Toyotomi Hideyoshi from a farmer Is Oda Nobunaga Unifying the world in a way that succeeds, Daijo-daijin Kampaku The achievements that have gone up to are commendable in history.
However, in contrast to the spectacular achievements, Hideyoshi's Korean troop dispatch in his later years The role of Bunroku and Keicho Then, since the purpose of dispatching troops has not been clarified historically, various speculations such as providing a battlefield for Hideyoshi's gorgeous and samurai are considered.
World situation around the latter half of the 16th century
The world situation at that time was Spain and Portugal in 1947. Is Tordesillas Treaty A line along the meridian (46 degrees 37 minutes west longitude) over the Senegalese waters of West Africa. The eastern part of the territory was Portugal, and the western part was Spanish territory.
Taking this opportunity, the two countries will begin to expand their territory by gaining hegemony over the world.
To Japan, 1549 To Portugal Is Jesuit Francis-Kosavier By Christian mission Beginning with Franciscans , Spanish Dominican Order Is confused, and there is UK / Netherlands Was involved.
The missionaries at that time used not only missionary activities but also the daimyo and their vassals who became believers as their own troops, the purpose was to eventually colonize . was.
A typical example is 1521 . The Spanish fleet led by Magellan invades the Philippines and begins colonization 1561 . Has been colonized. Also, 1571 Manila built as a base for the invasion of Asia it was done.
In this way, the two countries have been competing for trade rights throughout the Age of Discovery, but the decline of Portugal gradually began 1580 . Temporarily annexed with Spain it was done.
Spain's next target, annexing Portugal, is Ming and Japan's East Asian expansion was.
It was Toyotomi Hideyoshi who caught this movement in Spain in advance. So, Japanese also had the opportunity to go to Manila due to trade with foreign countries, and I heard that Spain and Portugal were doing in Southeast Asia.
It seems that the Jesuits have materials to support this, and the Jesuit Variani at that time was addressed to the Philippine Associate Mayor Raimund Prado.
Kings and lords such as Japan are all deeply suspicious of the Filipino Spaniards. Because they are conquerors, they have seized Peru, conquered the Philippines in recent years, are conquering the regions near Beauty, and want to conquer China and Japan. He also had a battleship two years ago to attack Cambodia. Both the Japanese and the Chinese have seen and heard all the Spanish ways of doing them.
I am sending a letter with the content.
Hideyoshi learned of this information in 1587 . Bateren Edict * I tried to put an end to the brainwashing of Japanese people by Christianity.
* It seems that there was another purpose, but I wrote it in this article.
Prohibition of missionary deportation and missionary work ・ Prohibition of Christian beliefs of daimyo ( However, general samurai and ordinary people are free to proceed) Spain / Portuguese people are allowed to enter and leave the country for trade. )
I issued an order like that.
But the missionaries were also merchants As a result, I was able to stay in Japan and continued my missionary activities, so this law was watered down.
Korean troop dispatch
Then 1592 Hideyoshi begins to send troops to Korea to conquer the Ming dynasty.
Kamakura period For Japan, which has experienced the Mongol invasion, it was absolutely necessary to avoid Mongolia changing to Spain and the Ming and Korean Allied Forces invading Japan against the backdrop of Spain's military power.
There was such a background, but of course it would be a lie to say that Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who became the ruler of Japan, had no territorial desire for Ming dynasty rule.
Isn't it just the event of two birds with one stone that the Korean troops were able to create a cause to protect Japan from the progress of Spain and satisfy their desire for control at the same time?
Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Spain's speculation
Japan at that time was 1543 From the introduction of guns to the end of the 16th century, mass production of guns was successful, and by this time it was the largest gun-owning country in the world.
Missionaries have reported to their home countries that Japan's military power, which had survived the Warring States period, would be inconvenient for Spain in land warfare.
1585 In addition, the Jesuit Japan Deputy Mayor has requested the Philippine Deputy Mayor to dispatch troops to Japan. It is written to support Christian daimyos and threaten non-submissive daimyos.
He seemed to have planned to convert Japanese daimyo to Christianity and use his military power to conquer Ming dynasty.
However, at the same time, Hideyoshi He said at a meeting with the Japanese quasi-district president that he was about to take control of Japan and then began to conquer the Ming dynasty and the Korean Peninsula.
After conquering the Ming dynasty, he said he would allow Korea and the Ming dynasty to be stationed in Spain and allow Christian missions. In other words, take the plans of the quasi-ward presidents in the wrong direction , On the contrary, use the power of Spain to submit to Ming and Korea I tried to make it.
In the end, this negotiation will never come true, and Japan will send troops to Korea alone.
Evaluation of Japan after sending troops to Korea
After that, as you all know, Hideyoshi will withdraw from the Korean Peninsula due to his death.
In history textbooks, etc., local distress and exhaustion caused by Korean troops are considered to be one of the causes of the collapse of the Toyotomi administration, but Hideyoshi's Korean troops are summarized in this way on the Ming and Korean sides. ..
Seven years after Hideyoshi started sending troops to Korea, he lost 100,000 soldiers in Ming and wasted a million troops, but Ming and Korea had no chance of winning, and Kampaku died. It's over.
It is written as.
In general, historical materials often do not describe things that are inconvenient for their own country, but here the Ming-Chongryon Allied Forces were defeated and Hideyoshi happened to die, so the war ended .> It is very big that Ming dynasty also admits it as a fact.
Spain, on the other hand, 1588 Pitched Battle of Armada The invincible fleet that we are proud of is England-Netherlands It was defeated by the army and lost almost half of the warships, making it impossible to invade East Asia.
As mentioned above, it can be seen that Hideyoshi's dispatch of Korean troops was not a battle caused by the invasion of Korea or self-interest, but a battle to protect Japan. Because of this background, Ieyasu Tokugawa took over the world after that. Is 1612 Christian ban Sakoku system Didn't you go?