Spain, China, and Japan in Manila, 1571-1644

Spain, China and Japan in Manila, 1571-1644 offers a new perspective on the connected histories of Spain, China, and Japan as they emerged and developed following Manila's foundation as the capital of the Spanish Philippines in 1571. Examining a wealth of multilingual primary sources, Birgit Tremml-Werner shows that crosscultural encounters not only shaped Manila's development as a Eurasian port city, but also had profound political, economic, and social ramifications for the three premodern states. Combining a systematic comparison with a focus on specific actors during this period, this book addresses many long-held misconceptions and offers a more balanced and multifaceted view of these nations' histories.

Birgit Magdalena Tremml-Werner is a Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Research Fellow at the University of Tokyo. Her current research focuses on the micro-level of intercultural diplomacy and diplomatic actors in Tokugawa Japan's long-distance trade.

Part I The Setting Introduction 1 The Comparative Framework Part II Cross-Cultural Encounters in the Philippines 2 The Foundations of a Global Stage 3 The Trilogy of Triangular Trade: Junk Trade, Trans-Pacific Trade, and Provision Trade Part III 4 Triangular Foreign Relations 5 Zooming Out: Local-Central Dualism 6 Local-Central Tensions: Geopolitical Strategies, Intelligence, and Information Gathering Part IV Zooming In: Early Modern Manila and Regional Globalisation 7 Manila as Port City 8 Actors and Agency, Conclusion.