Sending Back Balhae's First Mission

     On February 16 in 728 (April 3 by the Gregorian calendar), the Japanese central government designated Hiketa Mushimaro (?-?) to accompany Balhae’s first mission back to their homeland.  On April 16 (June 2 by the Gregorian calendar), the mission members bade farewell to the Emperor, and were entrusted with an Imperial letter and presents.  The letter was very short and simple:

     “We respect the King of Balhae County and write.  Your letter informed us that you had redeemed the land of your ancestors and would like to restore the former amity with us.  We appreciate that.  Please assume justice and cherish morals.  Control your borderlands and do not give up your traffic although blue waves separate us.

     “As we take the opportunity to send back your mission led by Gao Je-deog, we are sending you a letter and presents; 10 rolls of dyed silk, 10 rolls of patterned silk, 10 rolls of silk, 100 rolls of cotton strings, and 200 bunches of cotton.

     "We dispatch an envoy to send your mission back to your country.  It has finally become summer, and we hope the trip will be safe and smooth.”

     If the mission members left Kyoto on the day, they had to wait another 2 months in some port along the Sea of Japan.  Hiketa Mushimaro departed from Kyoto on June 5 (July 20 by the Gregorian calendar).  It was not recorded from which port they set sail, but it might have been somewhere between Tsuruga and Noto.

     8 members of Balhae’s mission and 62 Japanese including Hiketa, some mission members, crews, and rowers might have set sail on the south wind.  It is estimated that they boarded 2 ships, which might have been built somewhere in Otsu Province.

     The Japanese mission members accompanied Gao Je-deog and other Balhae’s mission members to the capital of Balhae.  They were granted an audience with the king, Muye.  In 730, they left Balhae, and arrived at Kyoto on August 29 (October 19 by the Gregorian calendar) after the 820-day-long trip.

     Shoso-in, the treasure house of Todai-ji Temple, has kept tax books of Otsu Province.  The entry dated February 6 in 731 wrote that about 1,000 litter of rice had been provided for the mission in Kaga County.

     The mission members visited the Imperial Court on September 2 (October 21 by the Gregorian calendar), and offered the presents from Balhae to the Emperor.  The Emperor had the presents offered to the tombs of 6 past emperors and to famous gods in some provinces.  He even had some presents offered to the grave of Fujiwara Fuhito (659-720).  He might have shown respect to the Fujiwara Clan, who had been ruling the central government since Fuhito’s days, and who would keep ruling for about 3 centuries.

     We can conceive a couple of reasons why their stay in Balhae became such a long one. As premises, the records concerned about them had no details, nothing particular, or no accusation against their “delay”, which means that their long stay had nothing disastrous or tragic as Balhae's first mission to Japan did, and that the central government had anticipated it would be a long one even before their departure.

     First, as you know, Japanese envoys to the Tang Dynasty lasted from 630 till 838 for 12 to 20 times.  The number of times depend on what necessary conditions you think the missions should have.  Anyway, Japan learned a lot through the envoys.  The central government might have wanted the mission members to study about various advanced knowledge and skills.  The difference of the length of 2 countries’ sovereign diplomatic documents might have suggested their learning attainment levels of Chinese proficiency.

     Second, the mission members might have had a mission impossible to  spy the front lines against the Tang Dynasty and Silla, to investigate the inside information of the enemies.  It is, however, doubtful if Balhae let them spy even agains their common enemies.  Military secrets are military secrets.

     Third, as the tragic disaster of Balhae’s first mission suggested, The rout and navigation between Balhae and Japan was not built up yet, they might have missed a seasonal chance or two for a few minor mishaps.

     Fourth, the mission members were entertained with such a warm hospitality that they forgot how many days were passing as Urashima-taro did.