Historical Studies (Chinese Edition)

No.1, 2019

 

The Development of the Image of Ming Commander Yuan Jin as a Captive and the Dealings of China, Japan and Korea(Abstract)

 

Liu Xiaodong and Nian Xu

 

In the second year of the Jiajing era, the Japanese daimyo Hosokawa and Ouchi each sent tribute missions to the Ming court. When they arrived at Ningbo in Zhejiang, they started a brawl over the authenticity of their tally trade certificates in which Ming military soldiers and civilians were hurt, in what is known as the Ningbo Tribute Incident. The Jiajing Emperor’s handling of the incident was clearly inconsistent, which aligns with the “secret dealings” of the Ming commander Yuan Jin, who had “gone over to the enemy.” This story was more damaging to Ming authority and the stability of the East Asian regional order than his being taken captive, so it became an important issue in dealings between the countries of East Asia. After this event the Ming court showed a tougher attitude, but the tribute trade with Japan continued, while the Japanese side also actively sought ways to eliminate misunderstandings. Korea’s deliberate avoidance of the “secret dealings” involved in the incident prevented the situation from blowing out further. In the contentions and compromises of all the interested parties, the story of “going over to the enemy” lost currency, giving way to the image of Yuan Jin as a captive; this became a mainstream account shared by all these countries. Self-interest ensured that all parties, whether intentionally or unconsciously, chose to repair and maintain the traditional East Asian regional order, in an expression of the ethical relationships and historical rationality involved in serving big countries and pacifying little countries.