展开

the arrival of black people in japan in 1819, and the story of the unknown ship

作者：林家纶

不要放词用不到可以当备用标签本周官方发布最新研究成果

05万字| 连载| 2026-05-29 07:11:52 更新

The history of Japan's interaction with the outside world is filled with fascinating episodes of encounter and exchange. While the "Black Ships" of Commodore Perry in 1853 are a well-known historical watershed, a lesser-known but equally intriguing event occurred decades earlier, in 1819. This event involved a foreign ship and Black individuals arriving on Japanese shores, leaving a brief yet significant mark during the isolationist Edo period under the Tokugawa shogunate. This incident is primarily recorded in Japanese historical documents such as the "Tsuko Ichiran." In the summer of 1819, during the Bunka era, an unidentified foreign ship drifted to the coast of Hitachi Province (present-day Ibaraki Prefecture). The ship was in a state of disrepair, and its crew was in dire straits. What drew particular attention from the local Japanese officials and villagers was the presence of several Black individuals among the crew. For a Japan that had been largely secluded under the sakoku policy for nearly two centuries, the arrival of any foreigner was a major event, and the appearance of Black people was even more startling and beyond the common experience. According to records, the ship is believed to have been a whaler or merchant vessel from a Western nation. At the time, the whaling industry was thriving, and ships often sailed the world's oceans. It is speculated that this vessel might have encountered a storm in the Pacific, lost its course, and eventually drifted to the Japanese coast. Among the multi-ethnic crew, the Black individuals were likely sailors or laborers. For the local Japanese fishermen and officials who came into contact with them, it was their first direct encounter with people of African descent. Japanese documents described their physical characteristics with curiosity, noting their dark skin and distinct features, which were recorded as novel observations. The arrival of the ship immediately triggered Japan's strict foreign response protocols. Local magistrates quickly reported the incident to the shogunate in Edo. Following the standard procedures of the sakoku policy, Japanese officials provided necessary humanitarian aid, such as food and water, to the shipwrecked crew to ensure their survival. However, the fundamental principle remained unchanged: foreign ships and personnel were not allowed to stay. After making repairs and replenishing supplies, the crew and their ship were escorted out of Japanese waters and ordered to leave. Throughout this process, the Black crew members, like their other companions, were treated under this unified policy framework. There is no detailed record of specific interactions, but it can be imagined that this encounter, though brief, undoubtedly left a deep impression on both sides. This event of 1819, though a small episode in the grand sweep of history, holds multiple layers of significance. Firstly, it serves as concrete evidence that even during the height of the sakoku period, Japan was not completely isolated from the world. Drifting ships, whether from the Netherlands, China, or other regions, periodically appeared, reminding Japan of the existence of the outside world. Secondly, the arrival of Black individuals in 1819 enriched Japan's early understanding of human diversity. Before the Meiji Restoration, most Japanese had only seen East Asians and a small number of Europeans (primarily Dutch). The appearance of Black people expanded their awareness of global ethnicities, even if only marginally. Furthermore, this incident can be seen as a prelude to the larger waves of Black people arriving in Japan after the Meiji Restoration. Following the opening of Japan, more Black individuals came as sailors, merchants, entertainers, and intellectuals. The 1819 event, like a faint pre-echo, hinted at the increasingly diverse interactions Japan would have with the world. It reminds us that the flow of people and cultural exchange often precedes official open policies. In summary, the story of the unknown ship and the Black people arriving in Japan in 1819 is a unique footnote in the history of Japan's foreign relations. It occurred against the backdrop of national seclusion, briefly bridging two distant worlds. This encounter, though lacking in-depth cultural exchange, symbolized the inevitable connectivity of the world. It foreshadowed the immense changes Japan would undergo decades later and remains a valuable case for understanding early cross-cultural contact in East Asia.

立即阅读 目录