Japanese missions to Tang China
Encyclopedia
Japanese missions to Tang China represent a lens for examining and evaluating the relationships between China and Japan in the 7th, 8th and 9th centuries. The nature of these bilateral contacts evolved gradually from political and ceremonial acknowledgment to cultural exchanges; and the process accompanied the growing commercial ties which developed over time.
Between 607 and 838, Japan sent 19 missions to China between 607 and 838. Knowledge was the principal objective of each expedition. For example: Priests studied Chinese Buddhism. Officials studied Chinese government. Doctors studied Chinese medicine. Painters studied Chinese painting. Approximately one third of those who embarked from Japan did not survive to return home.
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| Taizong
|align="left" | Accompanied on return by Tang emissary Gao Biaoren (高表仁)
|- align="center"
| 653-654
| Kotoku
|
| Gaozong
|align="left" | Vessel carrying Takada no Nemaro foundered on outward journey near Takeshima, Satsuma
|- align="center"
| 654-655
| Kōtoku
| Takamuko no Kuromaro
| Gaozong
|align="left" | Takamuko died din China
|- align="center"
| 659-661
| Saimei
|
| Gaozong
|align="left" | Sakaibe died during trip
|- align="center"
| 665-667
| Tenji
|
| Gaozong
|align="left" | May have transported Tang emissary Liu Degao (劉德高) to army stationed at old Paekche garrison
|- align="center"
| 667-668
| Tenji
| Iki no Hakatoko
| Gaozong
|align="left" | Transported Tang emissary Sima Facong (司馬法聰) to army stationed at old Paekche garrison
|- align="center"
| 669-670
| Tenji
|
| Gaozong
|align="left" | Celebrated subjugation of Koguryŏ
|- align="center"
| 702-704
| Mommu
|
| Wu Zetian
|align="left" | Kose no Ōji returned home in 707; Awata no Mahito returned in 718
|- align="center"
| 717-718
| Genshō
|
| Xuanzong
|align="left" | Awata no Mahito returned in 718; students Abe no Nakamaro and Kibi no Makibi as well as monk Genbō
(玄昉) joined this embassy
|- align="center"
| 733-734
| Shōmu
|
| Xuanzong
|align="left" | 4 ships set out on this voyage, and one ship returned in 734; another ship returned in 736; Magistrate returned in 739
|- align="center"
| 746-
| Shōmu
|
| Xuanzong
|align="left" | cancelled
|- align="center"
| 750-753
| Kōken
|
| Xuanzong
|align="left" | Ship carrying Fujiwara Kiyokawa and Abe no Nakamaro shipwrecked in Annam
; both became Tang officials and never returned home
|- align="center"
| 761-761
| Junnin
|
| Suzong
|align="left" | With aim of retrieving Kiyokawa, traveled with Parhae ambassador returning home via Parhae; returned home with send-off by Tang emissary Shen Weiyue (沈惟岳)
|- align="center"
| 761-
| Junnin
|
| Suzong
|align="left" | cancelled dur to damage to vessels
|- align="center"
| 762-
| Junnin
|
| Daizong
|align="left" | Cancelled due to lack of favorable wind
|- align="center"
| 777-778
| Kōnin
|
| Daizong
|align="left" | All four vessels shipwrecked en route home; Ono no Iwane and Tang emissary Zhao Baoying (趙寶)英 died
|- align="center"
| 779-781
| Kōnin
|
| Dezong
|align="left" | Tang emissary Sun Xingjin 孫興進 et al. sent off at Mingzhou
|- align="center"
| 804-805
| Kammu
|
| Dezong
|align="left" | 4 ships on this mission; vessel 3 shipwrecked at Hirado on the outward journey; news of vessel 4 unknown; Kūkai
and Saichō
joined this embassy
|- align="center"
| 838-839
| Ninmyō
|
| Wenzong
|align="left" | Vessel 3 shipwrecked soon after departure at Tsukushi; its 140 passengers did not reach China; the monks Ennin and Ensai on board; passengers on vessels 1 and 4 hired Silla vessels and split up for the voyage home; returning in 839 with a letter from Chinese emperor; vessel 2 returned home in 840
|- align="center"
| 894-
| Uda
|
| Zhaozong
|align="left" | cancelled
|}
Between 607 and 838, Japan sent 19 missions to China between 607 and 838. Knowledge was the principal objective of each expedition. For example: Priests studied Chinese Buddhism. Officials studied Chinese government. Doctors studied Chinese medicine. Painters studied Chinese painting. Approximately one third of those who embarked from Japan did not survive to return home.
| Year | Sender | Japanese envoys | Chinese monarch | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 630-632 | Jomei Emperor Jomei was the 34th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Jomei's reign spanned the years from 629 through 641.-Traditional narrative:Before Jomei's ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne, his personal name was or... |
| Taizong
Emperor Taizong of Tang
Emperor Taizong of Tang , personal name Lǐ Shìmín , was the second emperor of the Tang Dynasty of China, ruling from 626 to 649...
|align="left" | Accompanied on return by Tang emissary Gao Biaoren (高表仁)
|- align="center"
| 653-654
| Kotoku
Emperor Kotoku
was the 36th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.The years of his reign lasted from 645 through 654.-Traditional narrative:Before Kōtoku ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne, his personal name was or...
|
| Gaozong
Emperor Gaozong of Tang
Emperor Gaozong of Tang , personal name Li Zhi , was the third emperor of the Tang Dynasty in China, ruling from 649 to 683...
|align="left" | Vessel carrying Takada no Nemaro foundered on outward journey near Takeshima, Satsuma
Satsuma
Satsuma may refer to:* Satsuma , a citrus fruit* Satsuma , a genus of land snails-In Japan:* Satsuma, Kagoshima, a Japanese town* Satsuma District, Kagoshima, a district in Kagoshima Prefecture...
|- align="center"
| 654-655
| Kōtoku
Emperor Kotoku
was the 36th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.The years of his reign lasted from 645 through 654.-Traditional narrative:Before Kōtoku ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne, his personal name was or...
| Takamuko no Kuromaro
Takamuko no Kuromaro
was a Japanese scholar and diplomat of the Asuka period. The Takamuko clan are descended from Cao Pi.Karumauro traveled to China as the with Ono no Imoko as kenzuishi representing Empress Suiko in 608...
| Gaozong
Emperor Gaozong of Tang
Emperor Gaozong of Tang , personal name Li Zhi , was the third emperor of the Tang Dynasty in China, ruling from 649 to 683...
|align="left" | Takamuko died din China
|- align="center"
| 659-661
| Saimei
|
| Gaozong
Emperor Gaozong of Tang
Emperor Gaozong of Tang , personal name Li Zhi , was the third emperor of the Tang Dynasty in China, ruling from 649 to 683...
|align="left" | Sakaibe died during trip
|- align="center"
| 665-667
| Tenji
Emperor Tenji
, also known as Emperor Tenchi, was the 38th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Tenji's reign spanned the years from 661 through 671.-Traditional narrative:...
|
| Gaozong
Emperor Gaozong of Tang
Emperor Gaozong of Tang , personal name Li Zhi , was the third emperor of the Tang Dynasty in China, ruling from 649 to 683...
|align="left" | May have transported Tang emissary Liu Degao (劉德高) to army stationed at old Paekche garrison
|- align="center"
| 667-668
| Tenji
Emperor Tenji
, also known as Emperor Tenchi, was the 38th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Tenji's reign spanned the years from 661 through 671.-Traditional narrative:...
| Iki no Hakatoko
| Gaozong
Emperor Gaozong of Tang
Emperor Gaozong of Tang , personal name Li Zhi , was the third emperor of the Tang Dynasty in China, ruling from 649 to 683...
|align="left" | Transported Tang emissary Sima Facong (司馬法聰) to army stationed at old Paekche garrison
|- align="center"
| 669-670
| Tenji
Emperor Tenji
, also known as Emperor Tenchi, was the 38th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Tenji's reign spanned the years from 661 through 671.-Traditional narrative:...
|
| Gaozong
Emperor Gaozong of Tang
Emperor Gaozong of Tang , personal name Li Zhi , was the third emperor of the Tang Dynasty in China, ruling from 649 to 683...
|align="left" | Celebrated subjugation of Koguryŏ
|- align="center"
| 702-704
| Mommu
Emperor Mommu
was the 42nd emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Mommu's reign spanned the years from 697 through 707.-Traditional narrative:Before his ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne, his personal name was Karu-shinnō....
|
| Wu Zetian
Wu Zetian
Wu Zetian , personal name Wu Zhao , often referred to as Tian Hou during the Tang Dynasty and Empress Consort Wu in later times, was the only woman in the history of China to assume the title of Empress Regnant...
|align="left" | Kose no Ōji returned home in 707; Awata no Mahito returned in 718
|- align="center"
| 717-718
| Genshō
Empress Gensho
was the 44th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Genshō's reign spanned the years 715 through 724.In the history of Japan, Genshō was the fifth of eight women to take on the role of empress regnant. The four female monarchs before Genshō were: Suiko, Kōgyoku/Saimei,...
|
| Xuanzong
Emperor Xuanzong of Tang
Emperor Xuanzong of Tang , also commonly known as Emperor Ming of Tang , personal name Li Longji , known as Wu Longji from 690 to 705, was the seventh emperor of the Tang dynasty in China, reigning from 712 to 756. His reign of 43 years was the longest during the Tang Dynasty...
|align="left" | Awata no Mahito returned in 718; students Abe no Nakamaro and Kibi no Makibi as well as monk Genbō
Genbō
, also known as Gembō, was a Japanese scholar-monk and bureaucrat of the Imperial Court at Nara.In 717-718, he was part of the Japanese mission to Tang China along with Kibi no Makibi and Abe no Nakamaro...
(玄昉) joined this embassy
|- align="center"
| 733-734
| Shōmu
Emperor Shomu
was the 45th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Shōmu's reign spanned the years 724 through 723.-Traditional narrative:...
|
| Xuanzong
Emperor Xuanzong of Tang
Emperor Xuanzong of Tang , also commonly known as Emperor Ming of Tang , personal name Li Longji , known as Wu Longji from 690 to 705, was the seventh emperor of the Tang dynasty in China, reigning from 712 to 756. His reign of 43 years was the longest during the Tang Dynasty...
|align="left" | 4 ships set out on this voyage, and one ship returned in 734; another ship returned in 736; Magistrate returned in 739
|- align="center"
| 746-
| Shōmu
Emperor Shomu
was the 45th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Shōmu's reign spanned the years 724 through 723.-Traditional narrative:...
|
| Xuanzong
Emperor Xuanzong of Tang
Emperor Xuanzong of Tang , also commonly known as Emperor Ming of Tang , personal name Li Longji , known as Wu Longji from 690 to 705, was the seventh emperor of the Tang dynasty in China, reigning from 712 to 756. His reign of 43 years was the longest during the Tang Dynasty...
|align="left" | cancelled
|- align="center"
| 750-753
| Kōken
Empress Koken
, also known as , was the 46th and the 48th emperor of Japan respectively, according to the traditional order of succession. Empress Kōken first reigned from 749 to 758, then she reascended the throne as Empress Shōtoku from 765 until her death in 770....
|
| Xuanzong
Emperor Xuanzong of Tang
Emperor Xuanzong of Tang , also commonly known as Emperor Ming of Tang , personal name Li Longji , known as Wu Longji from 690 to 705, was the seventh emperor of the Tang dynasty in China, reigning from 712 to 756. His reign of 43 years was the longest during the Tang Dynasty...
|align="left" | Ship carrying Fujiwara Kiyokawa and Abe no Nakamaro shipwrecked in Annam
Annam (Chinese Province)
Annam or Jiaozhi was the southernmost province of the Chinese Empire. It is now part of present-day Vietnam...
; both became Tang officials and never returned home
|- align="center"
| 761-761
| Junnin
Emperor Junnin
was the 47th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Junnin's reign spanned the years 758 to 764.-Traditional narrative:Before his ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne, his personal name was Ōi-shinnō ....
|
| Suzong
Emperor Suzong of Tang
Emperor Suzong of Tang , personal name Li Heng , né Li Sisheng , known as Li Jun from 725 to 736, known as Li Yu from 736 to 738, known briefly as Li Shao in 738, was an emperor of the Tang Dynasty and the son of Emperor Xuanzong...
|align="left" | With aim of retrieving Kiyokawa, traveled with Parhae ambassador returning home via Parhae; returned home with send-off by Tang emissary Shen Weiyue (沈惟岳)
|- align="center"
| 761-
| Junnin
Emperor Junnin
was the 47th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Junnin's reign spanned the years 758 to 764.-Traditional narrative:Before his ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne, his personal name was Ōi-shinnō ....
|
| Suzong
Emperor Suzong of Tang
Emperor Suzong of Tang , personal name Li Heng , né Li Sisheng , known as Li Jun from 725 to 736, known as Li Yu from 736 to 738, known briefly as Li Shao in 738, was an emperor of the Tang Dynasty and the son of Emperor Xuanzong...
|align="left" | cancelled dur to damage to vessels
|- align="center"
| 762-
| Junnin
Emperor Junnin
was the 47th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Junnin's reign spanned the years 758 to 764.-Traditional narrative:Before his ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne, his personal name was Ōi-shinnō ....
|
| Daizong
Emperor Daizong of Tang
Emperor Daizong of Tang , personal name Li Yu , né Li Chu , was an emperor of the Chinese Tang Dynasty....
|align="left" | Cancelled due to lack of favorable wind
|- align="center"
| 777-778
| Kōnin
Emperor Konin
was the 49th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. Kōnin's reign lasted from 770 to 781.-Traditional narrative:The personal name of Emperor Kōnin was given was As a son of Imperial Prince Shiki and a grandson of Emperor Tenji., his formal style was Prince Shirakabe...
|
| Daizong
Emperor Daizong of Tang
Emperor Daizong of Tang , personal name Li Yu , né Li Chu , was an emperor of the Chinese Tang Dynasty....
|align="left" | All four vessels shipwrecked en route home; Ono no Iwane and Tang emissary Zhao Baoying (趙寶)英 died
|- align="center"
| 779-781
| Kōnin
Emperor Konin
was the 49th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. Kōnin's reign lasted from 770 to 781.-Traditional narrative:The personal name of Emperor Kōnin was given was As a son of Imperial Prince Shiki and a grandson of Emperor Tenji., his formal style was Prince Shirakabe...
|
| Dezong
Emperor Dezong of Tang
Emperor Dezong of Tang , personally name Li Kuo , was an emperor of the Chinese Tang Dynasty and the oldest son of his father Emperor Daizong. His reign of 26 years was the third longest in the Tang dynasty...
|align="left" | Tang emissary Sun Xingjin 孫興進 et al. sent off at Mingzhou
|- align="center"
| 804-805
| Kammu
|
| Dezong
Emperor Dezong of Tang
Emperor Dezong of Tang , personally name Li Kuo , was an emperor of the Chinese Tang Dynasty and the oldest son of his father Emperor Daizong. His reign of 26 years was the third longest in the Tang dynasty...
|align="left" | 4 ships on this mission; vessel 3 shipwrecked at Hirado on the outward journey; news of vessel 4 unknown; Kūkai
Kukai
Kūkai , also known posthumously as , 774–835, was a Japanese monk, civil servant, scholar, poet, and artist, founder of the Shingon or "True Word" school of Buddhism. Shingon followers usually refer to him by the honorific titles of and ....
and Saichō
Saicho
was a Japanese Buddhist monk credited with founding the Tendai school in Japan, based around the Chinese Tiantai tradition he was exposed to during his trip to China beginning in 804. He founded the temple and headquarters of Tendai at Enryaku-ji on Mt. Hiei near Kyoto. He is also said to have...
joined this embassy
|- align="center"
| 838-839
| Ninmyō
|
| Wenzong
|align="left" | Vessel 3 shipwrecked soon after departure at Tsukushi; its 140 passengers did not reach China; the monks Ennin and Ensai on board; passengers on vessels 1 and 4 hired Silla vessels and split up for the voyage home; returning in 839 with a letter from Chinese emperor; vessel 2 returned home in 840
|- align="center"
| 894-
| Uda
Emperor Uda
was the 59th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Uda's reign spanned the years from 887 through 897.-Name and legacy:Before his ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne, his personal name was or Chōjiin-tei....
|
| Zhaozong
|align="left" | cancelled
|}
See also
- SinocentrismSinocentrismSinocentrism is an ethnocentric perspective that regards China to be the center of civilization and superior to all other nations. The related but distinct concept of the superiority of the Han Chinese ethnicity both within and without China is known as Han chauvinism.- Overview and context...
- Japanese missions to Sui ChinaJapanese missions to Sui ChinaJapanese missions to Sui China represent a lens for examining and evaluating the relationships between China and Japan in the 7th, 8th and 9th centuries...
- Japanese missions to Ming ChinaJapanese missions to Ming ChinaJapanese missions to Ming China represent a lens for examining and evaluating the relationships between China and Japan in the 15th through the 17th centuries. The nature of these bilateral contacts encompassed political and ceremonial acknowledgment as well as cultural exchanges...
- Japanese missions to SillaJapanese missions to SillaJapanese missions to Silla represent an aspect of the international relations of mutual Silla-Japanese contacts and communication. The bilateral exchanges were intermittent....
- Japanese missions to JoseonJapanese missions to JoseonJapanese missions to Joseon represent a crucial aspect of the international relations of mutual Joseon-Japanese contacts and communication. The bilateral exchanges were intermittent....