Page:Nihongi by Aston.djvu/277

A.D. 243. 43rd year.

The Ruler^[1] of Wa again sent high officers as envoys with tribute, named I Shing-ché, Yih-Ye-yoh,^[2] and others—eight persons in all.

A.D. 246. 46th year, Spring, 3rd month, 1st day. Shima no Sukune was sent to the Land of Thak-syun.^[3] Hereupon Malkeum Kanki,^[4] King of Thak-syun, informed Shima no Sukune, saying:—"In the course of the year Kinoye Ne,^[5] three men of Pèkché named Kutyö, Mi-chyu-nyu, and Moko^[6] came to my country and said:—'The King of Pèkché, hearing that in the Eastern quarter there is an honourable country, has sent thy servants to this honourable country's court. Therefore we beg of thee a passage so that we may go to that Land. If thou wilt be good enough to instruct thy servants and cause us to pass along the roads, our King will certainly show profound kindness to my Lord the King.'^[7] I then said to Kutyö and his (IX. 26.) fellows:—'I have always heard that there is an honourable country in the East, but I have had no communication with it, and do not know the way. There is nothing but far seas and towering billows, so that in a large ship, one can hardly communicate. Even if there were a regular crossing-place, how could you arrive there?' Hereupon Kutyö and the others said:—'Well, then, for the present we cannot communicate. Our best plan will be to go back again, and prepare a ship with which to communicate later.' They also said:—'If envoys should come from the honourable country, thou oughtest surely to inform our country.' Thus they went back. Hereupon

1. 王.
2. It is doubtful whether these six syllables represent the names of one, two, or three men. I cannot guess what Japanese names are meant. The "Ishōnihonden" gives some of the characters differently.

   The "Shukai" edition rejects these extracts from Chinese History. They were doubtless added at a later date.

3. The Chinese characters are 卓淳, of which the traditional kana rendering is Toku-shiu. The "Shukai" editor says it was part of Imna (or Mimana). Its destruction by Silla is recorded below—5th year of Kimmei Tennō.
4. The Japanese traditional rendering is Makin Kănki.
5. A.D. 244.
6. The Japanese kana gloss has Kutei, Mitsuru, and Mako.
7. This is quite inconsistent with the story of Pèkché offering homage to the Empress in the early part of her reign.