Imperial embassies to China

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Imperial embassies to China were Japanese diplomatic missions intermittently sent to China between the year of 600 and 894. The missionaries were chosen from low-class aristocracies or Buddhist priests. As tributaries of Imperial China, missionaries were intended for importing the Chinese culture such as science, technologies and especially Zen-Chan Buddhism.

The first official embassy was sent from Wa in 600. The second delegate was proposed by Prince Shōtoku and Ono no Imoko was designated as the leader. These Imperial embassies to Sui Dynasty (遣隋使, Kenzui-shi^?) included Japanese oversea students for Buddhism studies.

The Imperial embassies to Tang Dynasty (遣唐使, Kentō-shi^?) are the best known; they ended in 894. Imperial embassies to China were stopped in 894 on the suggestion of Sugawara no Michizane.

[edit] List of embassies to Sui

600, The first embassies arrive in China and are recorded in the Book of Sui.
607, The second embassies, led by Ono no Imoko, arrive in China and a written in the Book of Sui and the Nihon Shoki.
608, The third embassies arrive and are also recorded in the Book of Sui.
608, An embassy led by Ono no Imoko arrive in China. This group includes a number of students, some of whom, such as Takamuko no Kuromaro, remained in China after the departure of the embassy.
610, The embassy is written about in the Book of Sui.
614, The last embassies to Sui arrive in China and are written about in the Nihon Shoki.