Wa (Japan)

is the oldest attested name of Japan in foreign sources (names such as Fusang or Penglai are mythological or legendary, thus are not considered). The Chinese and Korean scribes regularly wrote it in reference to the inhabitants of the Wa Kingdoms in Kyushu (2nd century CE) and the ancient Yamato kingdom with the Chinese character "submissive, distant, dwarf", until the 8th century, when the Japanese replaced it with "harmony, peace, balance".

Historical references

The earliest textual references to Japan are in Chinese classic texts. Within the official Chinese dynastic ''Twenty-Four Histories'', Japan is mentioned among the so-called ''Dongyi'' 東夷 "Eastern Barbarians".

The historian Wang Zhenping summarizes Wa contacts with the Han State.

When chieftains of various Wo tribes contacted authorities at Lelang, a Chinese commandery established in northern Korea in 108 B.C. by the Western Han court, they sought to benefit themselves by initiating contact. In A.D. 57, the first Wo ambassador arrived at the capital of the Eastern Han court (25-220); the second came in 107.

Wo diplomats never called on China on a regular basis. A chronology of Japan-China relations from the first to the ninth centuries reveals this irregularity in the visits of Japanese ambassadors to China. There were periods of frequent contacts as well as of lengthy intervals between contacts. This irregularity clearly indicated that, in its diplomacy with China, Japan set its own agenda and acted on self-interest to satisfy its own needs.

No Wo ambassador, for example, came to China during the second century. This interval continued well past the third century. Then within merely nine years, the female Wo ruler Himiko sent four ambassadors to the Wei court (220-265) in 238, 243, 245, and 247 respectively. After the death of Himiko, diplomatic contacts with China slowed. Iyoo, the female successor to Himiko, contacted the Wei court only once. The fourth century was another quiet period in China-Wo relations except for the Wo delegation dispatched to the Western Jin court (265-316) in 306. With the arrival of a Wo ambassador at the Eastern Jin court (317-420) in 413, a new age of frequent diplomatic contacts with China began. Over the next sixty years, ten Wo ambassadors called on the Southern Song court (420-479), and a Wo delegation also visited the Southern Qi court (479-502) in 479. The sixth century saw only one Wo ambassador pay respect to the Southern Liang court (502-557) in 502. When these ambassadors arrived in China, they acquired official titles, bronze mirrors, and military banners, which their masters could use to bolster their claims to political supremacy, to build a military system, and to exert influence on southern Korea. (Wang 2005:221–222)

Wa Kingdoms

The Wa Kingdoms in Kyushu were documented in the Civil War of Wa which originated from a power struggle or political situation in the mid 2nd century CE. There were over 100 chiefdoms before the civil war."Over a hundred" could mean uncountably many. Afterward there were around 30 chiefdoms left that were ruled by shaman queen Himiko of . Himiko restored peace and gained control of the region around 180 CE.Thirty is the number of chiefdoms ruled by Himiko.

Shan Hai Jing

Possibly the earliest record of ''Wō'' 倭 "Japan" occurs in the ''Shan Hai Jing'' 山海經 "Classic of Mountains and Seas". The textual dating of this collection of geographic and mythological legends is uncertain, but estimates range from 300 BCE to 250 CE.
The '' Haineibei jing'' 海內北經 "Classic of Regions within the North Seas" chapter includes ''Wō'' 倭 "Japan" among foreign places both real, such as Korea, and legendary (''e.g.'' Penglai Mountain).

Kai overLand is south of Chü Yen and north of Wo. Wo belongs to Yen. ��國在鉅燕南倭北倭屬燕 朝鮮在列陽東海北山南列陽屬燕Ch’ao-hsien hosŏn, Koreais east of Lieh Yang, south of Hai Pei ea northMountain. Lieh Yang belongs to Yen. (12, tr. Nakagawa 2003:49)

Nakagawa notes that ''Zhuyan'' 鉅燕 refers to the (ca. 1000–222 BCE) kingdom of Yan (state), and that ''Wo'' ("Japan was first known by this name.") maintained a "possible tributary relationship" with Yan.

Lunheng

Wang Chong's ca. 70–80 CE ''Lunheng'' 論衡 "Discourses weighed in the balance" is a compendium of essays on subjects including philosophy, religion, and natural sciences.

The ''Rŭzēng'' 儒増 "Exaggerations of the Literati" chapter mentions ''Wōrén'' 倭人 "Japanese people" and ''Yuèshāng'' 越裳 "A people in the southern part of Kuang-tung province, near the Annamese frontier." presenting tributes during the Zhou dynasty. In disputing legends that ancient Zhou bronze ''ding'' tripods had magic powers to ward off evil spirits, Wang says.

During the Chou time there was universal peace. The ''Yuèshāng'' offered white pheasants to the court, the ''Japanese'' odoriferous plants. ��時天下太平，越裳獻白雉，倭人貢鬯草。Since by eating these white pheasants or odoriferous plants one cannot keep free from evil influences, why should vessels like bronze tripods have such a power? (26, tr. Forke 1907:505)

Another ''Lunheng'' chapter ''Huiguo'' 恢國 "Restoring the nation" similarly records that Emperor Cheng of Han (r. 51–7 BCE) was presented tributes of Vietnamese pheasants and Japanese herbs (58, tr. Forke 1907:208).

Han Shu

The ca. 82 CE '' Han Shu'' 漢書 "Book of Han"' covers the Former Han dynasty (206 BCE – 24 CE) period. Near the conclusion of the Yan entry in the ''Dilizhi'' 地理志 "Treatise on geography" section, it records that ''Wo'' encompassed over 100 ''guó'' 國 "communities, nations, countries".

Beyond Lo-lang in the sea, there are the people of Wo. They comprise more than one hundred communities. ��浪海中有倭人分爲百餘國It is reported that they have maintained intercourse with China through tributaries and envoys. (28B, tr. Otake Takeo 小竹武夫, cited by Nakagawa 2003:50)

Emperor Wu of Han established this Korean Lelang Commandery in 108 BCE. Historian Endymion Wilkinson (2000:726) says ''Wo'' 倭 "dwarf" was used originally in the ''Hanshu'', "probably to refer to the inhabitants of Kyushu and the Korean peninsula. Thereafter to the inhabitants of the Japanese archipelago."

Wei Zhi

The ca. 297 CE ''Wei Zhi'' 魏志 "Records of Wei", comprising the first of the '' San Guo Zhi'' 三國志 "Records of the Three Kingdoms", covers history of the Cao Wei