Muromachi Foreign Policy with Korea: Diplomatic Rapprochement in Premodern East Asia

Abstract

Fifteenth-century East Asia underwent a remarkable metamorphosis instigated by strong leaders such as Emperor Yung-lo (r. 1403–1424) of Ming China, Ashikaga Yoshimitsu (1358–1408) of Muromachi Japan, King Sejong (r. 1418–1450) of Chosŏn Korea and King Shō Shin (r. 1477–1526) of the Ryukyu Kingdom. The most significant consequence of this century was the emergence of diplomacy and ideology in East Asia. This chapter deals with the nature of diplomacy and ideology in the Muromachi period and it is therefore useful to begin with some background information. The establishment of the Ashikaga headquarters in Kyoto in 1378 by Ashikaga Yoshimitsu and the unification of the Northern and Southern Courts in 1392 witnessed the efflorescence of Japan’s premodern Muromachi period. The Muromachi period is generally considered as beginning with the foundation of the bakufu and the promulgation of its legal decree Kemmu shikimoku in 1336 by Ashikaga Takauji and ending when the last shogun Ashikaga Yoshiaki was ousted by a prevailing warlord Oda Nobunaga in 1573. However, Kenneth A. Grossberg argues that the Muromachi age was limited to the years from 1336 to 1490 “when the Ashikaga shoguns actually ruled and their Bakufu was a viable central government.”¹