NANBAN TÇUZU’S CONTRIBUTION TO JAPANESE─PORTUGUESE COMMERCE : ON RODRIGUES’ ROLE AS IEYASU’S COMMERCIAL AGENT南蠻通辭於日葡貿易中的貢獻 —— 傳教士陸若漢成為德川家康貿易代理人始末考
The article analyzes the contribution of “Nanban Tçuzu” (通辭) to Luso-Japanese trade in the late sixteenth century, focusing on the role of the Jesuit missionary João Rodrigues as a commercial agent for shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu. It argues that religious mediation functioned, simultaneously, as a diplom...
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| Published in: | Review of Culture |
|---|---|
| Main Author: | |
| Format: | Articles |
| Published: |
Instituto Cultural de Macau
October 2011
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.icm.gov.mo/rc/viewer/pdfViewerParts/40040/3116 |
| _version_ | 1877196270403059712 |
|---|---|
| author | Chen Xizi and Liu Xiaoshan |
| author_autocomplete | Chen Xizi and Liu Xiaoshan |
| author_browse | Chen Xizi and Liu Xiaoshan |
| author_facet | Chen Xizi and Liu Xiaoshan Chen Xizi and Liu Xiaoshan |
| author_sort | Chen Xizi and Liu Xiaoshan |
| container_title | Review of Culture |
| container_title_str | Review of Culture |
| container_volume | 40 |
| container_volume_str | 40 |
| description | The article analyzes the contribution of “Nanban Tçuzu” (通辭) to Luso-Japanese trade in the late sixteenth century, focusing on the role of the Jesuit missionary João Rodrigues as a commercial agent for shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu. It argues that religious mediation functioned, simultaneously, as a diplomatic-economic infrastructure: the permanence and status of missionaries in Japan were tolerated and “regularized” not only for ideological reasons, but above all for the commercial utility linked to the resumption and continuity of Portuguese navigation to Macau.
Methodologically, the authors articulate historiographical evidence centered on episodes from 1593–1598—including direct encounters between Rodrigues and Ieyasu, inquiries about the return of the “nao” to Macau, and the management of political fears following damage to Jesuit properties in Nagasaki—with analysis of the dynamics among Japanese authorities, local daimyos, port administration, and mercantile expeditions. Among the findings, it is noteworthy that Rodrigues acted as translator and advisor in contacts with foreign delegations, facilitating the flow of information and access to decision-making networks; moreover, he was tasked with garnering the “favour” of lords and officials, linking the Christian cause to the needs for armaments, silk, and port taxation. It is concluded that “通辭” must be understood as an instrument of commercial governance and intercultural negotiation, in which Rodrigues played a decisive role. |
| first_indexed | 2026-09-11T02:56:57Z |
| format | Articles |
| genre | Articles |
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| hierarchy_browse | Review of Culture{{{_ID_}}}zotero-coll-76L3BRGH |
| hierarchy_parent_id | zotero-coll-76L3BRGH |
| hierarchy_parent_title | Review of Culture |
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| hierarchy_top_title | News |
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| issn | 1682-1106 |
| last_indexed | 2026-09-11T02:56:57Z |
| latest_content_date | 2026-09-11T02:56:57Z |
| publishDate | October 2011 |
| publishDateRange | 2011 |
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| publishPlace | Macau |
| publisher | Instituto Cultural de Macau |
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| spelling | NANBAN TÇUZU’S CONTRIBUTION TO JAPANESE─PORTUGUESE COMMERCE : ON RODRIGUES’ ROLE AS IEYASU’S COMMERCIAL AGENT南蠻通辭於日葡貿易中的貢獻 —— 傳教士陸若漢成為德川家康貿易代理人始末考 The article analyzes the contribution of “Nanban Tçuzu” (通辭) to Luso-Japanese trade in the late sixteenth century, focusing on the role of the Jesuit missionary João Rodrigues as a commercial agent for shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu. It argues that religious mediation functioned, simultaneously, as a diplomatic-economic infrastructure: the permanence and status of missionaries in Japan were tolerated and “regularized” not only for ideological reasons, but above all for the commercial utility linked to the resumption and continuity of Portuguese navigation to Macau. Methodologically, the authors articulate historiographical evidence centered on episodes from 1593–1598—including direct encounters between Rodrigues and Ieyasu, inquiries about the return of the “nao” to Macau, and the management of political fears following damage to Jesuit properties in Nagasaki—with analysis of the dynamics among Japanese authorities, local daimyos, port administration, and mercantile expeditions. Among the findings, it is noteworthy that Rodrigues acted as translator and advisor in contacts with foreign delegations, facilitating the flow of information and access to decision-making networks; moreover, he was tasked with garnering the “favour” of lords and officials, linking the Christian cause to the needs for armaments, silk, and port taxation. It is concluded that “通辭” must be understood as an instrument of commercial governance and intercultural negotiation, in which Rodrigues played a decisive role. Instituto Cultural de Macau Macau Review of Culture Articles October 2011 Chen Xizi and Liu Xiaoshan |
| spellingShingle | NANBAN TÇUZU’S CONTRIBUTION TO JAPANESE─PORTUGUESE COMMERCE : ON RODRIGUES’ ROLE AS IEYASU’S COMMERCIAL AGENT南蠻通辭於日葡貿易中的貢獻 —— 傳教士陸若漢成為德川家康貿易代理人始末考 Chen Xizi and Liu Xiaoshan |
| title | NANBAN TÇUZU’S CONTRIBUTION TO JAPANESE─PORTUGUESE COMMERCE : ON RODRIGUES’ ROLE AS IEYASU’S COMMERCIAL AGENT南蠻通辭於日葡貿易中的貢獻 —— 傳教士陸若漢成為德川家康貿易代理人始末考 |
| title_autocomplete | NANBAN TÇUZU’S CONTRIBUTION TO JAPANESE─PORTUGUESE COMMERCE : ON RODRIGUES’ ROLE AS IEYASU’S COMMERCIAL AGENT南蠻通辭於日葡貿易中的貢獻 —— 傳教士陸若漢成為德川家康貿易代理人始末考 |
| title_full | NANBAN TÇUZU’S CONTRIBUTION TO JAPANESE─PORTUGUESE COMMERCE : ON RODRIGUES’ ROLE AS IEYASU’S COMMERCIAL AGENT南蠻通辭於日葡貿易中的貢獻 —— 傳教士陸若漢成為德川家康貿易代理人始末考 |
| title_fullStr | NANBAN TÇUZU’S CONTRIBUTION TO JAPANESE─PORTUGUESE COMMERCE : ON RODRIGUES’ ROLE AS IEYASU’S COMMERCIAL AGENT南蠻通辭於日葡貿易中的貢獻 —— 傳教士陸若漢成為德川家康貿易代理人始末考 |
| title_full_unstemmed | NANBAN TÇUZU’S CONTRIBUTION TO JAPANESE─PORTUGUESE COMMERCE : ON RODRIGUES’ ROLE AS IEYASU’S COMMERCIAL AGENT南蠻通辭於日葡貿易中的貢獻 —— 傳教士陸若漢成為德川家康貿易代理人始末考 |
| title_short | NANBAN TÇUZU’S CONTRIBUTION TO JAPANESE─PORTUGUESE COMMERCE : ON RODRIGUES’ ROLE AS IEYASU’S COMMERCIAL AGENT南蠻通辭於日葡貿易中的貢獻 —— 傳教士陸若漢成為德川家康貿易代理人始末考 |
| title_sort | nanban tçuzu’s contribution to japanese─portuguese commerce : on rodrigues’ role as ieyasu’s commercial agent南蠻通辭於日葡貿易中的貢獻 —— 傳教士陸若漢成為德川家康貿易代理人始末考 |
| url | https://www.icm.gov.mo/rc/viewer/pdfViewerParts/40040/3116 |
| zotero_collection_key | 76L3BRGH |