7 - Resuming Tribute Relations and the Aftermath of the Religio-commercial Network, 1368–1403

Summary

The Ashikaga military government’s enormous interest in Sino-Japanese trade and the founding of the new Ming dynasty on the continent in 1368 led to the restoration of tribute relations. When the Ashikaga bakufu ignored domestic critics and accepted an inferior position as a tributary to the Ming court, it did so to regain the opportunity to trade with China. Formal tribute trade resumed for the first time since Ennin’s day. However, the nearly six centuries preceding had left their mark: religion maintained its important position in official trade. Monks frequently traveled on trade missions and assumed the position of ambassador or vice ambassador. And the Ashikaga bakufu was not the only participant nor the only beneficiary in the resumed tribute trade: prestigious monasteries had their own ships in the tribute delegations.