Changes

The year [[702]] saw the dispatch of the first mission to Tang since the unification of the Korean peninsula. It is possible that year also saw the first use of the term 「日本」 (J: Nihon; Nippon). Nine more missions would be sent over the course of the 8th century. Unlike previous missions, these now consisted generally of four ships (not two), carrying a total of roughly 500 people. Due to unfriendly relations with Silla (which now dominated the Korean peninsula), Yamato ships now took a southern route, departing from the [[Goto Islands|Gotô Islands]] and making port in China near or at the mouth of the Yangtze. Also in sharp contrast to previously, the Yamato government, fearing the fate of Paekche and Goguryeo, now acknowledged Chinese suzerainty and began sending tribute with some of the missions (roughly once every twenty years).

The year [[702]] saw the dispatch of the first mission to Tang since the unification of the Korean peninsula. It is possible that year also saw the first use of the term 「日本」 (J: Nihon; Nippon). Nine more missions would be sent over the course of the 8th century. Unlike previous missions, these now consisted generally of four ships (not two), carrying a total of roughly 500 people. Due to unfriendly relations with Silla (which now dominated the Korean peninsula), Yamato ships now took a southern route, departing from the [[Goto Islands|Gotô Islands]] and making port in China near or at the mouth of the Yangtze. Also in sharp contrast to previously, the Yamato government, fearing the fate of Paekche and Goguryeo, now acknowledged Chinese suzerainty and began sending tribute with some of the missions (roughly once every twenty years).

Kibi Makibi led the 9th mission to Tang in [[717]], along with Abe no Nakamaro. The envoys journeyed across the sea in four ships, the mission consisting of a total of 557 people, including the monk [[Genbo|Genbô]]. They arrived in [[Chang’an]] in the 10th month, but for reasons which are not entirely clear, Kibi was (according to the fictionalized account related by the scroll painting) captured by the Chinese authorities and imprisoned in a tower. The scroll, dated to the 12th century and executed in astonishingly skillful and fine ink brushwork and bright mineral pigments, relates how he was then visited in the tower by an ''[[oni]]'' (a demon) disguised as a man. The demon informs the minister of a ''[[go]]'' competition being held. Kibi attends, and ultimately ends up defeating the greatest master in China.

Kibi Makibi led the 9th mission to Tang in [[717]], along with Abe no Nakamaro. The envoys journeyed across the sea in four ships, the mission consisting of a total of 557 people, including the monk [[Genbo|Genbô]]. They arrived in [[Chang’an]] in the 10th month, but for reasons which are not entirely clear, Kibi was (according to the fictionalized account related by the scroll painting) captured by the Chinese authorities and imprisoned in a tower. The scroll, dated to the 12th century and executed in astonishingly skillful and fine ink brushwork and bright mineral pigments, relates how he was then visited in the tower by an ''[[oni]]'' (a demon) disguised as a man. The demon informs the minister of a ''[[go]]'' competition being held. Kibi attends, and ultimately ends up defeating the greatest master in China. All three figures remained in China for a considerable period of time.

The 10th mission numbered 594 people in total, and arrived in Luoyang in the 4th month of [[734]], three months after a member of a previous mission, Sei Shinsei (aka [[I no Manari]]) died in Chang’an. The envoys met with [[Emperor Xuanzong]]. This tenth mission departed from China several months after it arrived, leaving from Suzhou in the 10th month of 734. Storms or currents split up the ships; one was lost, while another, carrying Kibi Makibi and Genbô, landed at [[Tanegashima]], its passengers eventually making their way to [[Heijo-kyo|Heijô-kyô]] ([[Nara]]) in the 3rd month of [[735]]. The third envoy ship returned to China and waited for a better time to make the journey, eventually departing in [[736]] and arriving in Japan in the 5th month of that year. The fourth and final ship was thrown off-course, and landed on the coast of what is today Vietnam, where most of the crew was killed by either bandits or disease.

 

The 10th mission numbered 594 people in total, and arrived in Luoyang in the 4th month of [[734]], three months after a member of a previous mission, Sei Shinsei (aka [[I no Manari]]) died in Chang’an. The envoys met with [[Emperor Xuanzong]]. This tenth mission departed from China several months after it arrived, leaving from Suzhou in the 10th month of 734. Storms or currents split up the ships; one was lost, while another, carrying Kibi Makibi and Genbô (who had journeyed to China again after their return in 718), landed at [[Tanegashima]], its passengers eventually making their way to [[Heijo-kyo|Heijô-kyô]] ([[Nara]]) in the 3rd month of [[735]]. The third envoy ship returned to China and waited for a better time to make the journey, eventually departing in [[736]] and arriving in Japan in the 5th month of that year. The fourth and final ship was thrown off-course, and landed on the coast of what is today Vietnam, where most of the crew was killed by either bandits or disease.

Kibi Makibi departed for China yet again in [[752]], along with [[Fujiwara no Kiyokawa]] and [[Otomo no Komaro|Ôtomo no Komaro]]. They arrived safely in China and celebrated New Year’s at the Imperial Court when that year came to a close. Nearly a full year later, in the 11th month of [[753]], they departed China, accompanied by Abe no Nakamaro who, after 36 years in China, was ready to return home. Three of the ships were blown off course and made landfall on [[Okinawa Island]]. Ôtomo no Komaro, along with the Chinese monk Ganjin, who had been trying for many many years to get to Japan, and who had already made five failed attempts to get there, arrived in [[Satsuma province|Satsuma]] in the 12th month. Kibi arrived in [[Kii province]] the following month ([[754]]/1). Another ship caught fire, and was thus delayed, but its passengers and crew safely arrived in Satsuma in the end, in the 4th month of 754. Kiyokawa and Nakamaro were not so lucky, however, and ended up in what is today Vietnam, where they were attacked. Most of the crew and other passengers accompanying them were killed, but the two survived, and made their way to Chang’an by [[755]], where they remained for the rest of their years, never again seeing their homeland.

Kibi Makibi departed for China yet again in [[752]], along with [[Fujiwara no Kiyokawa]] and [[Otomo no Komaro|Ôtomo no Komaro]]. They arrived safely in China and celebrated New Year’s at the Imperial Court when that year came to a close. Nearly a full year later, in the 11th month of [[753]], they departed China, accompanied by Abe no Nakamaro who, after 36 years in China, was ready to return home. Three of the ships were blown off course and made landfall on [[Okinawa Island]]. Ôtomo no Komaro, along with the Chinese monk Ganjin, who had been trying for many many years to get to Japan, and who had already made five failed attempts to get there, arrived in [[Satsuma province|Satsuma]] in the 12th month. Kibi arrived in [[Kii province]] the following month ([[754]]/1). Another ship caught fire, and was thus delayed, but its passengers and crew safely arrived in Satsuma in the end, in the 4th month of 754. Kiyokawa and Nakamaro were not so lucky, however, and ended up in what is today Vietnam, where they were attacked. Most of the crew and other passengers accompanying them were killed, but the two survived, and made their way to Chang’an by [[755]], where they remained for the rest of their years, never again seeing their homeland.