A look at how an ancient clan forged ties with Korean dynasty

[yuuteya]

A look at how an ancient clan forged ties with Korean dynasty

10/27/2005

SHUNSUKE NAKAMURA

In feudal Japan, the So clan virtually monopolized trade and diplomacy with the Korean Peninsula for hundreds of years.

Historians had long suspected the clan, based in Tsushima, modern-day Nagasaki Prefecture, was capable of deviousness. It turns out their suspicions were correct.

The So clan emerged as a major player in trade and diplomacy during the Kamakura Period (1185-1333), and it continued to wield tremendous influence until the end of the Edo Period (1603-1867).

Tsushima island, strategically located midway between Kyushu and the Korean Peninsula, provided the So clan with a springboard to stabilize trade and political ties between the two countries.

Historians had been puzzled at the family's ability to maintain its grip over so many centuries. Acting as self-appointed diplomatic intermediary between the shogunate and Korea, the clan went as far as to tamper with official documents, sometimes forging those papers, when it suited its purposes.

There is no doubt the So clan profited from increased trade.

Historians felt vindicated after researchers from the Kyushu National Museum and Keio University in Tokyo discovered proof that forgery formed an integral part of the So clan's operations.

The team uncovered a diplomatic document in its original state at the Tokyo National Museum that was issued by the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910).

It is the first time a document from this period, in its pre-tampered form, has come to light.

Yu Hashimoto, a researcher at the Kyushu National Museum, commented: "The find is extremely valuable as it sheds light on Japan's delicate diplomatic relationship at the time.

"Also, it demonstrates how the hardy, machiavellian Tsushima clan managed to flourish, in a balancing act, as a negotiator between Japan and Korea."

The clan prospered because Tsushima was one of the main gateways into Japan for trade at that time. Imports from Korea included expensive ginseng.

The Tsushima daimyo took it upon itself to conduct negotiations on behalf of the shogun to re-establish peace and restore bilateral relations following warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi's failed invasions in 1592-93 and 1597-98.

The clan also rolled out the red carpet for lavish goodwill missions dispatched by the Joseon Dynasty during the Edo Period.

In the meantime, the So family often sent private envoys to Korea ostensibly on behalf of the shogun himself.

It was believed that the clan did away with such subterfuge around the mid-17th century.

Fast-forward to the present day: The Kyushu National Museum research team discovered the tampering by examining a diplomatic document uncovered at the Tokyo National Museum in 2003 that was dated 1624 and sent by the Joseon Dynasty to offer congratulations on the accession of Tokugawa Iemitsu as new shogun during the Edo Period.

After comparing it with other shogunate documents from the period, researchers found five places where the words, characters and prints of the official seal did not match.

Especially intriguing was a segment where the following phrase appears: "As a way to offer our thanks for sending over a mission last year ... ."

Whereas the original refers to "an official congratulatory mission sent from the (shogunate) government" the same part in the shogunate document has been rewritten, and simply reads "a Tsushima clan mission."

Further, there is no historical evidence to suggest the shogunate dispatched an envoy to Korea the previous year.

The research team theorized that the Joseon Dynasty was led to believe it was receiving an official mission from Japan-when in actuality it was a private Tsushima mission, traveling under the shogunate name.

Diplomatic correspondence from the Joseon Dynasty the following year included words of thanks for the mission.

The So clan, worried that its bluff of traveling under false pretenses and calling itself a government mission would come to light, changed the wording on the document from Korea to "a Tsushima mission." At the same time, according to the research team, there are tell-tale signs that the So family also intended to impress the shogunate in Edo, present-day Tokyo, by stressing its crucial standing as a go-between.

Upon close examination, the team found that the "official" seal appended to the shogunate document has only four characters-and is in fact, not the official Joseon Dynasty seal.

However, the newly discovered document has the full six letters, the official seal used by the dynasty, demonstrating that it is indeed an "original" document that has not been retouched.

Kazui Tashiro, professor at Keio University who specializes in Japan-Korea ties, said: "I am surprised by the discovery of a valuable piece of original document that was actually considered nonexistent.

"It is crucial evidence that proves there was actual forgery, and falsification of documents carried out by the Tsushima clan.

"It is indeed a first-class piece of historical evidence that will open doors for researchers to construct a vivid picture of Japan's Korean diplomacy at the time," she said.(IHT/Asahi: October 27,2005)