intention of the kingdom and court of Japon. Acting upon this suggestion, I am writing the present letter; let us promptly consult together. I am one of the grandees of the kingdom. Therefore your kingdom can sleep secure, and you need have no fear or hesitation; but discuss all secret matters with him whom I send, who is my confidential man. With all due courtesy. The year 19, Tienchen,[1] the ninth month and eleventh day. From Siaulyuquiu.
The Chamberlain
[Endorsed: Copy of the chamberlain's letter."]
LETTER FROM DASMARINAS TO THE RULER OF JAPAN
Gomez Perez Dasmariñas,[2] knight of the order of Santiago, governor and captain-general in these islands, great archipelago, and districts of the West, for the king, our sovereign, Don Phelipe the Second, king of Castilla, Leon, Aragon, the two Sicilies, Jerusalem, Portugal, Navarra, Granada, Cerdeña, Cor-
- ↑ The Japanese calendar was based upon the lunar year; and the years were divided into cycles of sixty years each. Besides this division, there is another and more arbitrary one, into periods between important historical events, which divisions are named from a list of Chinese words specially set aside for this purpose. The name used in this document, Tienchen, is that of one of these historical periods; it is written "Tensho" by Griffis, and its dates given as 1573-92. See Rein's Japan, pp. 434-437; and Griffis's Mikado's Empire, pp. 623-626.
The place from which the letter was written was probably the town of Shiuri, the chief port of the Riu Kiu (or Loo Choo) Islands, known to the Spaniards as Lequios. See Basil Hall's "Bibliography of Luchu," in Transactions of Asiatic Society of Japan, xxiv, pp. 1-11.
- ↑ A different version of this letter is given by Santa Inés, ii, pp. 547-549.
