Kusuba Sainin - Kusuba Sainin

Japanese: 楠葉西忍 - くすば・さいにん

Year of death: 14th February 18th of Bunmei (1486.3.19)
Year of birth: 1395
A merchant in the Muromachi period. Born to Hijiri, a Tenjiku native who came to Japan during the time of Ashikaga Yoshimitsu and received a stipend from him, and the daughter of Kawachi Kusaba. His childhood name was Musuru, and his secular name was Tenji. He incurred the wrath of Ashikaga Yoshimochi, and was entrusted to the Isshiki clan along with his father. After his father's death, he was pardoned, and the family headship was passed on to his younger brother, the Minister of Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, and he lived in Tatsuno, Heguri County, Yamato Province (Nara Prefecture), where he was ordained by Daijoin Kyokaku and took the name Sainin. He formed a relationship with Daijoin as a local samurai group known as the Tatsunoshu, and served as a priest. He boarded ships sent to Ming China twice, in 1432 (Eikyou 4) and 1453 (Kyoutoku 2). On the second trip, he was selected as an official on the joint ship between Tonomine and Hasedera, and accompanied them to Beijing to trade. Daijoin Jinson recorded Sainin's experiences on this voyage in his "Tang Ship Diary." The diary is detailed and based on personal experiences, making it a valuable historical document on Japan-Ming relations. A merchant who was active in cooperation with temples. <References> Takeo Tanaka, "Research on the History of Overseas Negotiations in the Middle Ages"

(Shuichi Seki)

Source: Asahi Japanese Historical Biography: Asahi Shimbun Publications Inc. About Asahi Japanese Historical Biography

Japanese:

没年：文明18.2.14(1486.3.19)
生年：応永2(1395)
室町時代の商人。足利義満のときに来日,その扶持を受けた天竺人ヒジリと河内楠葉の娘との間に生まれる。幼名ムスル。俗名天次。足利義持の怒りにあい,父と共に一色氏に預けられる。父の死後許され,家督は弟民部卿入道に譲り,大和国(奈良県)平群郡立野に居住し,大乗院経覚により得度,西忍と名乗る。立野衆と呼ばれる在地武士団として大乗院との関係を結び,坊官として奉公する。永享4(1432)年と享徳2(1453)年の2度,遣明船に乗船。第2回のときには,多武峯,長谷寺共同船の外官に抜擢され,北京まで同行し貿易に当たった。西忍のこの渡航体験を,大乗院尋尊が『唐船日記』として記している。同日記は体験に基づくだけに詳細で日明関係の貴重な史料である。寺院と結んで活躍した貿易商人。<参考文献>田中健夫『中世海外交渉史の研究』

(関周一)

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