OFFICIAL VISITS FROM THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE TO THE MING DYNASTY

WAN LEI

ABSTRACT

This article delves into the official visits from the Ottoman Empire to the Ming dynasty in China over a 195-year period, spanning from 1423 to 1618. It primarily draws on original texts from two official Chinese history books: the History of the Ming and Veritable Records of the Ming. The author concludes that there were 14 official visits from the Ottoman Empire, with the reigns of Emperor Sulaiman I of the Ottoman Empire and Emperor Shizong of the Ming dynasty marking the most cooperative era between the two powers. The article details two incidents concerning the tributary activities, including the “1543 Frontier Incident” involving the Ottoman Empire’s delegation to China and its resolution. It also examines the opposition to the Empire’s paying tribute, which arose among some Ming court officials during the 1520s, under the Jiajing reign, and their rationale. The final section discusses some key aspects of the Empire’s visits: the delegations’ routes and journey durations to China; the tribute items and rewards from the Chinese throne; the influence of delegations from Turfan and other Central Asian countries accompanying the Ottoman’s delegations to China; and the residency of certain Turkish envoys in China.