The Japanese First Encounter with the Balhae's Mission (1)

     On September 21 in 727 (on October 14 in the same year by the Gregorian calendar), 8 unfamiliar foreigners drifted ashore in Dewa Province.  They were the survivors of the 24 mission members led by Gao Len-i, who had been launched off by the King of Balhae, Muye.  The mission had been washed away to the land of Emishi in Northern Japan by misfortune.  16 members, including Gao Len-i, had been killed by Emishi.  The 8 escaped under the provisional leadership of Gao Je-deog.  The first encounter of Balhae people and Japanese people was such a tragically dramatic one.

     The Dewa Provincial government sent a swift messenger to the central government.  The central government, in turn, sent an inspector and an interpreter in rush to Dewa Province along with winter clothes etc.

     The inspector brought the 8 mission members to Kyoto on December 20 in 727 (on February 8 in 728 by the Gregorian calendar).