When we think about relationship between Japan and Korea, it can be said that the invasion of Korea by Japan has created a gap between the two countries.

 

One of the major invasions was led by Hideyoshi Toyotomi who was in control of the bunroku keicho era. The invasion started from 1592 for a year and then started again from 1597 until the death of Hideyoshi in 1598. However, Ieyasu and Shountaishi brought peace between the two countries afterwards by returning the abductees to Korea.

 

Shountaishi is very important to Japan. Shountaishi was born in Miryan city Korea in 1544 and died in 1610. Soon after the death of Hideyoshi, Ieyasu had reined Japan. At that time, tens of thousands of abductees were still in Japan.

 

The person who was appointed to negotiate for the return of abductees was Shountaishi.

 

When Shountaishi met Ieyasu in Fushimi castle Kyoto, he had a great impression toward Ieyasu due to his peaceful manners and his sophisticated mind. This diplomacy opportunity, which realized the quote by Hakuseki Arai’s「文をもって武に報いる」”Overcome war with culture” became the foundation of the “Joseon envoy and his retinue” which took place over 12 times in Edo period.

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