沈惟敬“东行”与明日朝交涉——以万历二十一年的《沈惟敬书帖》为线索

Shen Weijing's Trip Eastward and Diplomatic Activities between Ming China,Japan and Korea:Analysis of a Letter from Shen Weijing

《沈惟敬书帖》是一份珍贵的域外汉籍文书史料。其文虽短,但却涵盖着相当准确而丰富的历史信息。以该书帖为线索,通过对其文本的分析以及所涉史事的考证,可以近乎完整地还原明朝与朝鲜、日本在万历二十一、二年间的一次重要交涉活动。明使沈惟敬在这次交涉活动中“东行”远赴釜山向日方索要丰臣秀吉降表,途中以此帖向朝方索求好马、通事、陪臣,但收效甚微。沈惟敬拿到丰臣秀吉降表后,朝方又向明朝力主“假表”之说。降表曾经被一度留置于辽阳,最后因为明朝重开对日交涉而被传送入京,对明朝最终做出册封丰臣秀吉决议产生了一定的影响。

Shen Weijing Shutie(A Letter from Shen Weijing)is a valuable historical extra-territorial Chinese document.This document,although only one hundred and eight words,covers fairly accurate and rich historical information.With this document as a clue,through the analysis of its content and the examination of the historical facts involved,it is possible to restore a more complete picture of a series of diplomatic activities between Ming China,Korea and Japan in 1593 and 1594.During the two years,the Ming emissary Shen Weijing travelled east to Pusan to demand Japan a surrender letter from Toyotomi Hideyoshi.In Seoul,Shen Weijing used this letter to ask the Koreans for good horses,two interpreters and a minister in charge of reception,but the results were not satisfactory.After Shen Weijing got Toyotomi Hideyoshi's surrender letter,the Koreans claimed that it was a fake one.Although the surrender letter from Toyotomi Hideyoshi was very important in the diplomacy of the three countries,the movement of Japanese troops in Korea still had a substantial impact on the overall situation in the East Asian world.The surrender letter was left in Liaoyang for a time as a result.When the Ming Dynasty resumed diplomacy with Japan,it was consequently sent to Beijing,where it had some influence on the Ming's eventual decision to enthrone Toyotomi Hideyoshi as Japan's King.