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Japanese Missions to Tang China

Between 630 and 838, the Japanese court sent 19 official missions to Tang China, the most advanced civilization in East Asia at the time. In addition to cultivating diplomatic and commercial ties, the envoys on these missions, known as kentoshi, were tasked with studying Chinese government, economy, culture, and religion. The knowledge they brought back to Japan formed the basis for land and administrative reforms, the creation of population registers, and even the layout of the capital cities of Heijokyo (in present-day Nara Prefecture) and Heiankyo (later Kyoto), which were modeled on the Tang capital of Chang’an.

Two of the most notable Buddhist priests in Japanese history, Saicho (767–822) and Kukai (774–835), were part of the kentoshi mission of 804. Based on their studies and experiences in China, they established, respectively, the Tendai and Shingon schools, which had a profound influence on Japanese philosophy and aesthetics, as well as religious thought and practice, for centuries.

Each kentoshi mission consisted of four ships carrying a delegation of several hundred diplomats, scholars, artists, and traders. The embassies initially traveled by sea past Iki and Tsushima and along the coast of the Korean Peninsula to the Shandong Peninsula, where they disembarked to begin the overland journey to Chang’an. This route was abandoned in the 660s, and from the year 702 kentoshi ships took the shorter but far more dangerous route from the Goto Islands directly across the East China Sea to the mouth of the Yangtze River and on to the mercantile city of Yangzhou.

Goto was the envoys’ last port of call, where they waited for favorable winds before sailing across the open sea. There are numerous sites associated with the kentoshi, both in northern Goto around the Aokata and Aiko areas and in the south on and near the Mimiraku Peninsula.

日本遣唐使

西元630年至838年，日本陸續向當時東亞最先進的文明古國——中國唐朝派遣了19支官方使節團。除了加深外交和商業關係，這些被稱為「遣唐使」的使節團還負責研究中國的政治、經濟、文化和宗教。他們將知識帶回日本，為推進日本的土地和行政改革、建立人口登記制度打下了基礎，同時也為以唐朝都城長安（今西安）為藍本的都城平城京（今奈良縣）和平安京（今京都）的布局規畫提供了參照。

最澄（767-822）和空海（774-835）是804年遣唐使團成員，他們是日本歷史上最著名的兩位佛教高僧。以在中國的學習和經歷為基礎，他們分別創立了天台宗和真言宗，上千年來對日本的哲學、美學、宗教思想和實踐都產生了深遠的影響。

每支遣唐使團由4艘船組成，船上載有數百名外交官、學者、藝術家和商賈。使節團最初從海上經由壹岐島和對馬島，沿著朝鮮半島海岸到達山東半島，在那裡登陸後前往長安。這條路線在西元660年代中斷。自西元702年開始，遣唐使改走一條更短，但也更為兇險的路線：從五島列島出發，直接橫跨東海到達長江口，再前往繁榮的商業城市揚州。

五島是遣唐使在日本停靠的最後一站，他們在此等待順風駛過大海。在五島北部的青方、相河地區以及南部的三井樂半島周邊，迄今仍留存了許多與遣唐使有關的遺址。

日本遣唐使

公元630年至838年，日本朝廷陆续向当时东亚最先进的文明古国——中国唐朝派遣了19支官方使节团。除了加深外交和商业关系，这些被称为“遣唐使”的使节团还负责研究中国的政治、经济、文化和宗教。他们将知识带回日本，为推进日本的土地和行政改革、建立人口登记制度打下了基础，同时也为以唐朝都城长安（今西安）为蓝本的都城平城京（今奈良县）和平安京（今京都）的布局规划提供了参照。

日本历史上最著名的两位佛教高僧——最澄(767-822)和空海(774-835)是804年遣唐使团成员。他们以在中国的学习和经历为基础，分别创立了天台宗和真言宗，上千年来对日本的哲学、美学、宗教思想和实践都产生了深远的影响。

每支遣唐使团由4艘船组成，船上载有数百名外交官、学者、艺术家和商人。使节团最初从海上经由壹岐岛和对马岛，沿着朝鲜半岛海岸到达山东半岛，在那里登陆后前往长安。这条路线在公元7世纪60年代中断。自公元702年开始，遣唐使船改为从五岛列岛出发，直接横跨东海到达长江口，再前往繁荣的商业城市扬州。这条路线更短，但也更为凶险。

五岛是遣唐使在日本停靠的最后一站，他们在此等待顺风来临时启航渡海。在五岛北部的青方、相河地区以及南部的三井乐半岛周边，迄今仍留存了许多与遣唐使有关的遗址。