中国明朝政府对中日间的直接贸易往来实行海禁政策,因此东南亚成了日本商人的首选。1557年以后,中国取消了对东南亚贸易的禁令,一些因为触犯次禁令而被视为海盗的商人因此开始合法活动,而中日间的直接贸易仍然是非法的[2]。等等这些因素致使当时东亚和东南亚间贸易往来的繁荣,这一时代被东南亚史研究者安东尼・雷德(Anthony Reid)称为“商贸时代(the Age of Commerce)”[3]。
当时的日本人在海外从事多种职业,其中大多数为商人、被雇佣者、船员、士兵、手工劳动者[4]。1590年代由丰臣秀吉創設并在17世纪的德川家康时代继续施行的朱印船制度,使这些海外贸易等活动达到了高峰。通过这些海上活动者及其海外社区,日本的轉口港贸易在东南亚繁盛起来。很多活跃的港口都有港都首长(port master)或日本人町首长(head of the Japanese community);这些港都首长在马来和印度尼西亚被称为“沙班答(syahbandar)”,他们监督日本人町内居民的活动,是日本人町与当地政府间的联络者,并负责协调该港口与非本地居民的日本人间的贸易活动[5]。
^一項由一個當地日本人于1642年所寫的荷兰东印度公司的報告記載,當時會安的中國人有約4000到5000人,日本人有約40到50人。(Laarhoven, Ruurdje (trans.)《A Japanese Resident's Account: Declaration of the Situation of Quinam Kingdom by Francisco, 1642.》 Li 和 Reid (eds.) 《南方的越南》(Southern Vietnam),31頁)
^Chuong, Thau,《古城会安》(Ancient Town of Hoi An)的《友谊之桥》(Bridge of Friendship),209页
^Chuong, Thau,《古城会安》(Ancient Town of Hoi An)的《友谊之桥》(Bridge of Friendship)
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