VAI TRÒ CỦA HỘI AN TRONG MẠNG LƯỚI CHÂU ẤN THUYỀN NHẬT BẢN GIAI ĐOẠN 1604 - 1620

Abstract

Abstract

This article analyzes the position and function of Hoi An within the Japan-Dang Trong trade network (using the term "Dang Trong" in its historical sense to refer to the territory and political entity controlled by the Nguyen Lords in southern Dai Viet from the early 17th century) through the operations of *shuinsen* (Red Seal Ships) between 1604 and 1620. Drawing on contemporary historical records and Japanese archival materials, the study focuses on elucidating the conditions that established Hoi An as a hub for trade and international exchange. The findings indicate that several key factors drove commercial activity at the port: its advantageous location linking maritime routes with the river system and hinterland of Quang Nam; the relationship between the Dang Trong administration and the Tokugawa Shogunate; and the formation of a Japanese community in Hoi An. Consequently, Hoi An served not merely as a site for receiving and transshipping goods, but also as a space connecting economic, diplomatic, and social interactions between Japanese merchants and Dang Trong. Through the case of Hoi An, this article sheds light on the mechanisms behind the formation and operation of an international trading port within the East Asian trade network of the early 17th century.