Stories of the Japanese 01351 [Muromachi/Yoshinori Period] The Tragic Joseon Tongsinsa: Yi Ye

June 19, 1429 (Shōchō 2). A 'Tongsinsa' (diplomatic mission) dispatched by the Joseon Dynasty had an audience with Yoshinori, who had recently become Shogun. While the term 'Joseon Tongsinsa' often brings to mind the missions sent by the Joseon Dynasty during the Edo period, it actually began in the Muromachi period, and the mission that had an audience with Yoshinori was the commemorative first Joseon Tongsinsa.
The chief envoy was Park Seo-saeng, and the deputy envoy was a man named Yi Ye (1373–1445), who is known as a diplomat who handled Japan-Joseon relations in the early Muromachi period. Let us take this opportunity to introduce the life of Yi Ye.
Born in Ulsan in 1373 (the 22nd year of King Gongmin in the Joseon calendar), Yi Ye suffered the tragedy of having his mother taken as a prisoner of war during a Wokou raid when he was eight years old.
Later, he served the Ulsan County Magistrate, Yi Eun, but in December 1396 (the 5th year of King Taejo), the Wokou raided again and kidnapped Yi Eun. While many officials were fleeing in panic, Yi Ye secretly boarded a Wokou ship, and once they were out at sea, he revealed himself and demanded,
"Take me with you as the magistrate's attendant."
The Wokou were surprised but admired Yi Ye's loyalty, and they began to treat the prisoners with respect, allowing him to return to Ulsan with the magistrate in February of the following year.
Around this time, the Joseon Kingdom was suffering from looting by the Wokou and was requesting the Japanese government to crack down on the Wokou and return the captured Joseon people. In 1400 (the 2nd year of King Jeongjong), a return mission led by envoy Yun Myeong was to be dispatched to Kyushu, and Yi Ye volunteered to be a member of the entourage. His goal was to find his mother, from whom he had been separated at the age of eight.
In Tsushima, Iki, and Matsuura, Yi Ye used his spare time to go from house to house, searching for Joseon people who had been taken away by the Wokou. He brought back the Joseon people he found one after another, and while Yi Ye achieved great results in the work of returning prisoners, he never found his mother. Yi Ye dedicated most of his life to the return of prisoners, crossing to Japan 40 times over 44 years and successfully securing the return of 667 people. He also worked to improve relations with Japan, visiting Kyoto four times to hold talks with high-ranking government officials and contributing to the gifting of the Tripitaka Koreana.
In 1443 (the 25th year of King Sejong), when he was about to attempt his final voyage at the age of 71, King Sejong was concerned for Yi Ye's health and tried to stop the mission. At that time, Yi Ye appealed directly to King Sejong, stating,
"If I go, the Japanese will welcome me gladly. There is no Japanese person who would lie to me,"
and he received approval for the voyage.
In fact, it seems that Yi Ye was quite beloved by the people of Tsushima. A monument recording Yi Ye's achievements is currently erected at Entsu-ji Temple in Tsushima.
The existence of Yi Ye, who worked for friendly diplomacy with Japan even though his mother was taken by the Wokou in his childhood, is something that deserves to be better known.