Balhae's 9th Mission to Japan and Specialties of Japan

     Balhae’s 8th mission to Japan was told by the Japanese central government that Balhae’s future missions should enter Japan via Dazai-fu, the Japanese regional government in Kyushu Island which also functioned as the gateway to Japan and as a kind of the foreign ministry.

     Balhae’s 9th mission to Japan left Balhae from Toho-po Port, the westernmost port on Balhae’s coast of the Sea of Japan, in accordance with the request, heading for Tsushima Island off Dazai-fu.  However, 46 of the mission members reached Kaga County, Echizen Province, on December 22, 776 (on February 8 in 777 by Gregorian Calendar).  The ship had been wrecked, 30 drowned persons were washed ashore in Enuma and Kaga Counties, Echizen Province, and 111 were missing.  Probably out of pity, Emperor Konin (709-781) gave more presents besides usual textile goods to meet the request of the ambassador, Sa Do-mong (?-?): 400 grams of gold, 400 grams of mercury, a can of strained aralia sap, a can of camellia oil, 4 pearl rosaries, and 10 betel palm fans.

     We can find strained aralia sap, camellia oil, and pearls in the lists of presents to emperors of Tang Dynasty.  Sa might have asked for more precious presents, taking advantage of the tragic accident.  Favorably interpreted, he badly needed them to cover the survivors’ annuity.  Anyway, his request made the mission the only case where other presents than textile goods were documented.

     The Japanese central government built ships for them, and sent them back to Balhae.  Unluckily, the ships got drifted to further east, and arrived at the eastern border area of Balhae.  Anyway, the mission’s experience gave a lesson to the Japanese central government, and, although they didn’t withdraw their request, they admitted, in a tacit manner, Balhae’s future missions to get to Echizen, Echigo, or even Dewa Provinces.