History
Tsushima has played an important role in the history of Japan. Due to its location close to the Korean Peninsula, Tsushima was an important trading center during ancient times. The island was not particularly suitable for agriculture due to its rocky landscape, so people had to make their living by fishing or by trading with the main island of Kyushu and with Korea.
Foreign cultures and technology were first introduced to Tsushima, then crossed over to the main islands of Japan. Stone implements, bronze wares, rice farming, Buddhism, and Chinese characters were all introduced to Japan from the Asian continent via Tsushima. Relics and artifacts found from the Koshitaka ruins show that Tsushima had diplomatic relations with Kyushu and with the Korean Peninsula.
Cultural exchange with the Korean Peninsula was prosperous during early history. There are many cultural assets which remain on the island today, such as literature, Buddhist art, and architecture. For example, Kanedajo (Kaneda Castle) was made in the Korean method of castle construction.
Despite having a mostly prosperous relationship with Korea, trading and cultural exchange stopped from 1592 to 1598 due to the Japanese invasion of Korea under Hideyoshi. After the war, the Soh-clan, feudal lords of Tsushima, tried to resume trading with Korea by guiding Korean correspondents to Edo (Tokyo). Their efforts were eventually rewarded and are commemorated each year as part of the Tsushima Arirang Festival.
During the 20th century, there was another period during which interchange between Tsushima and Korea was interrupted by larger forces. Today, cultural, economic and educational interchange has once again lively resumed between Tsushima and Busan, South Korea.
Foreign cultures and technology were first introduced to Tsushima, then crossed over to the main islands of Japan. Stone implements, bronze wares, rice farming, Buddhism, and Chinese characters were all introduced to Japan from the Asian continent via Tsushima. Relics and artifacts found from the Koshitaka ruins show that Tsushima had diplomatic relations with Kyushu and with the Korean Peninsula.
Cultural exchange with the Korean Peninsula was prosperous during early history. There are many cultural assets which remain on the island today, such as literature, Buddhist art, and architecture. For example, Kanedajo (Kaneda Castle) was made in the Korean method of castle construction.
Despite having a mostly prosperous relationship with Korea, trading and cultural exchange stopped from 1592 to 1598 due to the Japanese invasion of Korea under Hideyoshi. After the war, the Soh-clan, feudal lords of Tsushima, tried to resume trading with Korea by guiding Korean correspondents to Edo (Tokyo). Their efforts were eventually rewarded and are commemorated each year as part of the Tsushima Arirang Festival.
During the 20th century, there was another period during which interchange between Tsushima and Korea was interrupted by larger forces. Today, cultural, economic and educational interchange has once again lively resumed between Tsushima and Busan, South Korea.
