Envoys to Tang China

Ono-no-Imoko

¶Ono-no-Imoko was a sixth-generation descendant of Ame-tarashi-hiko-kuni-oshihito-no-mikoto and a descendant of Tagane-tsuki-no-Ōomi-no-mikoto. Because he lived in Ono village, Shiga district, Ōmi province, he took Ono as his clan name (Note: following the Shinsen Shōjiroku. On examination: the genealogy in the Kōin Shōunroku makes Imoko a son of Prince Kasuga, but this is mistaken). He served at the court of Empress Suiko and held the rank of Dairai. In the fifteenth year of Suiko (607) he became an envoy to Sui. Kurazukuri-no-Fukuri served as interpreter. The people of Sui called Imoko So Inkō. He stayed in Sui a little over a year and then returned home. Emperor Yōdai sent Hai Seisei to accompany him, as an envoy of return courtesy. On the return voyage, however, Kudara seized the Sui reply letter. Imoko returned and reported the matter exactly as it had happened. The Empress had the ministers discuss his guilt, and the ministers said, "The duty of an envoy is not to lose his integrity even at the cost of his life. How can he have lost a state letter from a great country? The penalty should be exile." The Empress issued an edict saying, "He must not be punished lightly. I feel ashamed before the guests from Sui," and in the end left the matter unpunished. She then sent a procession of richly adorned mounted men to meet Seisei at Tsubaichi and to console him for his journey. When Seisei was to return home, the court again appointed Imoko as chief envoy, with Naniwa-no-Onari as deputy envoy and Fukuri as interpreter, and sent him once more to Sui. In the ninth month of the following year he completed his mission and returned (Note: following the Nihon Shoki). His rank rose as far as Daitoku-kan (Note: following the Shinsen Shōjiroku and the Shoku Nihongi).

¶His son Emishi held the rank of Shōkin-chū (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi. On examination: during the Meireki era (1655-1658), a resident of Ichijōji village in Yamashiro province dug open a burial mound and found a stone coffin, inside which was a single iron plate. On it was carved "The tomb of Ono-no-Emishi Ason," and beneath this, in two lines of small characters, "The year of Hinoto-Ushi, the first ten days of the twelfth month, built and at once buried." On the reverse it said, "In the reign of the Emperor who ruled the realm from the Kiyomihara Palace at Asuka, he was appointed to the Daijōkan, concurrently served as Gyōbu-no-taifu, Great Minister of Justice, and held the rank of Daikin-jō." This stone coffin is still at Ichijōji. The year Hinoto-Ushi is the fifth year of Emperor Temmu). Emishi's son was Keno.

Ono-no-Keno

¶Ono-no-Keno held the rank of Jikikō-shi at the court of Empress Jitō. In the ninth year of Jitō (695) he became an envoy to Silla (Note: following the Nihon Shoki). At the court of Emperor Monmu he advanced to Jikikō-san and became Tsukushi-no-daini, Senior Assistant Governor of Tsukushi. Together with Ōtomo-no-Yasumaro, Awata-no-Mahito, and others he took part in the deliberations of government. He was granted Senior Fourth Rank Upper and became Nakatsukasa-kyō, Minister of Central Affairs. In the first year of Wadō (708) he was appointed Chūnagon, Middle Counsellor. In the following year he was granted Junior Third Rank. In the seventh year of Wadō (714) he died (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi).

Sakaibe-no-Iwashiki

¶Sakaibe-no-Iwashiki was a descendant of Ōhiko-no-mikoto. His ancestor, in the reign of Emperor Ingyō, received an imperial command to set up boundary markers along the borders, and for this he was granted the clan title Sakaibe-no-muraji (Note: following the Shinsen Shōjiroku. On examination: Sakaibe is also written 境部, with the character for "boundary." The Shoku Nihongi writes Iwashiki as 石敷, with a different second character. The entry for the second year of Emperor Saimei in the Nihon Shoki writes it 磐鍬 (Iwakuwa), but in the text below and in the book of Iki-no-Hakatoko it is written 石布 (Iwashiki) throughout, and in every case the readings are mutually compatible). In the second year of Saimei (656), Iwashiki became deputy envoy to Koma, and soon afterward was granted Shōkin-ge. In the fifth year of Saimei (659) he became chief envoy to Tang (Note: following the Nihon Shoki). In the ninth month he reached the southern islands of Kudara and then put out to sea, where he met contrary winds and drifted to the island of Nikai in the southern sea, where the islanders killed him. Yamato-no-Aya-no-Osa, Arima, Sakaibe-no-Inazumi, and two others, five in all, seized the bandits' boat and escaped as far as Kasshū. The provincial and district authorities relayed them onward and sent them to Rakuyō (Note: following the book of Iki-no-Hakatoko cited in the commentary to the Nihon Shoki. On examination: the record of the deeds of Arima and his companions ends here. Probably they reached Tōkei, the Eastern Capital, and had an audience with the Son of Heaven together with the deputy envoy Tsumori-no-Kisa who accompanied them, but the Nihon Shoki does not record this, and there is likewise no material by which their return home can be investigated). In the first year of Tenpyō-hōji (757) the Daijōkan submitted a memorial saying, "Shōkin-ge Sakaibe-no-Sukune Iwashiki, having received the command to go as an envoy to the land of Tang, was killed by bandits on a lonely island where he had drifted ashore. This is truly pitiable, and a reward should be granted in accordance with the statutes. Let six chō of merit land be transmitted to his son" (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi).

Tsumori-no-Kisa

¶Tsumori-no-Kisa held the rank of Daisen-ge. In the fifth year of Emperor Saimei (659) he became deputy envoy to Tang (Note: following the Nihon Shoki). At sea he met a storm and was separated from the chief envoy Sakaibe-no-Iwashiki. After sailing a day and a night he reached Sugan-zan in Kaikei, but was beaten by a violent northeast wind. Some days later he reached Yoyō and left his baggage there. He proceeded by land to the prefecture of Esshū. At that time Emperor Kōsō was at Tōkei, so he rode post-horses and entered Tōkei (Note: following the book of Iki-no-Hakatoko cited in the commentary to the Nihon Shoki). Kisa led the Emishi whom he had brought with him and presented himself at court (Note: following the book of Naniwa-no-Ohito cited in the commentary to the Nihon Shoki). Kōsō asked, "Is the Emperor of the land of Japan in good health?" Kisa replied, "Because the virtue of heaven and earth is joined in him, he is naturally at peace." He asked again, "Are the Shitsuji-kyō and the other officials well?" and Kisa replied, "The Emperor is compassionate, and all are well." Again he asked, "Is the country at peace?" and Kisa replied, "It is governed in accord with the principles of heaven and earth, and the myriad people live without trouble." Kōsō then asked about the customs of the land of the Emishi, and Kisa described them in full detail. Kōsō praised his replies and spoke kind words of comfort to him in person, saying, "You have borne a long and wearying journey. Withdraw to your lodgings and rest; we shall meet again another day." In the eleventh month, on the first day of the month, which was also the winter solstice, Kōsō received congratulations; the envoys of the various countries all attended court, and Kisa attended as well, and his bearing was the finest of all. Afterward, however, the guest house was struck by fire, and because there were also those who slandered him, he came to be held guilty. Soon an order was issued: "Next year we shall undertake an action in the lands east of the sea. You guests from Wa are not permitted to return to your eastern country." Thus he was confined in the Western Capital and passed many years in hardship (Note: following the book of Iki-no-Hakatoko). Kisa's distant descendant Kunimoto, of Junior Fifth Rank Lower, became kannushi, chief priest, of the Sumiyoshi shrine. Thereafter the office was inherited generation after generation down to the present day (Note: following the genealogy).

Iki-no-Hakatoko

¶At the court of Emperor Saimei, Iki-no-Hakatoko was in Tang together with Tsumori-no-Kisa and the others, the deputy envoy to Tang. Kawachi-no-Aya-no-Ōmaro, a retainer of Karano-Chikō, who was of the same kin and of the Wajū, slandered our mission. The mission was charged with guilt, and Tang had already passed a sentence of exile, sending Chikō three thousand ri away, but Hakatoko, being among the mission, argued that the charge was false, and so was able to escape punishment. At that time Tang was in the midst of its war with Kudara, and he was confined in the Western Capital and passed many years in hardship, but at last the situation quieted and he was able to return home. At sea he met a storm and drifted to the island of Tanra, and returned bringing nine men including its prince, Awaki. Tanra's coming to pay tribute began with this (Note: following the book of Hakatoko cited in the commentary to the Nihon Shoki. On examination: the three characters "betsu Wajū" are from the text of the entry for the fifth year of Hakuchi in the Nihon Shoki. This book does not record Hakatoko's name, but because his book is cited in the commentary, it has been followed. As for the details of his comings and goings, there is no material by which any of it can be investigated). During the regency of Emperor Tenji, Hakatoko, of the rank of Shōsen-ge, escorted Hōsō, Shiba of Kudara, and his party. In the following year he returned home. At the time of the rebellion of Prince Ōtsu, Hakatoko took part in it, but Empress Jitō pardoned him and let the matter go unpunished. Afterward he advanced to Mudai-ni and, together with Ono-no-Keno, of Jikikō-shi, went as an envoy to Silla (Note: following the Nihon Shoki). In the Taihō era (701-704), as a reward for his merit in drawing up the codes of law, he was granted ten chō of rice land, a fief of fifty households, and Junior Fifth Rank Upper. At the beginning of Tenpyō-hōji (757), the Daijōkan submitted a memorial and had his merit land transmitted to his son (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi).

Awata-no-Mahito

¶Awata-no-Mahito's ancestor came from Ame-tarashi-kuni-oshihito-no-mikoto (Note: following the Shinsen Shōjiroku). Mahito loved learning, was skilled in composition, and had a dignified bearing (Note: following the Japan chapter of the Shin Tōjo). At the court of Emperor Temmu he was granted Shōkin-ge and advanced to Jikidai-shi; he asked to yield this to his father, but it was not permitted. At the court of Empress Jitō he became Tsukushi-no-Dazai and presented one hundred and seventy-four Hayato, together with a number of lengths of cloth, ox hides, and deer hides, and was given clothing as a reward (Note: following the Nihon Shoki). He advanced to Jikidai-ni. At the court of Emperor Monmu he took part in the compilation of the codes of law and became Minbu-shōsho, Minister of Popular Affairs. In the first year of Taihō (701) he became Shissetsushi, Envoy with the Sword of Authority, to Tang; his rank title was changed, he was granted Senior Fourth Rank Lower, and he received the sword of authority. He reached Tsukushi, but the wind and waves were violent and he could not set out, and so he returned to the capital. In the second year of Taihō (702) he took part in the deliberations of government. Soon he went to Tang once more. When he reached Soshū, a man came and asked, "From what country are you envoys?" Mahito answered, "We are envoys from the land of Japan. In what province's border are we here?" The man answered, "This is Enjō district of Soshū in Daishū, the Great Shū." Mahito asked again, "Formerly it was called Daitō, Great Tang; why has the name of the country been changed?" The man answered, "In the second year of Eijun, the Heavenly Emperor and Grand Sovereign (Kōsō) died, and the Empress Dowager ascended the throne and styled herself Seishin Kōtei, the Holy Divine Emperor, and made the name of the country Daishū, the Great Shū. I have heard that east of the sea there is the land of Great Wa, which they call the country of gentlemen; that its people are prosperous and happy, and that the teaching of courtesy is practiced there. Now, seeing the bearing of the envoys, so quiet and graceful, is it not truly so?" and with these words he left (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi). He reached Chōan and had an audience with Bukō, Empress Wu. He was invited to a banquet in the Rintokuden and was granted the title of Shizen-kyō, Minister of the Imperial Kitchen. Mahito wore a Shintoku-kan, a cap of advancing virtue, whose crown bore a flower ornament opening in four directions, and a purple robe with a silk sash. The Tang court praised the gentleness of his manner (Note: following the Japan chapter of the Shin Tōjo). In the first year of Keiun (704) he returned to court and reported, gave back the sword of authority, and was granted twenty chō of land in Yamato and one thousand koku of grain. In the second year of Keiun (705) he was appointed Chūnagon and advanced to Junior Third Rank. In the early Wadō years (708-) he became Dazai-no-sotsu, Governor-General of Dazaifu, and soon was advanced to Senior Third Rank. In the third year of Yōrō (719) he died (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi).

Sakaibe-no-Ōkida

¶Sakaibe-no-Ōkida was Uhyōe-no-kami, Commander of the Right Division of Palace Guards. In the early Taihō years (701-) he became deputy envoy to Tang and stayed on and settled in Tang. In the Yōrō era (717-724) he returned home with Tajihi-no-Agatamori and was granted Senior Fifth Rank Lower (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi).

Kamo-no-Kibimaro

¶Kamo-no-Kibimaro (Note: in this book Kamo, 鴨, is also written 賀茂; either way of writing is acceptable, whether read by sound or by meaning) was Gyōbu-no-hanji, Judge of the Ministry of Justice. In the early Taihō years (701-) he became Chūi on the mission to Tang. In the Keiun era (704-708) he was rewarded for his labors on a mission to a distant land with ashiginu, a coarse silk, as well as floss silk, cloth, hoes, and grain. During Wadō and Yōrō (708-724) he served successively as Shimōsa-no-kami and Genba-no-kami, then as Kawachi-no-kami with Junior Fourth Rank Lower, and was transferred to be Harima-no-kami, in which post he oversaw the inspectorate of Bizen, Mimasaka, Bitchū, and Awaji (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi).

Yamanoue-no-Okura

¶Yamanoue-no-Okura, in the early Taihō years (701-), became Shōroku, Junior Secretary, on the mission to Tang. At the end of Wadō (715) he reached Junior Fifth Rank Lower. In the Reiki era (715-717) he became Hōki-no-kami. In the Yōrō era (717-724) an edict ordered that whenever he left the court he should attend upon the Crown Prince's household (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi). At the court of Emperor Shōmu he became Chikuzen-no-kami. Okura was skilled in literature and excelled in waka. He compiled the Karin Ruijū (Note: following the Man'yōshū).

Iki-no-Komaro

¶Iki-no-Komaro, in the early Taihō years (701-), went to Tang with the mission to Tang. In the Keiun era (704-708) he was rewarded for his labors with ashiginu, floss silk, cloth, hoes, and grain (Note: the book records the whole course of the mission to Tang in its entries for the first and second years of Taihō and the first year of Keiun, but Komaro's name does not appear there. However, the entry for the fourth year of Keiun records that he received a reward together with Kibimaro, and from this it is clear that he went to Tang). In the early Tenpyō years (729-) he rose to Junior Fifth Rank Upper and became Shimotsuke-no-kami (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi).

Tajihi-no-Agatamori

¶Tajihi-no-Agatamori was a son of Shima, Sadaijin, Minister of the Left (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin). In the Keiun era (704-708) he was granted Junior Fifth Rank Lower (Note: on examination: the entry for the third year of Wadō (710) in this book states that Tajihi-no-Ōagatamori, of Junior Fourth Rank Lower, was made Kunai-kyō, Minister of the Imperial Household. Judging from the context, the record lacks any statement of rank, and the character "Ō" seems to be a stray insertion. It is suspected to be a displaced passage, and so it is not adopted here). At the beginning of Reiki (715) he advanced to Junior Fourth Rank Lower, became Zōgū-kyō, Minister of Palace Construction, and was singled out to be Oshi, Senior Envoy, to Tang. In the first year of Yōrō (717) he received the sword of authority and went to Tang (Note: on examination: the Japan chapter of the Shin Tōjo says that in the early Kaigen years Kurita (that is, Awata) again came to court and asked that scholars be allowed to teach him the classics; an edict was issued to Chō Genboku, Shimon Jokyō, Assistant Instructor of the Four Gates, to make the Kōro-ji, the Court of State Ceremonial, a place of instruction and to serve as his teacher. He offered fine broad cloth as gifts, and exchanged all that was bestowed on him for books, and carried them home. His deputy envoy, Asomi Nakamaro, admired the culture of Tang and would not leave. According to the Shoku Nihongi, Awata-no-Mahito went to Tang in the second year of Taihō and returned in the first year of Keiun, and afterward did not go again. The "Kurita" recorded in the Tōjo is presumably Agatamori. The first year of Yōrō corresponds to the fifth year of Kaigen in Tang, which approximately matches the phrase "the early Kaigen years" in the record. Nakamaro's going to Tang must also have been at this time). Emperor Gensō bestowed court robes on him, and in the following year he returned home. In the first month of the third year of Yōrō (719), Agatamori led the deputy envoys and others and appeared at court in the dress of Tang. Soon afterward he advanced to Senior Fourth Rank Lower and became Musashi-no-kami, overseeing the inspectorate of Sagami, Kōzuke, and Shimotsuke, and was relieved of the Harima inspectorate. In the fourth year of Yōrō (720), the Emishi of Mutsu rose in revolt and killed the inspector Kamitsukeno-no-Hirohito. Agatamori became Jisetsu Seii Shōgun, General for Subduing the Emishi, received the sword of authority, and pacified them. In the following year he was granted Senior Fourth Rank Upper, returned in triumph, and became Nakatsukasa-kyō, Minister of Central Affairs (Note: on examination: this book records that from the generals and below who campaigned against the Emishi of Mutsu and the Hayato of Ōsumi and Satsuma, down to the Emishi who had done meritorious service and the interpreters, each was granted a decoration of merit. Judging from the context, Agatamori should also have been included in this list of awards, but since there is no explicit statement, it is not recorded here). He was transferred to Dazai-no-daini, Senior Assistant Governor-General of Dazaifu. In the first year of Tenpyō (729) he became Gon-sangi, Provisional Counsellor, and was advanced to Junior Third Rank, and soon became Minbu-kyō, Minister of Popular Affairs. In the third year of Tenpyō (731), on the recommendation of the various offices, he was raised to Sangi, Counsellor, and became Sanyōdō Chinbushi, Pacification Commissioner of the Sanyōdō. In the fourth year of Tenpyō (732) he was appointed Chūnagon, Middle Counsellor, became San'indō Setsudoshi, Military Commissioner of the San'indō, and was advanced to Senior Third Rank. In the ninth year of Tenpyō (737) he died (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi). He was seventy years old (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin). His younger brother was Hironari (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi).

Tajihi-no-Hironari

¶Tajihi-no-Hironari, in the Wadō era (708-715), was appointed Shimotsuke-no-kami and became deputy general of the mission to receive Silla envoys. In the Yōrō era (717-724) he was transferred to Echizen-no-kami, overseeing the inspectorate of Noto, Etchū, and Echigo. In the fourth year of Tenpyō (732) he became chief envoy to Tang. In the fifth year of Tenpyō (733) he received the sword of authority and went to Tang. In the sixth year of Tenpyō (734), as he was about to return home, he met a violent storm and the four ships were scattered. After more than a month Hironari drifted ashore on the island of Tane. In the seventh year of Tenpyō (735) he returned to the capital, gave back the sword of authority, and was granted Senior Fourth Rank Upper. When the Emperor viewed mounted archery in the northern pine grove, Hironari led the men of Tang in performing the music of Tang and of Silla and displayed their skill in handling the spear, and he also presented six scrolls of questions and answers with the Shōyaku, supplementary student, Hata-no-Ōmaro. In the ninth year of Tenpyō (737) he was appointed Sangi, rose to Chūnagon, and became Junior Third Rank. In the eleventh year of Tenpyō (739) he died (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi). Hironari loved literature and was skilled in poetry (Note: following the Kaifūsō). When he was formerly in Tang, he was called Botanchi, "the peony court steps," and his descendants used the character "chi" of Tanchi, "vermilion steps," on that account (Note: following the entry for the eighth year of Jōgan (866) in the Sandai Jitsuroku. On examination: in the imperial rescript of Gensō in the Kyokukō-shū he is also called Tanchi-no-Mahito).

Nakatomi-no-Nashiro

¶Nakatomi-no-Nashiro was a great-grandson of Mikeko. His father was Shimamaro, who held the rank of Shōsen-chū (Note: following the Nakatomi Keifu). In the early Tenpyō years (729-) Nashiro was granted Junior Fifth Rank Lower. In the fourth year of Tenpyō (732) he became deputy envoy to Tang. In the following year he went to Tang (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi), but was carried by the wind at sea and drifted in the southern sea, and only after enduring every kind of hardship did he reach Tang (Note: following the rescript of Gensō in the Kyokukō-shū). In the eighth year of Tenpyō (736) he returned home carrying a letter from Gensō, bringing with him three men of Tang, Kōho Tōchō and his companions, and a man of the land of Persia, Ri Mitsuei (Note: on examination: that he carried a letter from Gensō is according to the Kyokukō-shū). The Emperor attended the morning audience, granted Nashiro Junior Fourth Rank Lower, and made him Jingi-haku, Head of the Department of Rites. He was exiled in connection with the affair of Fujiwara-no-Hirotsugu (Note: on examination: this book does not record the place to which he was sent, and there is now no means of investigating it). After a little over a year he was recalled and restored to his former rank. In the seventeenth year of Tenpyō (745) he died (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi).

¶His son Takanushi (Note: following the genealogy) was granted Senior Sixth Rank Upper. In the Tenpyō-hōji era (757-765), the Tang envoy Shin Igaku and his companions escorted Kō Gendo and arrived at Dazaifu. The court, intending to escort Igaku and his party back, appointed an envoy to Tang and issued an edict to have four ships built in Aki province, and Takanushi became Hangan, Judge, on the mission to Tang. When the ships were finished and reached Naniwa, the glued seams of one of them split, so the numbers of the mission were reduced and limited to two ships. Takanushi was granted Junior Fifth Rank Lower, became chief envoy, and received the sword of authority. When he reached Dazaifu the wind and waves raged. An edict was issued to send Igaku and his party back, and Takanushi and his companions were recalled. Takanushi served successively as Hizen-no-kami and Bubu-no-shōkyō, Junior Minister of the Bubu, but was implicated in a case and struck from the register. In the Hōki era (770-781) his rank was restored and he became Ō-hanji, Senior Judge. In the Enryaku era (782-806) he became Chief of the Mint, advanced to Junior Fifth Rank Upper, and served successively as Jingi-taifu, Senior Assistant of the Department of Rites, and Shinano-no-kami (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi). His son Otohira was Iga-no-kami, of Junior Fifth Rank Lower (Note: following the genealogy).

Ono-no-Iwane

¶Ono-no-Iwane was a son of Oyu, Dazai-no-daini, Senior Assistant Governor-General of Dazaifu. In the Tenpyō-hōji era (757-765) he was granted Junior Fifth Rank Lower and served successively as Nankaidō Setsudo Fukushi, Deputy Military Commissioner of the Nankaidō, Nagato-no-kami, and Zōgū-no-taifu, Senior Assistant of Palace Construction. In the Keiun era he became Ōmi-no-suke. In the Hōki era (770-781) he was appointed Chūe-no-shōshō, Lesser General of the Middle Guards, concurrently served as Sa-chūben, Middle Controller of the Left, was transferred to Chūjō, Middle General, concurrently served as Chief of the Mint, and advanced to Junior Fifth Rank Upper. In the seventh year of Hōki (776), Saeki-no-Imaemishi and his party, the chief envoys to Tang, reached Hizen but could not obtain a favorable wind and returned to the capital. For this reason the deputy envoy Ōtomo-no-Masutate was dismissed and Iwane was made deputy envoy. In the eighth year of Hōki (777) he concurrently became Harima-no-kami. In the fourth month, because Imaemishi had fallen ill, an edict was issued ordering Iwane to carry the sword of authority and set out first, acting in the chief envoy's stead. The edict said, "The chief envoy Imaemishi is gravely ill and cannot endure the journey. On the day you arrive in Tang, if they ask why there is no chief envoy, manage matters skillfully as circumstances require." Iwane, though he wore purple robes, still styled himself deputy envoy, carried the sword of authority and performed the duties in the chief envoy's place, doing everything in accordance with the earlier edict. In the first month of the ninth year of Hōki (778) he reached Chōan. In the third month he had an audience with Daisō in the Eneiden. For his return, Daisō sent the eunuch Chō Hōei and others to accompany him. In the eleventh month, the wind and waves were fierce and violent, and the first ship was wrecked. Iwane, Hōei, and the others sank into the sea. In the following year Junior Fourth Rank Lower was posthumously granted to Iwane (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi).

Ono-no-Shigeno

¶Ono-no-Shigeno, in the Hōki era (770-781), became Chokushi-no-daijō, Senior Secretary for Imperial Decrees, and concurrently Shimōsa-no-gon-no-suke. In the sixth year of Hōki (775) he became Hangan, Judge, on the mission to Tang. In the eighth year of Hōki (777) he went to Tang. In the tenth month of the ninth year of Hōki (778) he returned and reached Tachibana-no-ura in Matsura district, Hizen, and reported as follows. "In the sixth month of the eighth year of Hōki, I, Shigeno, and my companions waited for a wind and put out to sea. In the seventh month, together with the first ship, we reached Kairyō district in Yōshū, and in the eighth month we reached the Great Governor-General's Office of Yōshū. Chin Shōyū, the Inspector and Chief Secretary, because the lodgings and posting stations had been laid waste in the rebellion of An Roku-zan, limited the envoys who would proceed to the capital to sixty. In the tenth month, eighty-five of us set out, and when we had gone a little over a hundred ri, a notice from the Chūsho Monka, the Secretariat-Chancellery, arrived instructing that the number be reduced further to twenty. We petitioned for an addition of twenty-three. The deputy envoy with the sword of authority, Ono-no-Iwane, the deputy envoy Ōmiwa-no-Suetari, the acting judge Haguri-no-Tsubasa, and the recorders Kamitsukeno-no-Ōkawa and Karakuni-no-Minamoto, forty-three in all, arrived at the city of Chōan in the first month of the following year. The supervising envoy devoted himself wholly to looking after our lodgings; our treatment was very generous, envoys from the palace came ceaselessly, and we were permitted an audience in the Senseiden. There we presented the state letter. The Emperor of Tang was greatly pleased and showed it to his ministers. In the third month he summoned us to the Eneiden, and all our requests were granted. He gave us a banquet in the palace, and each received gifts. In the fourth month the supervising envoy Yō Kōyō proclaimed an edict, saying, 'We intend to send the palace envoy Chō Hōei and others, carrying gifts in return, to Japan. Have ships built in Yōshū. You also should be prepared accordingly.' When taking my leave, I said, 'The sea route to our country is very distant, and the dangers of drifting are beyond measure. If a palace envoy goes now, he must cross over raging waves. If any misstep should occur, I fear that the royal command would come to nothing.' The edict then said, 'We have a small gift. We shall order Hōei and the others to escort it. It is right in point of duty, and We do not regard it as a hardship.' He then poured wine into a silver bowl and gave it as a parting gift. In the sixth month we reached Yōshū, but the ships were not yet complete. By a memorial of the palace envoy it was decided that Hōei would board our ship together with us. The first and second ships were at Yōshi Tōtō, and the fourth ship was at Enjō district in Soshū. In the ninth month, our ship caught a wind from due south, cast off its cables, and sailed for three days, but suddenly met a contrary wind and the ship ran aground on a sandbar. The damage was severe, and we exerted ourselves to repair it. On the sixteenth day of this month the ship floated and was able to put out to sea, and on the twenty-third day we reached Tachibana-no-ura in Matsura district, Hizen. Because the guests from Tang are following us to come to court, I ask that the reception be conducted entirely according to the precedents for foreign envoys, and I have myself sent a notice to Dazaifu to make preparations accordingly. The present Son of Heaven of Tang is Prince Kōhei, named Teki (Note: on examination: Daisō's original name was Shuku, and since "Teki" and "Shuku" are close in sound, the character "Teki" was probably used on the basis of reports current at the time), aged fifty-three. The Crown Prince is Prince Yō, named Katsu. The era name is Tairyaku, and it is exactly the thirteenth year." The Emperor ordered Shigeno and the others to proceed to the capital at once. In fact Hōei and the others had boarded the first ship with Ono-no-Iwane and sunk into the sea, and only Son Kōshin and his companions had returned with Shigeno. Shigeno was granted Junior Fifth Rank Lower and became Buzen-no-kami (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi).

Unakami-no-Mikari

¶Unakami-no-Mikari was a descendant of Emperor Bidatsu (Note: following the Shinsen Shōjiroku). At first he was one of the princes of the blood. In the Tenpyō-shōhō era (749-757) he was granted a surname. In the sixth year of Hōki (775) he became Hangan, Judge, on the mission to Tang. In the following year he reached Hizen but could not obtain a favorable wind. The chief envoy Saeki-no-Imaemishi returned to the capital because of illness. Mikari and his companions remained at Dazaifu to await a good opportunity, and the people of the time praised his prudence. Eventually he crossed to Tang. On his return he drifted to the island of Tanra, where the islanders plundered him and held him there. The court issued an edict sending Shimotsumichi-no-Nagahito of Dazaifu to Silla to receive Mikari. Silla found Mikari, and he returned home together with Nagahito. He became Dazai-no-shōni, Junior Assistant Governor-General of Dazaifu. In the Enryaku era (782-806) he rose to Junior Fifth Rank Upper and served successively as Hyōbu-no-taifu, Senior Assistant Minister of War, U-chūben, Middle Controller of the Right, and Director of the Construction of the Nagaoka Palace (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi). His son Manao, in the Enryaku era, killed a maidservant of his father's concubine out of an old grudge, was thrown into prison, and died there (Note: following the Ruijū Kokushi).

Haguri-no-Tsubasa

¶Haguri-no-Tsubasa was a man of Otokuni district, Yamashiro province. In the sixth year of Hōki (775), when Saeki-no-Imaemishi became chief envoy to Tang, Tsubasa became his recorder, was soon changed to acting judge, concurrently served as Chokushi-no-daijō, Senior Secretary for Imperial Decrees, and went to Tang following the deputy envoy Ono-no-Iwane. In the ninth year of Hōki (778) he returned from Tang. Soon afterward he was granted Junior Fifth Rank Lower. In the first year of Ten'ō (781), by imperial command he went to Naniwa and refined bokushō, a crude mineral salt used in medicine. In the Enryaku era (782-806) he became Tanba-no-suke, was changed to Naiyaku-no-kami, Chief of the Imperial Pharmacy, and concurrently served as attending physician. He then served successively as Sakyō-no-suke and Assistant Director of the Imperial Storehouse, and rose to Senior Fifth Rank Lower (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi. On examination: the entry for the third year of Tenpyō-hōji in this book records that Kō Gendo was made envoy to Tang to welcome Kiyokawa, but does not record the judge or recorder. The entry for the fifth year records that Gendo returned from Tang and was granted Junior Fifth Rank Upper, and that his recorder Haguri-no-Shō remained with Kasei and did not return. Examining the whole book, the name Shō does not appear anywhere other than this place. The characters Shō and Tsubasa are similar in form, so perhaps they are the same man. But at present there is no means of investigating it).

Kamitsukeno-no-Ōkawa

¶Kamitsukeno-no-Ōkawa, in the Hōki era (770-781), became recorder on the mission to Tang, and after his return was appointed Dai-geki, Senior Secretary of the Council of State, concurrently serving as Yamashiro-no-kami. In the Enryaku era (782-806) he rose to Junior Fifth Rank Lower and became Kazue-no-kami, Director of the Bureau of Accounts (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi).

Takahara-no-Minamoto

¶Takahara-no-Minamoto was originally of the Karakuni-no-muraji, and (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi) shared a common ancestor with the Mononobe. One of his ancestors became an envoy to Kara in the reign of Emperor Buretsu, and for this reason was granted the name Karakuni (Note: following the Shinsen Shōjiroku). In the Hōki era (770-781) Minamoto became recorder on the mission to Tang, and on the way home he drifted to the island of Tanra together with Unakami-no-Mikari and the others. Mikari and his companions were seized by the islanders, but Minamoto led the remaining forty-odd members of the party and escaped home. In the Enryaku era (782-806) he rose to Outer Junior Fifth Rank Lower. He submitted a memorial saying, "We are descendants of Mononobe-no-Ōmuraji. The Mononobe-no-muraji family divided, according to the places where they lived and the duties they held, into one hundred and eighty clans. Shiogo, the ancestor of me, Minamoto, and my kin, changed his name to Karakuni-no-muraji after the name of the country to which his father and grandfather had gone as envoys. Thus, though we are descendants of the Ōmuraji and are people of Japan from ancient times, the fact that we are now called 'Kara-kuni,' Land of Kara, makes us sound instead like newcomers from the Three Han. Each time I give my name in public I startle people. To be granted a surname from a place of residence is an established custom from ancient times. I humbly beg that it be changed and granted as 'Takahara.'" This was permitted (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi).

Fuse-no-Kiyonao

¶Fuse-no-Kiyonao, in the Hōki era (770-781), served successively as Shōnagon, Junior Counsellor of State, and Musashi-no-suke. In the ninth year of Hōki (778) he became envoy escorting the guests of Tang, and went to Tang escorting the guests from Tang, Son Kōshin and his companions. In the first year of Ten'ō (781) he returned. He rose to Senior Fifth Rank Lower and became Hyōbu-no-taifu, Senior Assistant Minister of War. In the early Enryaku years (782-) he served successively as Minbu-no-taifu, Senior Assistant Minister of Popular Affairs, and Kazusa-no-kami (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi).

Fujiwara-no-Kadonomaro

¶Fujiwara-no-Kadonomaro was the eldest son of Ogurumaro, Dainagon, Major Counsellor (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin). In the early Enryaku years (782-) he was granted Senior Sixth Rank Upper and advanced to Junior Fifth Rank Lower. Soon afterward he served successively as Mutsu-no-suke, Shōnagon, and U-shōben, Junior Controller of the Right (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi), concurrently served as Tōgū-no-suke, Assistant of the Crown Prince's Household, served successively as Middle Controller of the Left and of the Right, concurrently served as Tōgū-daibu, Master of the Crown Prince's Household, and Iyo-no-kami, was transferred to U-daiben, Senior Controller of the Right, and became Dazai-no-daini. In the twentieth year of Enryaku (801) he was appointed chief envoy to Tang and concurrently became Echizen-no-kami (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin). At his departure a farewell banquet was held in the palace hall, conducted entirely according to Chinese-style ceremony. The Emperor poured wine for him below the throne and composed a waka to console him for his labors. Kadonomaro was moved to tears, and those about him all sighed in admiration and envied him. He was granted three coverlets of the imperial bedding, one set of imperial robes, and two hundred ryō of gold. He took his leave and received the sword of authority. But he met a violent storm and the ship was damaged, and unable to cross, he turned back (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku). In the twenty-third year of Enryaku (804) he was advanced in rank to Junior Fourth Rank Upper (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin). When he went to Tang again, a farewell banquet was held in the palace hall, music was played, and he was granted one precious koto. After ten months he arrived in Chōan and had an audience with Tokusō in the Senkaden. In the twenty-fourth year of Enryaku (805) he returned from Tang and was advanced to Junior Third Rank. In the first year of Daidō (806) he repeatedly served as Sangi, concurrently served as Shikibu-kyō, Minister of Ceremonial, became Tōkaidō Kansatsushi, Inspector of the Tōkaidō, soon became Chūnagon, was advanced to Senior Third Rank, and concurrently served as Tutor of the Crown Prince's Brother (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin). At the time of the incident of Fujiwara-no-Kusuko, Naishi-no-kami, Kadonomaro had once given her counsel, but the Retired Emperor would not listen. When the affair failed, the Emperor intended to punish Kadonomaro severely because he was related by marriage to Kusuko. But because Ō-no-Iruka stood forth to testify, the matter was dropped (Note: following the Ruijū Kokushi). Soon he was transferred to Minbu-kyō. In the ninth year of Kōnin (818) he died, at the age of sixty-four (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku and the Shoku Nihongi). His sons were Tsunetsugu (Note: following the Shoku Nihon Kōki) and Ujimune (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin).

Fujiwara-no-Ujimune

¶Fujiwara-no-Ujimune. In the Ninju and Saikō years (851-857), Ujimune was appointed Sangi, was made Kebiishi no Betto, Chief of the Police and Judicial Commission, and served successively as Sakonoe-no-chūjō, Middle General of the Left Palace Guards, and Saemon-no-kami (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin). In the Jōgan years (859-877) he was granted Junior Third Rank, advanced to Chūnagon, concurrently served as Sakonoe-no-taishō, General of the Left Palace Guards, and was transferred to Gon-dainagon, Provisional Major Counsellor (Note: following the Sandai Jitsuroku and the Kugyō Bunin). At that time an edict was issued ordering those of the rank of Sangi and above to discuss the merits and faults of the government of the day. Fujiwara-no-Yoshimi, Ki-no-Imamori, and others each submitted their opinions, but for a long time there was no reply. Ujimune submitted a memorial asking that those among them that were most urgent and important be chosen and put into effect. Soon he was transferred to General of the Left Palace Guards. Ujimune had long valued the talent of Fujiwara-no-Mototsune, and submitted a memorial asking to yield the post of general to him, but this was not permitted. After a little over a year he was advanced to Senior Third Rank, became Dainagon, and concurrently served as Tōgū-no-fu, Tutor of the Crown Prince. In the following year he was appointed Udaijin, Minister of the Right. He declined, but was not permitted. He therefore asked that half of his office fief be set aside, and further asked that his office allowance, attendants, office land, and seasonal stipend be made equal to those of a Dainagon. In an excellent edict this was praised, and only his request to set aside half of his office fief was granted. In the fourteenth year of Jōgan (872) he died (Note: following the Sandai Jitsuroku). He was sixty-four years old at the time (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin. On examination: this book also records that he was born in the fourteenth year of Enryaku. Calculating from this, he would have died at seventy-eight. The two books contradict each other, and it cannot be known which is correct). The court suspended government for three days, posthumously granted him Senior Second Rank, and sent Ariwara-no-Yukihira, Sangi, and others carrying the imperial rescript and the certificate of rank to his residence, to bestow them together with the proclamation. His household declined to accept them, in accordance with his dying wish (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku).

Fujiwara-no-Tsunetsugu

¶Fujiwara-no-Tsunetsugu. From his youth Tsunetsugu studied at the Daigaku, the university, read widely in the Shiki and the Kansho, recited the Monzen from memory, was skilled in composition, and was also versed in clerical script. He was naturally intelligent and capable, and his dignified bearing was worthy of praise (Note: following the Shoku Nihon Kōki). In the eleventh year of Kōnin (820) he was appointed Ukyō-no-shōshin, Junior Secretary of the Right Capital Office, was transferred to Kurōdo, Chamberlain, and Shikibu-no-daijō, Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Ceremonial, was granted Junior Fifth Rank Lower and made Shimotsuke-no-kami, but did not go to his post. He remained and became Tōgū-no-suke, then was transferred to U-shōben, Junior Controller of the Right. In the early Tenchō years (824-) he served successively as Shikibu-no-shōyū, Junior Assistant Minister of Ceremonial, and concurrently served as Kageyu-no-suke, Assistant Director of the Office of Examiners of Provincial Governors, but was implicated in a case and demoted to Gyōbu-no-shōyū, Junior Assistant Minister of Justice. Soon he was appointed Kurōdo-no-tō, Head Chamberlain, concurrently served as Chief of the Kageyu, and was appointed Sangi. In the ninth year of Tenchō (832) he concurrently became Shimotsuke-no-kami and U-daiben, Senior Controller of the Right. In the first year of Jōwa (834) he became Kentō Jisetsu Taishi, Chief Envoy with the Sword of Authority to Tang, and concurrently served as Ōmi-no-gon-no-kami. In the following year he was transferred to Sa-daiben, Senior Controller of the Left, with his other offices unchanged, and was advanced in rank to Senior Fourth Rank Lower (Note: compiled by comparing the Shoku Nihon Kōki and the Kugyō Bunin). In the third year of Jōwa (836), when he was about to go to Tang, he was provisionally granted Senior Second Rank and received the sword of authority. The Emperor appeared at the Shishinden and gave a banquet, ordered those of Fifth Rank and above to compose poems and see him off. When Tsunetsugu came forward and offered a cup wishing the Emperor long life, the Emperor raised a cup in return, and bestowed on him imperial robes, white silk, imperial bedding, and gold dust, and the banquet ended in the greatest joy. But at sea he met a storm, and two of his ships drifted away. A report came from Dazaifu, and the Emperor consoled him with an imperial rescript. Tsunetsugu submitted a memorial apologizing, but in the end could not make the crossing. By the court's decision, because the westward crossing was difficult and the ships were damaged, the judges and those below were sent back to the capital by ship, while for the chief envoy and deputy envoy staying or leaving was left to their own choice, and Tsunetsugu returned to the capital. In the fourth year of Jōwa (837) he was appointed Dazai-no-gon-no-sotsu, Provisional Governor-General of Dazaifu. In the third month of the following year he went to Tang again. In the eighth month of the sixth year of Jōwa (839) he returned to court. The Emperor appeared at the Shishinden and received the reply letter, summoned Tsunetsugu close to the throne to console him for his labors, and held a drinking banquet in the palace hall. Tsunetsugu spoke in detail of the course of the mission and the hardships of the journey. He was granted imperial bedding and imperial robes, and the Emperor issued an edict saying, "The chief envoy to Tang, Fujiwara-no-Tsunetsugu, crossed distant, raging seas and passed through extraordinary hardships. That he accomplished his mission and returned with a reply letter is truly a cause for joy. From Tsunetsugu on down to the sailors, their court ranks should be advanced. The judge, Fujiwara-no-Toyonami, of Senior Sixth Rank Upper, died in Tang; We lament him deeply, and a reward should be added." Tsunetsugu was granted Junior Third Rank and Toyonami was posthumously granted Junior Fifth Rank Upper. The other judges also were granted ranks with distinctions according to their stations. In this year he went into mourning for his mother. In the following year an edict was issued directing him to serve at court and take charge of government affairs. Soon afterward he died, at the age of forty-five. At that time, those who generation after generation held office and were exclusively chosen to handle diplomatic receptions were only Tsunetsugu and his father (Note: following the Shoku Nihon Kōki). His three sons were Okikuni, Fumihiro, and Katsumi (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku). Okikuni, in the Jōwa and Saikō years (834-857), rose through several posts to become Tōgū-no-suke (Note: following the Montoku Jitsuroku and the Sandai Jitsuroku). In the Jōgan years (859-877) he reached Junior Fourth Rank Lower (Note: following the Sandai Jitsuroku). Fumihiro was of Junior Fifth Rank Lower and Tanba-no-kami. Katsumi was of Senior Sixth Rank Upper and Hyūga-no-kami (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku).