As a famous foreign policy in the Edo period [ Sakoku ] Is generally known.
Isn't it the image that you lived a life of withdrawal from the world, avoiding exchanges with other countries except China and the Netherlands?
However, recent research has questioned this view.
Foreign policy of the Edo Shogunate
In the early Edo period, we traded with foreign countries through the Shuinsen trade, but we restricted trade in 1641 due to concerns about the collapse of the trading system and the increase in Christians.
This is the familiar [ Sakoku 】is.
Due to this policy, only the Netherlands and China can trade, and the contact point is only Nagasaki. However, in recent years, the contact points have also been Matsumae Domain, Tsushima Domain, Satsuma Domain . It is said that there were four, including the trade of.
Four windows for trade in isolated countries (four)
Recently, [ four mouths ] Is called.
Nagasakiguchi ⇒ Trade under the control of the Shogunate was carried out between the Netherlands and China against the Qing dynasty.
Tsushimaguchi ⇒ Mr. Lee At the window of Korea, Mr. Sou of the Tsushima feudal clan has been the middle reliever of trade. Even in the Edo period, the Tsushima feudal clan continued to be granted that authority and played a role in relaying the shogunate's diplomacy with Korea.
Satsumaguchi ⇒ Trade through Ryukyu was recognized because the Satsuma Domain captured and ruled the Ryukyu Kingdom at the window of the Ryukyu Kingdom.
Ezoguchi ⇒ At the window to the Ainu, Mr. Matsumae of the Matsumae clan engaged in northern trade in Ezo, and his authority continued to be granted even in the Edo period, and most of the income of the Matsumae clan was supported by northern trade.
Time passed, and at the end of the Tokugawa shogunate, ships from various countries came to Japan via China. Then, with the arrival of Perry, the Edo Shogunate lifted trade restrictions one after another.
Background of the foreign policy of the Edo Shogunate
The era of the Shuinsen trade
The early Edo period was the time when the Shuinsen trade was most active.
The Edo period had a strong image of isolation, but in the early days it was a global era in which many Japanese actively crossed the sea to trade with Southeast Asian countries.
In the first place, a shogunate ship is a trading ship with a red seal, which is a permit for overseas travel, and was active from the Muromachi period to the early Edo period. The main destinations of the Shuinsen were the current Southeast Asia such as the Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia and Indonesia.
There are towns in various parts of Southeast Asia where Japanese people who help trade have settled, and it can be said that there was global economic activity at least until the early Edo period.
The era of Hosho-sen trade
From around this time, the issuance of red seals will gradually be accepted only by specific daimyo and influential merchants. Therefore, it is natural that some daimyo and shogunate vassals in each region trade without permission without a red seal.
In 1628, an incident occurred in which a Shuinjo was burned by the Spanish fleet and robbed of the Shuinjo. It is forbidden to carry it, and those who travel abroad will be required to carry a memorial service for the elderly and have the Nagasaki magistrate issue a travel permit in Nagasaki.
In this way, the carrying of the Hosho is completely obligatory, and the Shuinsen system will disappear.
A trading ship carrying such a hosho is called a hosho-sen.
Increase in Christianity
Apart from the collapse of the Shuinsen system, the increase in Christians in the country became a cause for concern for the Shogunate.
Christianity has spread around western Japan since it was introduced by Francis Xavier in 1549. However, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who thought that the teaching was not suitable for Japanese rule, issued a law [Bateren Edict] in 1587 that expelled missionaries.
This policy of cracking down on Christians will be inherited by the Edo Shogunate.
In 1613, a ban was issued nationwide, banning Christian beliefs.
In 1637, the Shimabara Rebellion broke out, and the crackdown on Christians became more intense, and measures such as fumi-e, shūmon aratame, and the terauke system were taken. In this way, many Christians abandon Christianity.
Prohibition of overseas travel and restrictions on foreign ships' arrival
As mentioned above, in the early Edo period, we encountered two problems:the collapse of the Shuinsen trade system and the increase in Christians. In response to this, the Edo Shogunate will prohibit overseas travel other than the Hosho-sen and the return of persons who have lived abroad for more than 5 years in 1633.
Furthermore, in 1635, all Japanese were banned from traveling abroad and returning to Japan.
This is a overseas travel ban Severe penalties were stipulated, such as the death penalty for those who returned home without permission. In this way, the Japanese no longer go abroad, and trade with foreign countries is now carried out through foreign ships arriving in Japan.
On the other hand, Japanese people who lived in Japantowns in Southeast Asian countries will not be able to return home and will be abandoned as they are.
In 1639, the arrival of Portuguese ships was banned, and the only European trading ship was the Dutch ship. In 1641, the Dutch Trading Post in Hirado was relocated to Dejima.
As a result, the overseas trade system of the Edo period [ isolation policy ] Has been established.
Comparison with the Haijin policy of Ming and Qing
Japan's overseas trade system, which was said to be isolated after 1641, is a policy that prohibits overseas travel and trade in the era of the Ming and Qing continents. Haijin policy May be compared with.
1371 to crack down on Wokou in the Ming dynasty From Haijin Policy Was carried out, trade with neighboring countries was limited to tribute only, and the arrival of private merchant ships was prohibited. However, due to the failure to crack down on smuggling and the activation of Wokou's activities, 1567 Haijin was lifted.
In the Qing dynasty, Great Clearance was used to control the forces of Southern Ming and Taiwan. Is issued, and a policy to relocate coastal residents to the inland is implemented, but once the power of Taiwan is settled, this policy will be relaxed.
Then 1757 Has a sea ban policy to limit the trading port to one port in Guangzhou.
This regime continued until the 1842 Treaty of Nanking was signed after the Opium War.
Foreign policy at the end of the Edo period
The situation after 1757 is that Japan has limited its trading port with the Netherlands and China to Nagasaki, and that the system will collapse due to the arrival of Perry.
In the latter half of the Edo period, foreign ships often appear in the waters near Japan.
Therefore, the Shogunate is Edict to Repel Foreign Ships And decided to drive away all foreign ships, and ordered arrest and shooting if a foreigner landed in Japan.
1842 When China lost to Britain in the Opium War, the situation changed completely, and the shogunate felt a sense of crisis. However, when a foreign ship arrives, we will hand over the fuel and have it returned. Firewood water supply order Changed to.
After that, when Perry arrived in Uraga via China, 1854 Convention of Kanagawa Opened two ports, Shimoda and Hakodate, 1858 Japan-US Treaty of Amity and Commerce In addition to Shimoda and Hakodate, Kanagawa, Nagasaki, Niigata, Hyogo Will be opened.
After that, we will conclude similar treaties with other foreign countries.
Thus 1641 Overseas trade system that has continued since [ Sakoku ] Has come to an end.