Changes

*''Chinese'': 汪直 or 王直 (traditional characters)

*''Chinese'': 汪直 or 王直 (traditional characters)

Wang Zhi was a Chinese merchant and smuggler of the early-to-mid 16th century. From a base in Kyushu, he and his mixed Chinese and Japanese crew engaged in illicit trade, mostly importing Chinese silks into Japan in exchange for Japanese silver. As his activities were in violation of the Chinese ''[[hai jin]]'' bans, he was labeled ''[[wako|wakô]]'' by the Chinese authorities.

Wang Zhi was a Chinese merchant and smuggler of the early-to-mid 16th century. Originally from [[Anhui province]], he came to Japan for the first time in the 1540s. He and his thousand or so men, a mixed Chinese and Japanese crew, based at [[Hirado]] and enjoying the aid of the [[Matsuura clan]] lord, engaged in illicit trade, mostly importing Chinese silks into Japan in exchange for Japanese silver. As his activities were in violation of the Chinese ''[[hai jin]]'' bans, he was labeled ''[[wako|wakô]]'' by the Chinese authorities.

Wang is also said to have served as a translator aboard the Portuguese ship (possibly a Chinese junk carrying Portuguese crew and/or passengers) which famously brought the first Western firearms to Japan, at [[Tanegashima]] in [[1543]].

Wang is also said to have served as a translator aboard the Portuguese ship (possibly a Chinese junk carrying Portuguese crew and/or passengers) which famously brought the first Western firearms to Japan, at [[Tanegashima]] in [[1543]].

==References==

==References==

*Arano Yasunori. "The Formation of a Japanocentric World Order." ''International Journal of Asian Studies'' 2:2 (2005). pp185-216.

*Arano Yasunori. "The Formation of a Japanocentric World Order." ''International Journal of Asian Studies'' 2:2 (2005). pp185-216.

[[Category:Sengoku Period]]

[[Category:Sengoku Period]]