red seal ship; shogunate-licensed trading ship
Historical term for Japanese merchant ships authorized by the Tokugawa shogunate to trade in Southeast Asia during the early Edo period (17th century).
Red seal ships were used for trade with Southeast Asia in the early Edo period.
red-seal ship trade
From 朱印 (shuin, 'red seal') + 船 (sen, 'ship'), referring to the official red seal license issued by the shogunate.