These embassies had to be stopped at the end of the 9th century, when the power of the Tang emperors became very weak and China was plunged in a frightful state of wars. They were not renewed when the Sui dynasty began to reign, but Japanese priests still continued to visit China, and commerce was even more active than before. The Japanese authorities encouraged the coming of Chinese vessels by opening new ports in the interior, and confer ring special honors upon Chinese merchants.
When the Mongol-Tartars overthrew the Sung emperors, and the new dynasty of Yuen began to reign, the great emperor, Kublai Khan, conceived the idea of annexing Japan, and sent in 1268 an envoy demanding immedi ate submission. This and other embassies were sent back without any reply. The Khan, en raged at this slight, sent a fleet of 450 vessels against the island empire. In 1274 the fleet proceeded to the western coast of Kyushu, after ravaging the islands of Tsushima and Bd. The Japanese army made a stout defense and kept the enemy from landing for more than a month, when a violent storm destroyed many of the invading vessels and the remnant sailed away secretly by night. This disaster only helped to enrage the Khan still more, and when his envoys were put to death in 1279 by the order of Hojo-Tokimune, he fitted out a large fleet of 4,000 vessels with 100,000 soldiers and 10,000 Korean contingents. All this time Japan was not idle. The western coast of Kiushu was strongly fortified, and soldiers flocked there from all parts of Japan to defend their country. The immense fleet came in 1281 and began to attack the forts at once. The Japanese suf fered very much from the enemy's guns, but they were able to prevent the landing of the enemy for more than two months. The num ber, however, might have finally told, when for the second time the elements came to Japan's help. On the 16th of August, 1281, a typhoon attacked the coast and shattered the whole fleet of the Mongols; a few thousand sur vivors took refuge on the small island of Taka shima, but were either killed or taken prisoners. It is said that out of the whole army only three were able'to escape alive. Such was the end of the grand fleet of the mighty Khan. Japan might well be proud of her stout resistance, and rejoice over her miraculous deliverance.
After this defeat Yuen emperors relin quished forever the conquest of Japan. and even became friendly. Commercial relations were re-established and in the middle of the 14th century we find semi-official Japanese vessels going annually to China— the so-called Tenryuji vessels, the proceeds of whose commerce were to be used for the benefit of the temple.
At the end of the 14th century, Choo-Yuen Chang, the founder of the Ming dynasty, after expelling the Mongol invaders, sent an em bassy to demand that Japan acknowledge China's sovereignty, but the Japanese govern ment angrily refused to do so. The Chinese emperor, however, thought better of it, and made it a policy of his house never to attempt the conquest of the islands. In the 15th century the Ashikaga shoguns sent frequent embassies to the court of the Ming sovereigns, and com merce was very flourishing. Hakata, Hyogo
and Sakai were the chief ports of foreign trade. The most important articles of import were textile 'fabrics, dye-stuffs and drugs. Cop er coins were brought in large quantities, as Japan did not yet coin her own money.
During the troublesome times which fol lowed the decline of the power of the Yuen dynasty many lost their livings in China and turned pirates. Many Japanese adventurers joined the bands of pirates and plundered the coast towns of China. Their junks were known as aBaharr* vessels and were held in fear all along the coast. The government was incapable of suppressing them. To exercise closer super vision over the pirates, the Ming government sent passports to be given by the Japanese gov ernment to merchants going to China. Japan's relations with China continued in this state till the time of Hideyoshi.
At the end of the 16th century Hideyoshi, having brought into subjection all the princes of Japan, and put an end to internal disturb ances, conceived the idea of conquering foreign countries. This was a skilful stroke of policy on his part as the newly subjugated princes would forget their own dissatisfaction in the glory of the nation. From his unprecedented successes he also seems to have come to believe in his mission of grand conquests. In 1590 he sent an envoy to Korea to demand her to recognize Japan's suzerainty and also to tell China to do the same. As Korea refused to do either he made immediate preparations to invade the peninsula. In April 1592 a land force of 130,000 soldiers and a fleet manned with 9,000 sailors left from Kyushu. The army landed at Fusan, and was everywhere victori ous. The capital was taken, the king fled and two young princes of the royal blood were taken prisoners. Two Chinese armies sent in succor were defeated one after another. These signal defeats induced•China to sue for peace. After some negotiations seven articles of peace were agreed upon, and a truce was con cluded, the greater part of the Japanese army withdrawing from Korea. In these articles Hideyoshi demanded among other things the cession of one-half of Korea, and as pledges for peace in future, the marriage of a Chinese princess with a Japanese prince of the imperial blood, as also the giving in hostage of the Korean Prince Royal. The Chinese em peror did not ratify these terms, but thought Hideyoshi could be appeased by making him king of Japan. When in 1596 an envoy came to japan with the imperial patent to that effect, and its purport was made known to Hideyoshi, the latter became so enraged as to throw the document on the ground and summarily dismiss the envoy. Renewal of the war was at once declared and in February of the following year the Japanese forces again left for Korea. The second campaign was not very successful at the outset. The 'Japanese suffered great losses from the combined Chinese and Korean armies. When to gain advantages and assert their superiority over the enemy the death of Hideyoshi (13 Sept. 1598) led to the recall of the army.