8. FOREIGN RELATIONS. The first foreign relations of Japan were, as might be expected from the geographical position of the islands, with the peninsula of Korea. The dividing strait with the islands of Iki and Tsu shima situated, like stepping stones, at conven ient distances, cannot have been very difficult to cross even in primitive boats. We accord ingly notice that there existed from the earliest times close relations between these two coun tries, and in the beginning of the Christian era Japan was exercising a sort of protection over the kingdom of Nimana. The kings of Silla, on the other hand, had so much influence over the tribes in the south of Japan as to instigate them to revolt against the central government. Continuous troubles caused by them induced the EmpressJingo to set out on an expedition to Korea. This invasion, however, was so unex pected that when the Japanese army landed on the coast of Silla, 200 A.D., the king asked for peace without offering the least resistance. The kings of Kulei and Paikchyoi soon followed his example, and the three kingdoms of Korea be came vassal states of Japan. They promised to pay annual tributes and the Japanese resident at Nimana was entrusted with their super vision. They, however, very often failed to keep their promise, and had to be as often chastised. They, moreover, waged frequent wars against one another, and Japan had always to interfere in the interest of the weaker state. Many residents, too, taking advantage of the great distance from home, attempted to make themselves independent, and armies had to be sent to punish them. Thus the dominion over Korea was the cause of endless trouble to Japan.
In 562 Silla conquered Nimana and did away with the Japanese government which had existed there for about five centuries. Silla grew further in power, and allying herself with the new risen Tang rulers of China conquered Paikchyoi in 662, and Kulei in 668. Japan's attempt to check the progress of The allies was of no avail and her influence in the peninsula came to an end.
The intercourse with Korea, however, was not wholly stopped. Silla sent embassies, al though with frequent interruptions and often in hostile attitude, and when the new kingdom of Pohai arose in the 8th century, her embassies came very often, so that there used to be inter preters for their language in Echizen, and those for that of Silla in Tsushima. When in the 10th century Silla was overthrown and the later kingdom of Kulei arose, the official rela tions with Japan were stopped, but commerce went on as before.
The intercourse with Korea was highly bene ficial to Japan. Korean weavers, embroiderers, potters, blacksmiths, shipwrights and other arti sans were encouraged to establish their indus tries in Japan. Physicians, astronomers and painters were also invited. The study of Chinese literature was introduced by two Korean scholars, Achiki and Wani, in the latter part of the 3d century and thus the way was opened for the adoption of Chinese characters. In 552 the king of Paikchyoi presented to the emperor of Japan an image of Buddha and a a copy of the sutras. Notwithstanding the strong opposition on the part of many influ ential adherents of the national worship, Bud dhism gained ground steadily. In the train of the new religion came priests, temple architects, sculptors, painters, musicians, etc. These, to gether with Korean emigrants, who settled in large numbers in different parts of Japan, helped to give a great impulse to the progress of arts and industries.
The Japanese seem to have come into con tact with the Chinese for the first time in Korea, where numbers took refuge from the terrors of constant wars in their own country. Later on, some of these, like the Hadas and the Ayas, settled with all their families in Japan.
In those times merchants from different parts of Japan were accustomed to go to China via Korea. In the beginning of the 4th century the court sent an envoy to Wu with the object of engaging weavers. 'Afterward embassies were sent from time to time during the rule of the Sui and the Tang dynasties, the first em bassy to the court of Sui leaving Japan in 606. These embassies were accompanied by a large number of priests and students. These latter came back after a stay of some years full of new ideas. They helped to reorganize the gov ernment and make new laws and introduced improvements in social organizations. They gave a new stimulus to the study of the Chinese classics and thus prepared the way for the growth of the national literature. Two forms of syllabics — and hira-kana — were both their inventions. They brought hack with them such useful plants as tea, cotton and the orange, and also helped to bring about the progress of arts and industries. In short, they played a very important part in introducing the Chinese civilization.