Ambassadors from the Island of Immortals: China-Japan Relations in the Han-Tang Period

Contents

Contents Series Editor’s Preface ix Acknowledgements xi Introduction 1 1 The Islands of Immortals 7 2 Chinese Insignia in East Asian Politics 17 3 The Messenger of the Emperor 33 4 The Voyage to China 66 5 The Journey to Changan 86 6 Diplomacy in the Tang Capital 103 7 Weight and Nuances in State Letters 139 8 Information Gathering 180 9 Acquiring Foreign Talent 202 10 The Multipolar Nature of the International System in Asia 216 Appendix 1: A Chronology of China-Japan Relations from the First to the Ninth Centuries 229 Appendix 2: The Letter to the Surveillance Commissioner at Fuzhou Drafted for the Ambassador 233 Appendix 3: Components of Japanese State Letters 237 Abbreviations 239 Notes 241 Glossary 327 Bibliography 343 Index 375 ...