Roots of Industry

Official Japanese porcelain trade was recorded by the Duch East India Company starting from 1650, although it was 25 years or earlier when Japan made porcelains of their own, and, no doubt, it has its origin in China.

For a long period, the porcelain industry of China was tightly protected by Chinese emperors. The trade goods like spices, silk, tea, porcelain. etc. was carried by Persians and Arabs to the west both by road and by water. Starting in the early 16th Century, Portuguese explorers reached to China by sea. They pushed through the tight trade gate of China.

The Ming court had a strict policy banning the private foreign trade at the time, but Portuguese eventually established a trade post in Macao (1557). Spanish found their route before too long by seizing Philippines (1565), and Dutch came later to cut in their trade market (1610).

On the other hand, the increase in European trade also invited economical changes, corruption of Ming officials, and uprise of rebels in China. These events, like a stone falling in water, caused a ripple effect. It eventually weakened the emperor’s power and led to the final fall of the Ming Dynasty in 1644. The chaotic but vibrant trade lasted until Qing court finally opened the foreign trade in 1684．

Across the sea, Japan had a long relationship with China possibly from ancient times. By the 8th century, a whole Chinese culture was transferred to the islands of Japan including social structure, language, fashion and Buddhism. After a long time of relatively peaceful relationship, Japan was awakened by the surprise attacks by Mongol China in 1274 and 1281. During this period, Japan’s military force was enforced and created strong warriors and warlords in the country. Later it led to split the country for civil war.

When Portuguese seamen drifted to Japanese shore in 1543, it was in the middle of this warring period. Many warlords welcomed Portuguese and then Spanish coming to offer the foreign trades, especially for firearms. They flourished their trade with Europeans, but it was under the condition of allowing them to spread Christianity in Japan. Some war lords, including Nobunaga welcomed them to their courts. Many samurai worriers turned to Christian faith, openly or secretly.

During the transition (1618-1683) from Ming Dynasty to Qing Dynasty, Matsura Clan who owned Hirado sea port was known to be close ally to Ming refugee, Koxinga. He seized Taiwan from Dutch in 1661 and conducted trade to fund his Ming Navy. (Taiwan was previously occupied by Dutch since 1624.) A good chance that he carried Japanese porcelains in his ships for trade.

Hirado was a port close to the area where many kilns were built around that time. This area was called Hizen, which included HIrado Matsura territory, Saga Nabeshima territory and Oomura territory. Hizen was also known to be a hotbed of harboring Christians that time. Some of them were potters who produced porcelains to contribute to Portuguese trade. Their kiln sites were in the secluded mountain area and that was an ideal place to hide.

The civil war period, when the local war lords ruled their territories freely, eventually came to an end. The unified power of Japan was established first by Hideyoshi, then by Tokugawa Ieyasu.

Sakoku, a regulated foreign policy, was enforced by Tokugawa shoguns over the years in the early to mid-17th Century. They removed foreigners except Chinese and Dutch from any seaports of Japan.

The seaport of Hirado once crowded with Portuguese, Spanish, English and other foreigners with bustling economy was shut down. The port of Nagasaki became an exclusive trade station in 1636. Nagasaki was previously resided by Jesuit missionaries until they were removed by Hideyoshi’s order in 1588. The trade post of Dejima, Nagasaki was contained tightly by Tokugawa until close to the end of Edo period (1859).

Although Spanish and other Europeans were removed from the Japanese islands, it did not stop them from trading Japanese products all together. They continued trading goods on the islands of the South-East Asia from Chinese merchants. The foreign trade continued all through Edo Period, some legal, and some illegal.

In conclusion, the early period of Japanese porcelain industry, around 1616-1638 was possibly created under Jesuit supervision, handled by Portuguese ships to the oversea markets. Their production was small and limited. Unfortunately, Portuguese never left any trace of historical evidence, possibly under their oath to Catholic faith during the years of severe prosecutions in Japan.