The Ancient Japanese Good-Family Clans and Piracy (6-4) ——The Further Purge of Silla Connections (4)——

The entry dated November the 13th, 870, in Nihon Sandai Jitsuroku writes: Saeki Matsugu, an additional official of Chicugo Province, reported with an official document from Silla, “Fujiwara Genrimaro, Dazai-fu Subordinate Officer, who belonged the upper class of the upper 7th order in the central nobility, secretly schemed with the Silla King against our country.” Matsugu was restrained and sent to the Prosecutor. The entry dated November the 17th, 870, writes: Fujiwara Genrimaro, Subordinate Officer, was pursued and restrained, along with a valet of the former Director General of the department purchasing fillings for Court and 3 other un-registered commoners, Kiyohara Munetsugu, Nakatomi Toshimaro and Okiyo Aritoshi. Abe Okiyuki, the Upper Secretary, who belonged the lower class of the lower 5th order, was sent to Dazai-fu to question them. Could Genkimaro survive the contest? Fujiwara Yoshimi, who might have been his backer, had died 3 years earlier. Nihon Sandai Jitsuroku tells us no further development of the incident. 3 Kiyohara clans are known in Ancient Japan: one was offspring of the Emperor Tenmu, another was those who did secretarial jobs for the central government, and the other produced chiefs of captive norther aliens in Dewa Province, a part of Northeastern Japan. We can hardly tell which clan Munetsugu belonged to, or whether he belonged to any of the three or not.

The Ancient Japanese Good-Family Clans and Piracy (6-3) ——The Further Purge of Silla Connections (3)——

The entry dated October the 26th, 869, in Nihon Sandai Jitsuroku writes: The Premier argued in front of the Emperor, “The court of Justice turned down the case, and writes, ‘In 866, Azumi Fukuo informed that Ochi Sadahara planed a treason with Silla. We dispatched a messenger to investigate the case, and found Fukuo’s information false.’” A judge refuted, “Fukuo, instead, should be punished to be decapitated. However, Sadahara knew his man had committed a murder but did’t investigate the case. He should be demoted.” The Emperor decided and said, “The decapitation should be reduced to exile. The others should be executed according to laws.” Who and what was Azumi Fukuo? Did he know the case of Funya Miyatamaro versus Yako Ujio in 843? Did he think he would be hired and promoted like Ujio? Or was he a rival smuggler? A certain clan’s spy? Who did Sadahara’s man kill? A fellow of Fukuo’s? Ancient incidents are always covered up in the ancient darkness. Anyway, although Ochi Sadahara survived this contest, he and his clan lost their influence in the central political circles after this incident.

The Ancient Japanese Good-Family Clans and Piracy (6-2) ——The Further Purge of Silla Connections (2)——

Oki Province was an island province, which was about 50 km North off Izumo Province. They both belong to Shimane Prefecture today. The Tsushima Current washes northeastward the northern seashores of the mainland Japan, while the Mamiya Current flows southwestward along the southern seashores of Primorsky and the western seashores of the Korean Peninsula, parts of the Asian Continent both. Accordingly, you can easily sail around the Sea of Japan counterclockwise. Ochi Sadahara used to rule Oki Province as a governor, such a remote island province out of the eyes of the central government yet such a convenient spot to smuggle with Silla. Later, he was accused of the treason against the central government joining hands with Silla by Azumi Fukuo, who was not registered as a farmer or a fisher in Oki.

The Ancient Japanese Good-Family Clans and Piracy (6-1) ——The Further Purge of Silla Connections (1)——

Ochi Sadahara set his hand to an official document offered to Enchin on his study trip to Tang. Sadaharu later became an Oki Province governor. Fujiwara Motorimaro was sent to Izumo-dera Temple in the Northern Hiean-Kyo Capital by Fujiwara Yoshimi on December the 28th, 858. Enchin was staying in the temple after returning from Tang. Osakabe Makujira, Enchin’s relative and Dazai-fu official, had visited Enchin officially on the 27th. They were all seasoned specialists of diplomacy and foreign trading. That means they had had connections with Silla. Did their transfer from Silla connections to Tang connections, or their new commitment to Tang connections, secure their position?

The Ancient Japanese Good-Family Clans and Piracy (5-2) ——The Rise of Tang Connections (2)——

Enchin (814-891) went to Tang with Tang traders, Wan Chao and Li Yanxiao, in 853, and came back to Japan with Li Yanxiao in 858. When he built two buddhism buildings at Gouging Temple in Yue Province, Tang, Fujiwara Yoshimi sent 30 Tael of gold, and Yue traders, such as Shan Jingquan and Liu Shixian, also contributed to the construction.

The Ancient Japanese Good-Family Clans and Piracy (5-1) ——The Rise of Tang Connections (1)——

When Ennin (794-864) made his study trip to Tang from 838 to 847, supports from Silla people, including those who were related with Jang Bogo, were enormous. For example, Ennin was helped by Silla people living in Chishan to keep staying in Tang, half-illegally though. He stayed in Chishan Fahua Temple, which had been founded by Jang Bogo. Ennin had trouble coming back to Japan too, but, somehow or other, got into Silla trader’s ship. His tribulations and adventures were richly introduced and analyzed by Dr. Edwin Oldfather Reischauer (1910-1990). You can rarely find that much information in English literature on Ancient Japan. However, when Enchin (814-891) visited Tang from 853 to 858, he was largely supported by Tang traders and Fujiwara Clan. How transitory history is!