The Reactions to Jiang’s “Official” Letters over Crackdowns on Japanese Piracy

     Hu Zongxian (1512-1565) sent Chen Keyuan and Jiang Zhou to Japan in 1556.  Chen and Jiang first visited the Goto Islands.  There, they were told the Muromachi Shogunate was dysfunctional.  Chen wisely and sensibly returned to China to report, but Jiang went to Bungo Province and stayed there.  Jiang further dared to send his “official” letter to other warlords around the province.  The one sent to So Yoshishige (1532-1589) is kept in the Historiographical Institute, The University of Tokyo.    Who was the So Family?

     Muto Sukeyori (1160-1228) was dispatched as the Vice Director General of the Kyushu Regional Government in Dazai.  As its Director General was an honorary post, he was a practical leader of the regional government.  It is unknown whether he brought So Shigehisa from Musashi Province or hired him in Kyushu.  The Abiru Family was a powerful local family, who virtually ruled Tsushima Islands, and smuggled with Koryo in the Korean Peninsula without the permission from the Kamakura Shogunate.  Sukeyori set his eyes on the profits of the smuggling.  Shigehisa suppressed the Abiru Family and practically ruled Tshushima Province, which was located between the Korean Peninsula and Kyushu.

     As the trade with the Joseon Dynasty was important for the So Family, Yoshishige sent a messenger to King Myeongjong (1534-1567, r. 1545–1567) in March, 1557, according to the Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty.  As the Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty records summary of the letter, the So Family seems to have sent the copy of Jiang Zhou’s “official” letter to the Joseon government, which reasonably doubted Jiang’s legitimacy and neglected it.  Giving the report to Joseon seems to have been the only measures the So Family took.

     Another “official” letter of Jiang was sent to Ouchi Yoshinaga (1532-1557), who ruled Suo and Nagato Provinces, the westernmost provinces in Honshu.  Yoshinaga sent their captives back to China as measures for the letter.  Mori Museum keeps the envelope of Jiang’s “official” letter, which is supposed to be sent to Yoshinaga.

     Another “official” letter of Jiang is recorded in Rekidai Hoan, the Precious Documents of Successive Generations, which is an official compilation of diplomatic documents of the royal government of the Ryukyu Kingdom, which was far to the south of Kyushu Island.  In those days, King Sho Gen (1528–1572) was in reign.

     All in all, Jiang seems to have sent his “official” letters extensively to many warlords in and around Kyushu Island.