16th day. The Thang guests were entertained at Court.
9th month, 5th day. The guests were entertained at Oho-kohori in Naniha.
11th day. The Thang guest, P'ei Shih-ch‘ing, took his departure. Accordingly, Wono no Imoko no Omi was appointed Chief Envoy, Kishi no Wonari Second Envoy, and Fukuri Interpreter. They were despatched in company with the Thang guests. Now the Emperor addressed the Thang Emperor in the following terms:—
"The Emperor of the East respectfully addresses the (XXII. 21.) Emperor of the West.[1] Your Envoy, P'ei Shih-ch‘ing, Official Entertainer of the Department of foreign receptions, and his suite, having arrived here, my long-harboured cares were dissolved. This last month of autumn is somewhat chilly. How is Your Majesty? We trust well. We are in our usual health. We now send the Dairai, So In-ko, the Dairai, Wonari, and others to you. This is respectfully presented, but informal."
At this time there were sent to the Land of Thang the students Fukuin, Yamato no Aya no Atahe, Emyō, Nara no Wosa,[2] Kuromaro, Takamuku no Ayabito, and Ohokuni, Imaki no Ayabito, together with the student-priests Hifumi (or Nichibun), Imaki no Ayabito, Shōan, Minabuchi no Ayabito, Eon, Shiga no Ayabito, and Kōsai, Imaki no Ayabito, in all eight persons.
In this year many persons from Silla came to settle in Japan.
A.D. 609. 17th year, Summer, 4th month, 4th day. The Viceroy[3] of
- ↑ Emperor is here in the first case 天皇 (Tennō); in the second 皇帝 (Kō-tei).
A Chinese History of the Thang dynasty gives a different version of the opening words of this letter. It says: "The Emperor (天子) of the place where the sun comes forth addresses a letter to the Emperor (天子) of the place where the sun sets." The Chinese Emperor complained of the rudeness of this barbarian letter. It is pretty clear from this incident that the word Nippon (sun-origin) for Japan was not yet in use officially. Cf. "Ishōnihonden," I. 22.
- ↑ Wosa means interpreter. No doubt the name and office here coincided.
- ↑ From very early times Kiushiu, or such part of it as submitted to the Tennō's rule, was governed by a viceroy, as I have ventured to translate Dazai 大宰. Vide "Early Japanese History," p. 56. Hereditary kings
