Japanese missions to Sui China explained

Japanese missions to Sui China represent a lens for examining and evaluating the relationship between the Sui dynasty and Japan in the 7th century. 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.^[1]

Between 607 and 838, Japan sent 19 missions to China. 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.^[2]

width=8%	Year	width=10%	Sender	width=26%	Japanese envoys	width=10%	Chinese monarch	width=48%	Comments
607	Suiko	Ono no Imoko^[3]	Yang	Imoko's title was kenzuishi^[4]
608	Suiko	Ono no Imoko	Yang	Takamuko no Kuromaro (no Genri)^[5] and Minabuchi no Shōan,^[6] along with the Buddhist monk Sōmin ^[7] remained in China for 32 years before returning to Japan. Like Imoko, the titles of Kuromaro and Shoan were kenzuishi
614	Suiko	Inugami no Mitasuki^[8]	Yang	Yatabe Zo traveled along with Mitasuki.

See also

• Sinocentrism
• Japanese missions to Tang China
• Japanese missions to Ming China
• Japanese missions to Joseon

References

• Fogel, Joshua A. (2009). Articulating the Sinosphere: Sino-Japanese Relations in Space and Time. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. ;
• Nussbaum, Louis Frédéric and Käthe Roth. (2005). Japan Encyclopedia. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. ;

Notes and References

1. Fogel, Joshua A. (2009). Articulating the Sinosphere: Sino-Japanese Relations in Space and Time, pp. 102-107.
2. Hoffman, Michael. "Cultures Combined in the Mists of Time: Origins of the China-Japan relationship," Asia Pacific Journal: Japan Focus. February 3, 2006; reprinting article in Japan Times, January 29, 2006.
3. Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Ono no Imoko" in ; n.b., Louis-Frédéric is pseudonym of Louis-Frédéric Nussbaum, see Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Authority File .
4. Nussbaum, "Kentōshi" at
5. Nussbaum, "Takamuko no Kuromaro (No Genri)" at
6. Nussbaum, "Minabuchi no Shōan" at
7. Nussbaum, "Sōmin" at
8. Book: Kojima, Noriyuki. Nihon Shoki 2 Shinpen Nihon Kotenbungaku Zenshu 3. Shogakkan. 1996. 4096580031. Japan. 22nd year of Empress Suiko 13th day of the 6th month article.