João Mendes (merchant)
João Mendes | |
|---|---|
| Born | João Mendes |
| Other names | Ji-Wan-Myeon-Je-Su |
| Occupation | Merchant |
| Years active | 17th century |
| Known for | First documented Westerner to arrive in Korea (1604) |
João Mendes was a Portuguese merchant and the first documented Westerner to arrive in Korea.[1][2][3]
Biography
[edit]João Mendes was a Portuguese merchant active in Southeast Asia in the beginning of the 17th century. He was in Cambodia when a Japanese fleet moved. Attracted by what he had heard about Japan, where other Portuguese traded, he boarded one of the returning boats and ended up involved in a battle with the Korean navy. Shipwrecked along with his African servant in 1604, he was then taken to the capital, Seoul, to be interrogated. Later he was moved to China.[1]
At the time, Korea had recently been the target of an attempted Japanese invasion, repelled by Admiral Yi Sun-sin with support from the Ming dynasty. "The Chinese ended up handing João Mendes over to the Portuguese in Macau", says professor Kang. He is considered the first Westerner to set foot in the country located in other extreme of Eurasia and referred to in Korean annals as Ji-Wan-Myeon-Je-Su.[1]
Legacy
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In 2024, his legacy was celebrated with two sculptures created by Portuguese artist Vhils (Alexandre Farto). One is installed in Tongyeong, South Korea, and the other is installed in Lisbon, Portugal.[1][2]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d Paulo Ferreira, Leonídio (October 18, 2022). "Escultura de Vhils em Lisboa a lembrar primeiro português a chegar à Coreia vai ter irmã na cidade de Tongyeong". Diário de Notícias. Diário de Notícias. Retrieved October 18, 2022.
- ^ a b "Obra de Vhils homenageia primeiro português a chegar à Coreia". RTP Notícias. RTP Notícias. October 19, 2022. Retrieved October 19, 2022.
- ^ Vaz Patto, Susana. "EMBAIXADA DE PORTUGAL NA COREIA DO SUL".