The Japanese First Encounter with the Balhae's Mission (2)

     The Japanese central government issued the 8 surviving mission members with formal attire, headgear, and shoes so that they could attend the imperial new year ceremony at the Imperial Palace on January 3 in 728 (February 21 in the same year by the Gregorian calendar).  On 17 (March 8 by the Gregorian calendar), the members had a formal audience with the Emperor, and presented the letter from the King of Balhae, Muye, and 300 head of marten fur.  The letter said:

     “Muye shows respect.  We have different mountains and rivers, and different lands.  However, as we have heard about your manners and moral senses on hearsay, our admiration and honor has just increased.

     “As we look back in admiration, your great king founded Japan, accepting his fate.  The thick leaves shine under the sun light, and the truck has survived for 100 generations.

     "Muye has faced other nations, has ruled all the tribes, has recovered the former territories of Gogureyeo, and has preserved the manners and customs of Buyeo.

     “However, we are separated far away.  The sea is large and wide, and we haven’t communicated each other.  Asking each other’s fortune has ceased.  We hope to establish our friendship.  We wish to follow the previous courses, and to send missions to each other from today on.

     “Please accept our sending General Gao Len-i, Vice General Deog Ju, Vice-General Sa Hang, and 21 other members, and presenting our letter and 300 head of marten fur.  However humble our local products might be, we present them to show our sincerity.  We feel ashamed to send the fur which might not be rare, and which might meet contemptuous laughs.

     “Timely, we shall hand over our contacts to the next, and appreciate our neighboring friendship forever."