Changes

In return for these tribute offerings, Japan received from the Ming Court silver, silks, large amounts of [[currency|copper coins]], and various luxury goods such as porcelains, brocades, and bronzes. Meanwhile, Japanese members of the missions, in their private trade activities, obtained goods such as lacquerware, copper goods, sugar, ceramic wares, books, scrolls of calligraphy, silks, hemp, cotton, and medicines.

In return for these tribute offerings, Japan received from the Ming Court silver, silks, large amounts of [[currency|copper coins]], and various luxury goods such as porcelains, brocades, and bronzes. Meanwhile, Japanese members of the missions, in their private trade activities, obtained goods such as lacquerware, copper goods, sugar, ceramic wares, books, scrolls of calligraphy, silks, hemp, cotton, and medicines.

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]].

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, often double or triple the market value of the goods;<ref>Lloyd Eastman, ''Family, Fields, and Ancestors: Constancy and Change in China's Social and Economic History, 1550-1949'', Oxford University Press (1988), 123.</ref> 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.