Reenacting the Diplomatic Envoy Route from 1763 to 1784
The Joseon Tongsinsa ship, once a symbol of Korea-Japan diplomacy, has been reconstructed and will cross the Korea-Tsushima Strait.
The National Research Institute of Maritime Heritage under the Cultural Heritage Administration announced on April 22 that this traditional vessel, built in 2018, will depart from Busan on the 28th and arrive in Osaka, Japan, two weeks later.
The Joseon Tongsinsa ship was an official government vessel. From 1607 (the 40th year of King Seonjo’s reign) to 1811 (the 11th year of King Sunjo’s reign), it transported diplomatic envoys to Japan on 12 occasions over approximately 200 years.
The institute has already successfully reenacted the voyage twice. In 2023, the ship sailed to Tsushima, which was the final destination of the 12th envoy mission in 1811. Last year, it reached Shimonoseki, which was the intermediate stop on the route of the 11th envoy mission between 1763 and 1784.
This year’s destination is Osaka, which was the final destination of the 11th envoy mission. The route is being reenacted for the first time in 261 years. An institute official stated, “The ship will travel a total round-trip distance of 2,000 kilometers, the longest in the history of Tongsinsa ship voyages.”
On the 27th, a safety prayer ritual, a departure ceremony, and a sea god ritual will be held in Busan, and the ship will depart the following day. It will pass through Tsushima, Iki, Fukuoka, Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi, Kure, Fukuyama, Setouchi, Tatsuno-shi, and will arrive at Osaka Port on the 11th of next month.
An institute official said, “The journey is especially meaningful as the Osaka-Kansai Expo, which brings together diverse ideas and technologies from around the world, will be held in Osaka until October.” The official added, “In particular, on the 13th of next month, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will reenact the Joseon Tongsinsa procession.”
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