Page 190 - Vol_2_Archaeology of Manila Galleon Seaport Trade

Chapter 9
Ceramics from Nagasaki: A Link
to Manila Galleon Trade

Etsuko Miyata

Nagasaki served as one of the important port polities during the modern period in
Asia. The relation between Manila and Nagasaki remained a short period since
Japan decided to close the country in 1639. Indeed, the Manila-Nagasaki trade was
practiced from 1570 to 1639. Nagasaki’s presence meant little to Manila though
there are some interesting aspects such as migration, art influence to New Spain via
Manila, and Japanese ceramic trade (Reid 1993).
In this paper, I would like to seek into the porcelain trade in Nagasaki mainly
with the Chinese merchants and compare with the pieces found in the central
Mexico city, Zócalo from the 16th century till 18th century (Kuwayama 1997). In
this way, we may oversee not only the direct relation with Manila Galleon trade but
the comparison as a consumption site to the Chinese merchants and how the city
was seen as one of the Asian port city.

9.1 The Construction and Development
of Nagasaki Seaport

Nagasaki was originally constructed by Omura Sumitada, a baptized samurai in
order to bring in the Portuguese ships from Macao in 1570. The port was later
donated to the Jesuits by Omura himself in 1590. Some of the important quarters
such as Kozencho (built 1624) were excavated in the 1980s, Sakuramachi,
Manzaicho, Tojin-yashiki (meaning Chinese quarter built 1689) have been exca-
vated up to now (Fig. 9.1).

E. Miyata (&)
Japan Society for Promotion of Science, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan
e-mail: etsukocarlos@yahoo.co.jp
© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2019 161
C. Wu et al. (eds.), Archaeology of Manila Galleon Seaports and Early Maritime
Globalization, The Archaeology of Asia-Paci!c Navigation 2,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-32-9248-2_9