← Explore on the interactive map

Wakō Pirate Activity (1430s)

Type Event Region Asia Time 1431–1440

In the 1430s, wakō backed by Kyushu and coastal Japanese forces continued raiding the Ming southeast coast and Korean waters, mixing Japanese samurai…

Timeline

  1. 1431–1435Kyushu · KyushuKyushu ports became assembly points for wakō vessels; local samurai and merchants engaged in smuggling and raiding under cover of the sea ban, while the shogunate had limited control over coastal forces.
  2. 1436–1440Ming southeast coast · Southeast coastWakō fleets attacked Ming coastal towns and merchant ships; the Ming court strengthened coastal defense and enforcement of the sea ban, but exhausted local guards could not fully halt the raiding.

Sources