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How did the Yongle emperor’s relations with Japan change after 1411?
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Yongle
The Yongle emperor, detail of a portrait; in the National Palace Museum, Taipei.
After 1411, relations between the Yongle emperor and Japan deteriorated significantly as the Japanese government became less submissive following a change in the shogunate.1
Key developments in this shift included:
- Cessation of Tribute: Despite inquiries from the Yongle emperor, no further tribute missions arrived from Japan after 1411.1
- Resurgence of Piracy: Japanese raiders resumed their activities along the Chinese coast.1
- Failed Diplomacy: The Yongle emperor threatened a punitive expedition against Japan if they did not reform their behavior. However, in 1419, the Japanese shogunate brusquely denied responsibility for the piratical activities and refused to resume the previous tributary relationship.1
Ultimately, the emperor was too preoccupied with other military and political matters to take further action against Japan.1