Japan-Song Trade

Timeline

1. 1038Hakata · KyushuNorthern Song ships sailed the East China Sea route to Hakata in Kyushu, where Song merchants traded in Tōbō (the Song residents' quarter). Imports were mainly silk, porcelain, spices, and books; Hakata became one of Japan's busiest ports for foreign trade.
2. 1038–1039Kyoto · KinkiThe Japanese court managed Song trade through the Dazaifu, collecting transaction taxes and controlling luxury imports. Missions and merchant ships brought not only goods but also Buddhist texts and Song learning, profoundly shaping mid-to-late Heian culture.