takeshima/data/1725 Document

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In October of Genroku (元禄) 8 (1695), Tenryuin-kou(天龍院公) (Sou Yoshizane, 宗義眞*) stayed in Edo to serve for the Shogunate. He consulted with the Administrator, Abe Bungo-no-kami (阿部豊後守), saying, “While former lord has been negotiating on Takeshima (Ulleungdo) for three years by sending envoys, that country never hear what we say insisting that Takeshima is the land of their country. What shall we do?”
In the next January of Hei-Shi year (Genroku 9, 1696), Bungo-no-kami said, “Whereas the land of Takeshima belongs to Inaba (因幡), our people have never lived there. When Taitoku-kun (台徳君) (Tokugawa Hidetada, 徳川秀忠**) was the ruler, fishermen of Yonago village (米子村) wished to fish at the island, and he (= Taitoku-kun) allowed it. Its geographic distance is about 160 ri from Inaba (因幡) and about 40 ri from Chosun. There seems to be no doubt that it has been the border of their place. If a country used forces, why it should not be obtained. However, it is not a good plan to lose friendship with a neighboring country because of the useless island. In addition, since we did not take the island from them, we cannot say that we will return it to them. We should just prohibit fishermen from going there for fishery. Opinions in our country at present are different from those of previous time. It is better to avoid conflict than to fight each other without halt. Admonish them with this opinion.”
In October of this year, that country (= Chosun) send envoys, 卞同知 and 宋判事. Also, in the summer of this year, eleven Chosun people came to Inaba province and brought the issue to the Shogunate. The Shogunate ordered to expel them (= 11 people from Chosun). Accordingly, Tenryuin-kou (天龍院公) admonished the two envoys with the opinion of the Shogunate, and orderd his old retainer to record the two events.
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*) Sou Yoshizane (宗 義眞, 1639-1702): Lord of Tsushima (1657-1692). ‘Tenryuin (天龍院)’ is his Buddhist name (法名, houmyou) which was given to him by a Buddhist monk after his death.
**) Tokugawa Hidetada (徳川 秀忠, 1579-1632): The 2nd shogun (1605-1623) of the Tokugawa shogunate. His Buddhist name is Taitokuin (台徳院).

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