| Na was a state<ref>The character 国, read as ''koku'' or ''kuni'' in [[Japanese language|Japanese]], can be translated as "country" or "province"</ref> which was located in and around the modern-day city of [[Fukuoka]], on the island of [[Kyushu]], from the 1st to early 3rd centuries CE. Much of what is known about it comes from ancient records of both China and Japan. | | Na was a state<ref>The character 国, read as ''koku'' or ''kuni'' in [[Japanese language|Japanese]], can be translated as "country" or "province"</ref> which was located in and around the modern-day city of [[Fukuoka]], on the island of [[Kyushu]], from the 1st to early 3rd centuries CE. Much of what is known about it comes from ancient records of both China and Japan. |
− | According to the ''Book of Later Han'', in [[57]] CE, Emperor Guangwu of Han granted ''Na'' an [[Imperial Seal of China|imperial seal]], patterned after the Chinese [[jade]] seals, but made of [[gold]]. In return, that same year, Na sent envoys to the Chinese capital, offering [[tribute]] and formal New Year's greetings. This seal was discovered over 1500 years later, by an [[Edo period]] farmer on the island of [[Shikanoshima]], thus helping to verify the existence of ''Na'', which was otherwise known only from the ancient chronicles. Engraved upon it are the characters 「漢委奴国王」(''kan no wa no na no koku-ō'', King of the Japanese country of Na of Han). | + | According to the ''Book of Later Han'', in [[57]] CE, [[Emperor Guangwu]] of [[Han Dynasty|Han]] (China) granted ''Na'' an [[Imperial Seal of China|imperial seal]], patterned after the Chinese [[jade]] seals, but made of [[gold]]. In return, that same year, Na sent envoys to the Chinese capital, offering [[tribute]] and formal New Year's greetings. This seal was discovered over 1500 years later, by an [[Edo period]] farmer on the island of [[Shikanoshima]], thus helping to verify the existence of ''Na'', which was otherwise known only from the ancient chronicles. Engraved upon it are the characters 「漢委奴国王」(''kan no wa no na no koku-ō'', King of the Japanese country of Na of Han). |
| A reference is found in the ''[[Gishiwajinden]]'' (魏志倭人伝, Biography of Japanese of High Aspirations), a portion of the Chinese ''Book of Wei'', to the continued existence of ''Na'' in the 3rd century, naming the officials and stating that it contains over 20,000 homes. | | A reference is found in the ''[[Gishiwajinden]]'' (魏志倭人伝, Biography of Japanese of High Aspirations), a portion of the Chinese ''Book of Wei'', to the continued existence of ''Na'' in the 3rd century, naming the officials and stating that it contains over 20,000 homes. |