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Beginning of Ashikaga–Ming kangō trade
In 1401 Ashikaga shogun Yoshimitsu sent envoys to Ming China, and the Yongle Emperor responded and granted kangō tallies, formally opening the regula…
Timeline
- 1401Kyoto · KinkiMuromachi shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu dispatched a mission of monks and lay envoys to the Ming dynasty, expressing goodwill and requesting the restoration of official trade channels, laying the foundation for the subsequent kangō system.
- 1401Nanjing · JiangsuThe Yongle Emperor received the Japanese envoys, granted kangō tally documents, and allowed tally-bearing ships to conduct tribute trade at designated ports. Official trade operated on a 'tribute–recompense' basis, with Japan exporting sulfur and swords and importing Ming-minted copper coins, silk, and books.
Sources
- Japan's Imperial Diplomacy: Consuls, Treaty Ports, and War in Meiji-era Japan — Michael R. Auslin (2004)
- 明实录·太宗实录