Since Sugawara no Michizane's envoy to Tang was abolished, the national culture represented by the development of kana characters has developed in Japan. Perhaps because of this, the central government has taken a reluctant stance toward diplomatic relations and popular names.
At the end of the Heian period, when Taira no Tadamori started trading independently and Taira no Kiyomori promoted trade with Song, it had a great impact on Japan's economy, religion, and culture.
This trade is [ Japan-Song Trade ] Was called.
What is Japan-Song Trade?
The trade that took place with Song in China from the 10th century to the 13th century was described as [ Japan-Song Trade . ] Is called.
Since the abolition of the envoy to Tang China, there has been no formal trade with China, but Song merchants visited Japan and private trade continued. If Song needs sulfur and wood, trade with Japan will increase.
It was Taira no Tadamori who noticed this. You will be able to make a profit by trading with Song.
In the era of Taira no Kiyomori, the Japan-Song trade expanded, and its profits not only became the economic foundation of the Taira administration, but also the monetary economy developed by the import of Song dynasty, which had a great impact on the Japanese economy and culture. ..
Japan-China relations before the Japan-Song trade
With the abolition of the envoy to Tang, diplomacy between Japan and China was cut off.
For more than 200 years, it was the dispatch of the envoy to Tang that brought various things such as Tang culture, institutions, and Buddhism to Japan. Inugami no Mitasuki has been dispatched to the envoys to Sui by the envoys to Tang over 10 times. And Takamuko no Kuroma (Principle of Takamuko) Besides, Kibi no Makibi Have been dispatched.
Sugawara no Michizane abolished the envoy to Tang in 894, but the envoy to Tang was not implemented at the end of 838.
The reason for the abolition is that the number of people who become envoys to Tang has disappeared due to the fact that Tang is losing its political significance due to the decline of Tang, the response of Tang to international students has deteriorated, and accidents during travel occur frequently. It has been.
In addition, during the period of the envoy to Tang, overseas travel was prohibited except for the envoy to Tang, so if the period was long, the navigation technology and shipbuilding technology would deteriorate. It is believed that this led to the frequent occurrence of distress accidents.
After the abolition of the envoy to Tang, tokaisei From yearly system An arrangement was adopted to limit the merchant ships, called, to have a 10-12 year interval between the previous trip and the next visit.
However, in the latter half of the 10th century, the imperial court was a special case Song and Goryeo . While allowing commercial vessels to enter the port, you will also be able to see Japanese vessels stowaway to Song and Goryeo. One of the reasons for the traffic of merchant ships was the strong popularity of Chinese documents and karamono such as ceramics, and karamono was imported as a private trade.
Around this time, national culture Was born, but the life and culture of the aristocrats were greatly influenced by Karamono.
Tang and Song merchants traded by forming a settlement called Tobo in Hakata near Dazaifu, partly because the annual system did not specify the length of stay in Japan.
Transition of Japan-Song trade
Japan-Song trade is the Chinese dynasty [ Northern Song ] To [ Southern Song ] And changed together.
During the Northern Song Dynasty, trade became active due to the export of sulfur from Japan, and during the Southern Song Dynasty, it was expanded by Taira no Kiyomori and became indispensable in medical care.
Japan-Song trade during the Northern Song era
960 The Northern Song, which was established in Japan, set up government offices in various places to manage trade, and traded with Japan, Goryeo, and the South. What is Japan? Dazaifu Korokan However, it did not become active and did not lead to formal diplomacy between Japan and Northern Song.
Japanese travel was banned, but the trade of Song merchants privately coming to Japan continued. Around this time, the export of sulfur from Japan to the Northern Song began.
There are areas on the continent where sulfur can be obtained, but those areas are Liao, Kim, Western Xia, and Dali . Because it was dominated by such countries, there was a situation where we had to rely on imports from Japan. The sulfur trade began in 988 with the donation of 420 kilograms of sulfur to the Northern Song, and it is recorded that Song merchants frequently bought it in the 11th century.
Southern Song Dynasty Trade
1126 When the Southern Song Dynasty was established, the territory controlled by the economy developed economically and the population increased rapidly.
As a result, deforestation progresses and resources are depleted. This will start importing timber from Japan. In the Southern Song Dynasty, plague is spreading [ Chinese medicine ] Will be developed, and this technology and the latest medical care and medicines will be transmitted to Japan, which will trigger the development of Japanese medical care.
Japan-Song trade by Taira no Tadamori
1123 Taira no Tadamori He becomes Echizen Mamoru and learns that the Song dynasty has traveled not only to Hakata but also to Tsuruga, Echizen Province. Taira no Tadamori noticed this trade Japan-Song trade . is.
Taira no Tadamori, who was also a Bizen guardian, was appointed by the inzen of Pope Shirakawa to subdue pirates on the San'indo and Nankaido, and he was responsible for suppressing the pirates who were ruining the Seto Inland Sea.
When Emperor Emeritus's cloister rule began, Taira no Tadamori made a request for Sentai Kannon . It is allowed to ascend to the shrine, which is only recognized by high-ranking officials, by increasing the confidence of Emperor Emeritus Toba.
1133 Forged a document saying that it was the life of Emperor Go-Toba, refused the intervention of Dazaifu, which has jurisdiction over the Japan-Song trade, and stopped the trade. Later, by defeating the pirates who appeared on the Japan-Song trade route in the Seto Inland Sea and securing the route, he developed a private trade with Song and gained the huge wealth and status that would be the basis of Taira's prosperity.
Taira no Kiyomori and Japan-Song Trade
1158 Taira no Kiyomori Is Osamu Dazai When it came to that, he continued to have a deep relationship with the Japan-Song trade, and when he left the house in 1168 based in Fukuhara, he made an effort to improve the Itsukushima Shrine and expand the Japan-Song trade.
1173 Is Japan's first artificial port [ Owada night ] Will be started to be collected, and private property will be invested to complete the difficult construction for two years. This is the origin of the current port of Kobe.
Kiyomori invited the Song dynasty to Hyogo with the intention of eliminating the interference of Dazaifu and increasing profits, but it had a great impact on the development of the Setouchi route and the coast.
In this way, he revitalized the region and led to the strengthening of control in the western country.
Japan-Song Trade Imports and Exports and Their Impact
The most famous item in the Japan-Song trade is the Song dynasty. It is said that the Southern Song was originally loaded on the ship not only for use in Japan but also for the balance of the ship. Imported ceramics and silk fabrics were light, so it was necessary to adjust the weight of the ship with bronze coins to maintain balance.
The imported bronze coins were reused not only as money but also as mining resources. The Great Buddha of Kamakura is a famous one made by crushing bronze coins. It is said that the copper component of the Great Buddha and the component of the Southern Song dynasty match.
Japan's main imports
Southern Song, Ceramics, Fragrances, Chemicals, Books, Tea, Luxury Textiles, Stationery, Cotton
In Japan, there was the same ship called Kochoju, but in the latter half of the 12th century, the distribution of Song dynasty began in earnest. This was an event in which the monetary economy moved forward, but on the other hand, it lowered the value of silk, which had been the standard until now, and put pressure on the imperial court's finances, increasing the feud with the imperial court.
Japanese exports
Gold dust, sulfur, wood, sword, fan, lacquer ware, lacquer ware, pearls, mercury, raden, folding screen
Demand for sulfur increased sharply in the Southern Song Dynasty at that time due to the invention of gunpowder, but the current situation was that sulfur could not be obtained very much in the Song Dynasty. Therefore, imports from Japanification were extremely valuable.
Furthermore, as the population grows, the shortage of timber becomes more serious, and a large amount of timber is exported.
Gold was carried by the route connecting Hiraizumi and Kyoto to gold dust produced in Oshu, and entered Song. This story was passed on to Marco Polo in the era of decline [ The Travels of Marco Polo ] It became an article.
Japan-Song trade since the Kamakura period
Even after the establishment of the Kamakura Shogunate, what was imported from Song was said to be Karamono and was prized, and a large amount of imported Song dynasty was still circulated as the basic currency of Japan. It has been excavated.
In addition, many Buddhist monks and paintings came to Japan during the exchange with Song, and brought about new Buddhism, scholarship, and art. The traffic of Toku monks was active, and many monks were invited to Zen Buddhism and built Zen Buddhist temples in Kamakura and Kyoto. The Confucian Confucianism (Cheng-Zhu School), which was developed by them in the Song dynasty, was also brought to Japan and was actively studied at Zen Buddhist temples.