In this undergraduate thesis we are taking a closer look at the piracy on the Japanese islands, specifically in the region of the Seto Inland Sea during the 15th and 16th centuries, known also as the “Age of Warring States”. We tried to give the piracy in Japan a tangible image by studying the social processes of the era, the usage of language, the idea of sea and sea people as well as the idea of boundary between the land and the sea. Piracy in Japan had evolved in many directions, encompassing peaceful activities related to trading, as well as marine violence related to political agenda. The chaotic conditions of the 15th and 16th century Japan brought about the widespread of violence and wars were fought not only on land but also on the seas. Therefore, the sea gained strategic value for the warlords. Through trade warlords of Japan strengthened themselves and their domains and created trading networks via sea routes, which became more and more used for the transportation of goods. In order for them to cover the expenses of wars, they wanted to secure marine trade networks and started cooperating with piratical forces. The piratical forces entered into various contracts with the patron warlords, for whom they operated also as rented mercenary vassals. They were appropriately rewarded for their services after they carried out their part. In the 15th century, certain pirates strengthened themselves and became big piratical clans who conquered Seto Inland sea. We take a closer look at the Murakami clan to study the mode of piratical operations and the role of said pirates. Marine powers established estates in littoral areas and sea territories where they stimulated sea trading networks which consequently resulted in new infrastructure and brought the influx of people to these remote areas. We also need to address the issue of pirates in historical sources. The word kaizoku first appears in 9th century and became used negatively by the central authorities to portray pirates as criminals even though their reality did not reflect the meaning of the term. Some pirates were operating as sea robbers, which led to the central authority viewing all marine operations that did not reflect their interests as a threat and therefore used the term kaizoku negatively. Lastly, we take a closer look at the consequences of piracy in the Seto Inland sea. The spirit of maritime shipping has survived to the modern age and even today the memory of a piratical past lives on in the conscience of the posterity of former pirates in the region of Seto Inland sea in the form of various museum collections, local culture and tradition.
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