Japanese Official Diplomatic Correspondence in the Muromachi Period: Traditional Perceptions and Reality

During the Muromachi era (1333–1573), official contacts with Ming China (1368–1644) and Korean state Choson were restored. In Ming China’ case after a nearly 600-year break, in Korea’s case after a more than 600-year break. Ac­cordingly, it became necessary to draft diplomatic documents. Their writing be­gan to be entrusted to Zen monks from the Gozan monasteries, who were cer­tainly recognized experts and composers of Chinese poetry. Ming China implemented a policy of limiting and strict control over external relations with overseas countries; it was possible to conduct the desired trade with Ming (the most important goal for most neighboring countries) only within the frame­work of “tributary system” – recognizing China as a suzerain, and oneself (and one’s country) as a vassal of China. There were elaborate rituals of recog­nizing such vassalage. Although the vassalage was only nominal, it was a neces­sary prerequisite for trading with the Ming. However, the Japanese elites had their own ideas about Japan’s place in the Far Eastern hierarchy. These percep­tions, along with political instability within Japan, became one of the reasons for Japan’s lagging behind in establishing official contacts with the new Ming dy­nasty. Using the example of the first Japanese collection of diplomatic corre­spondence, Zenrin Kokuhōki (1470), this article examines what perceptions guided the compilers of official messages to the Ming, and what collisions re­sulted from the clash of ideals with reality.