The Incorporation of the Southwestern Islands into Japan under the Yamato Imperial Court

     From the end of the 7th century till the beginning of the 8th century, the central imperial government was expanding its realm into the Southwestern Islands.  Imiki Hakase (?-?), who belonged to the Fumi Clan, an immigrant clan from China, played an important role in the incorporation of the islets.  In the ancient ranking system in Japan at the end of the 7th century, royal families were classified into 12 ranks, and subjects were classified into 48 ranks.  Hakase was ranked 28th in the latter.

     According to Shoku Nihongi, whose compilation was completed in 797:

     “On the 13th day of April, Summer, 698, Imiki Hakase and other officers were sent to the Southwestern Islands to explore for nations, and were provided with weapons.”

     “On the 19th day of July, Autumn, 699, Tane, Yaku, Amami, and Toku people paid tribute to the imperial central government, accompanied by the officers who had been dispatched.  The islanders offered local products, and were granted different ranks and rewards accordingly.  This was the first contact with Toku Island.”

     “On the 4th day of November, 699, Imiki Hakase of the Fumi Clan and others came back from the Southwestern Islands.  Each of them was given a different promotion accordingly.”

     “On the 5th day of December, 714, Okaji of the O Clan and others came back from the Southwestern Islands to the central government, bringing 52 people from Amami, Ishigaki, Kume, and other Islands.”

     At the beginning of the 8th century, subjects were classified into 30 ranks, and Okaji was ranked 30th.

     “On New Year’s Day, 715, The Emperor received the celebration of subjects at the main building of the Inner Palace.  The Prince, in formal wear for the first time, gave celebration to the Emperor.  The barbarians from Mutsu and Dewa Provinces, and the islanders of Amami, Yaku, Toku, Ishigaki, Kume, and other southern islets visited the court and presented their own local products.”

     “On the 20th day of February, 754, the following imperial order was given to the Regional Government of Kyushu at Dazai:  In 735, the First Undersecretary at the time, Oyu of the Ono Clan, who was ranked 9th, sent Ushiki of the Takahashi Clan to the Southwestern Islands to put up noticeboards.   However, those noticeboards have got rotten and deteriorated over time.  According to their condition, the noticeboards should be either restored or erected, based on the last ones.  Each noticeboard should clearly show the name of the island, where they can anchor their ship, and where they can get water.  In addition, the names of islands which can be seen in the far distance on their way from or back to Japan should be written, so that drifted ships can know which way they should head for.”

     Around those years, precisely speaking, from 672 till 769, the Japanese missions to Tang China took the south route from the Southwestern Islands across the East China Sea, instead of the north route along the Korea Peninsula via the Liaodong Peninsula across the Yellow Sea to the Shandong Peninsula.  As Sila had unified the Korea Peninsula, the Tang-Sila relationship had got deteriorated.  The deterioration made it impossible for Japan to send their missions to Tang along the coast of the peninsula.

     Although the Southwestern Islands were all tiny islets, neighboring islets were all within a horizon each other between the southernmost cape of Kyushu Island and Okinawa Island.  In a sense, when they sail back from China with their immature art of navigation at the time, the Southwestern Islands played the role of a safe net, however large-meshed they were.

     What happened then to those who missed the net?  Let me introduce the luckiest case.

     “On the 17th day of January, 754, the Regional Government at Dazai reported:  On the 7th day of December, last year, the mission ship which Mabi of the Kibi Clan, who was the vice ambassador and was ranked 8th, was aboard reached Yaku Island.  Later, they left the island, but drifted, and was washed ashore on Cape Muro in Kii Province.”

     That was the only reported case that those who were aboard a wrecked ship came back alive.  There were more that were drowned at sea with the precious goods from China with them.  It means that there were more cases that those precious goods were washes ashore as flotsam.  In those days, flotsam and driftage were supposed to belong to those who found them.  Extra special income for Kumano sea people!

     Once they got accustomed to extra special income, it must have been difficult, as you can easily imagine, to live on a usual tight budget.  Their appetite for the extra special income might have led them to the Seto Inland Sea, which became the main route again between the continent, China and Korea, and the center of Japan, Kyoto.

     Lastly, let me add an example of flotsam from the Southwestern Islands to Kumano.

     “Genpei Seisui Ki”, an anonymous war tale whose writing and/or compilation was finished by the latter half of the 14th century, depicted Taira Yasunori (1146?-1220) floating 1,000 wooden stupa sculptures on the sea.  He was exiled to Io Island, which was located in halfway between Kyushu and Yaku Islands.

     “Yasunori prayed that his written words should be blown and washed to Japan so that his old mother in his home town could read them.  He floated a wooden stupa sculpture on waves whenever west winds blow.  His thoughts became winds and his wishes became waves.  Even the Dragon God accepted his prayers.  One of the sculptures was washed on the port of Shingu.”  Shingu was located in Kumano, Kii Province.  His wooden sculpture was not sent to Kyoto, though.