I want show you one. It was send in 1266 from the mongol emperor Kublai Khan to our emperor Kameyama.
It says the following in English:
"Cherished from Mandate of Heaven, the Great Mongol emperor sends this letter to the King of Japan. The sovereigns of small countries, sharing borders with each other, have for a long time been concerned to communicate with each other and become friendly. Especially since my ancestor governed at heaven's command, innumerable countries from afar disputed our power and slighted our virtue. Goryeo rendered thanks for my ceasefire and for restoring their land and people when I ascended the throne. Our relation is feudatory like a father and son. We think you already know this. Goryeo is my eastern tributary. Japan was allied with Goryeo and sometimes with China since the founding of your country; however, Japan has never dispatched ambassadors since my ascending the throne. It is horrifying to think that the Kingdom is yet to know this. Hence we dispatched a mission with our letter particularly expressing our wishes. Enter into friendly relations with each other from now on. We think all countries belong to one family. How are we in the right, unless we comprehend this? Nobody would wish to resort to arms."
Kublai Khan was the grandson of Genghis Khan. The mentioned Goryeo is what we call Korea today. It is written in a very diplomatic way to sound extremly polite and positive. I know most westerners aren´t used to that way of "extreme diplomatic language" which was and still is, often used in asian politics. I would like you to imagine yourself into the role of an advisor of our emperor Kameyama. What would you think while reading that? What does it mean for you? What would you advice?
We do that "game" alot at School but with documents of western history and i think it´s alot of fun.
It says the following in English:
"Cherished from Mandate of Heaven, the Great Mongol emperor sends this letter to the King of Japan. The sovereigns of small countries, sharing borders with each other, have for a long time been concerned to communicate with each other and become friendly. Especially since my ancestor governed at heaven's command, innumerable countries from afar disputed our power and slighted our virtue. Goryeo rendered thanks for my ceasefire and for restoring their land and people when I ascended the throne. Our relation is feudatory like a father and son. We think you already know this. Goryeo is my eastern tributary. Japan was allied with Goryeo and sometimes with China since the founding of your country; however, Japan has never dispatched ambassadors since my ascending the throne. It is horrifying to think that the Kingdom is yet to know this. Hence we dispatched a mission with our letter particularly expressing our wishes. Enter into friendly relations with each other from now on. We think all countries belong to one family. How are we in the right, unless we comprehend this? Nobody would wish to resort to arms."
Kublai Khan was the grandson of Genghis Khan. The mentioned Goryeo is what we call Korea today. It is written in a very diplomatic way to sound extremly polite and positive. I know most westerners aren´t used to that way of "extreme diplomatic language" which was and still is, often used in asian politics. I would like you to imagine yourself into the role of an advisor of our emperor Kameyama. What would you think while reading that? What does it mean for you? What would you advice?
We do that "game" alot at School but with documents of western history and i think it´s alot of fun.
