A Study of the Life of Yang Fangheng, the Japanese Envoy of the Ming Dynasty

Author: Xu cheng

Page: 135-166

Abstract

​

 In the middle of the Imjin War, the Ming court sent Li Zongcheng and Yang Fangheng as envoys and deputy envoys to confer titles on Japan to promote peace talks and stop the war.However, Li Zongcheng's fear and flight led to the canonization in trouble, and Yang Fangheng was ordered to undertake the task of completing the canonization.For a long time, the history of Yang Fang-heng has been vague, and there are many disputes and fallacies about his name, alias, native place and other basic information.Based on the epitaph of Yang Fangheng's family, this paper synthesizes various historical materials of China, Korea and Japan, verifies Yang Fangheng's life experience, and corrects the misunderstandings in the past historical materials.Restore the role of Yang Fangheng in the event of conferring the title of Japan and Wanli's aid to Korea, and investigate Yang Fangheng's experience after returning home and the follow-up of his family.On the whole, this manuscript is intended to provide a new case for the study of the Ming generals in the Wanli War and the family history of the military officers in the Ming Dynasty.

Imjin War, canonizing Japan, Yang Fangheng, Ming army generals​

​