In 1266 the Yuan government appointed the vice president of the Ministry of War as envoy to Japan and granted, him the Tiger Seal for, his specific mission. The vice president of the Ministry of Rites was appointed as his deputy bearing the Golden Seal. They were to, carry with them a letter from the Mongol emperor to the king of Japan. The message read as follows:

I have heard that since ancient times even a small nation emphasizes the importance of mutual trust and reciprocal friendship in. its relationship with neighboring states. How can we be any more different? Our ancestor received the mandate of Heaven to establish a great empire and brought a large number of peoples under their jurisdiction. Even peoples in the remotest areas feared our military might and longed for the benevolent influence we might be able to extend to...