Japanese Silver Attracted Foreign Smugglers (2)

     According to Zheng Shungong, many Fujian people were sailing to Japan as early as in 1534, hearing from Japanese priests that they could gain massive profits from trading with silver.

     Even Annals of the Joseon Dynasty’s entry dated June the 25th in 1544 recorded the fact that Fujian people were sailing to Japan to trade silver.

     In Japan, a Chinese private trading ship, that is, a smuggling ship, was recorded to have reached Suo Province in 1539.  Later, some others got to Jingu-ji Bay in Bungo Province, Hirado in Hizen Province, Tane-ga-shima Island in Osumi Province, Akune in Satsuma Province, Amakusa in Higo Province, Saiki Bay in Bungo Province, and as far as Ise in Ise Province.  Silver obviously attracted Chinese smugglers.