was a Japanese nobleman of the late

Asuka period The was a period in the history of Japan lasting from 538 to 710, although its beginning could be said to overlap with the preceding Kofun period. The Yamato period, Yamato polity evolved greatly during the Asuka period, which is named after the ...

and early

Nara period The of the history of Japan covers the years from 710 to 794. Empress Genmei established the capital of Heijō-kyō (present-day Nara). Except for a five-year period (740–745), when the capital was briefly moved again, it remained the capita ...

Life

Mahito was born into the Awata family, descended from the and and based in

Yamashiro Province was a province of Japan, located in Kinai. It overlaps the southern part of modern Kyoto Prefecture on Honshū. Aliases include , the rare , and . It is classified as an upper province in the '' Engishiki''. Yamashiro Province included Kyoto it ...

. In 681, Mahito was conferred the rank of , corresponding to the under the Ritsuryō court rank system. With the establishment of the '' yakusa no kabane'' system in 684, he gained the title of ''

Ason was a hereditary noble title in Japan, used mainly between the Asuka and Heian periods. At first, it was the second highest, below '' Mahito'', which was given to members of the Imperial family, but after the Heian period it became the highes ...

''. In 689, he became vice-director of the dazaifu. He developed experience entertaining guests of honor from other countries. He took part in the planning of the

Taihō Code The was an administrative reorganisation enacted in 703 in Japan, at the end of the Asuka period. It was historically one of the . It was compiled at the direction of Prince Osakabe, Fujiwara no Fuhito and Awata no Mahito. Nussbaum, Louis- ...

alongside Prince Osakabe and Fujiwara no Fuhito, and in 701 was promoted to head of the

Ministry of Popular Affairs The may refer to: # one of the of the Japanese imperial court, established by the Taihō Code of the early 8th century, and continued under the Ritsuryō legal system. # A short-lived Ministries of Japan, ministry during the Meiji period (August ...

. Mahito was also appointed as chief diplomat on a mission to Tang China, receiving a ceremonial sword from

Emperor Tenmu was the 40th Emperor of Japan,Imperial Household Agency (''Kunaichō'') 天武天皇 (40) retrieved 2013-8-22. according to the traditional order of succession. Ponsonby-Fane, Richard. (1959). ''The Imperial House of Japan'', p. 53. He ascended ...

as a symbol of his command. This was the first example of such a sword being bestowed, and the action would be repeated for other emissaries to Tang and for important generals. In mid-702 he was promoted to '' sangi'', and a month later departed for China, accompanied by Yamanoue no Okura and the monk and bearing the Taihō Code. This was the first full Japanese diplomatic mission to China since the two met in conflict at the Battle of Baekgang. In addition to restoring normal relations, the mission also allowed for the continued maintenance of Ritsuryō, and offered an opportunity to inform China of Japan's name change from to . Arriving in

Chang'an Chang'an (; zh, t=長安, s=长安, p=Cháng'ān, first=t) is the traditional name of the city now named Xi'an and was the capital of several Chinese dynasties, ranging from 202 BCE to 907 CE. The site has been inhabited since Neolithic time ...

the next year, the envoys had an audience with Empress Consort Wu. The Chinese evaluated Mahito as a poised and elegant man, well-read and learned in the Chinese classics, and he received a temporary position in the government from the Empress. In 704, the mission returned to Japan, along with some Japanese who had been captives since the Battle of Baekgang. Mahito was rewarded with land in

Yamato Province was a province of Japan, located in Kinai, corresponding to present-day Nara Prefecture in Honshū. Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric (2005). "Yamato" in . It was also called . Yamato consists of two characters, 大 "great", and 和 " Wa". At first, th ...

. He was promptly promoted to ''

chūnagon was a counselor of the second rank in the Imperial court of Japan. The role dates from the 7th century. The role was eliminated from the Imperial hierarchy in 701, but it was re-established in 705. This advisory position remained a part of the I ...

'' to put the knowledge he gained in China to use in the planning of the of Ritsuryō. Upon entering the priesthood, he took on the

Dharma name A Dharma name is a new name acquired during both lay and monastic Buddhist initiation rituals in Mahayana Buddhism and Pabbajjā, monastic ordination in Theravada Buddhism (where it is more proper to call it Dhamma or Sangha name). The name is ...

Dōkan (道観). He held further positions, including as director of the Dazaifu, before being promoted to the in 715, and dying in 719.

Notes

References

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Awata no, Mahito 719 deaths People of the Asuka period People of the Nara period Buddhist clergy of the Asuka period Buddhist clergy of the Nara period Year of birth unknown Japanese ambassadors to the Tang dynasty Taihō Code