port not at Hyôgo, but at [[Sakai]].

The system finally came to an end in [[1551]]. The Ming Court had been demanding for some years that "Japan" ([[Ouchi clan|Ôuchi]] imposter envoys dominated contact with China, so it was the Ôuchi and not the shogunate the Ming Court was actually in communication with) turn over the offenders in the [[1523]] [[Ningpo Incident]] (an incident in which Ôuchi and [[Hosokawa clan]] ships clashed in Ningpo harbor), and turn in all the tallies, but to no avail. Diplomatic discussion between the Ming Court, and the Ôuchi (pretending to represent the shogunate) then came to loggerheads for a time, until in 1551, [[Sue Harukata]] rose up against his lord and took control of the Ôuchi clan, marking the end of official relations between Ming China and Muromachi Japan.

The system finally came to an end in [[1551]]. The Ming Court had been demanding for some years that "Japan" ([[Ouchi clan|Ôuchi]] imposter envoys dominated contact with China, so it was the Ôuchi and not the shogunate the Ming Court was actually in communication with) turn over the offenders in the [[1523]] [[Ningpo Incident]] (an incident in which Ôuchi and [[Hosokawa clan]] ships clashed in Ningpo harbor), and turn in all the tallies, but to no avail. Diplomatic discussion between the Ming Court, and the Ôuchi (pretending to represent the shogunate) then came to loggerheads for a time, until in 1551, [[Sue Harukata]] rose up against his lord and took control of the Ôuchi clan, marking the end of official relations between Ming China and Muromachi Japan.

==References==

==References==

*Hashimoto Yû. "The Information Strategy of Imposter Envoys from Northern Kyushu to Choson Korea in the Fifteenth and Sixteenth Centuries." in Angela Schottenhammer (ed.) ''The East Asian Mediterranean: Maritime Crossroads of Culture, Commerce and Human Migration''. Harrassowitz Verlag, 2008. pp289-315.  

*Hashimoto Yû. "The Information Strategy of Imposter Envoys from Northern Kyushu to Choson Korea in the Fifteenth and Sixteenth Centuries." in Angela Schottenhammer (ed.) ''The East Asian Mediterranean: Maritime Crossroads of Culture, Commerce and Human Migration''. Harrassowitz Verlag, 2008. pp289-315.  

*Tanaka Takeo, "Japan's Relations with Overseas Countries," in [[John Whitney Hall]] and Toyoda Takeshi (eds.) ''Japan in the Muromachi Age'', Cornell University East Asia Program (2001), 159-178.

*Tanaka Takeo, "Japan's Relations with Overseas Countries," in [[John Whitney Hall]] and Toyoda Takeshi (eds.) ''Japan in the Muromachi Age'', Cornell University East Asia Program (2001), 159-178.

[[Category:Economics]]

[[Category:Economics]]

[[Category:Muromachi Period]]

[[Category:Muromachi Period]]