Abe no Nakamaro
Who was Abe no Nakamaro?
Japanese writer
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Abe no Nakamaro (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Abe no Nakamaro was a Japanese scholar, bureaucrat, and waka poet during the Nara period, spending most of his life in Tang China. Born around 698 in Yamato Province, he became one of the most notable Japanese figures in the Chinese government during the eighth century. His Chinese name, Chao Heng, shows how well he integrated into Tang society and his successful career in the Chinese bureaucracy.
In 717, as a young scholar, Nakamaro joined a Japanese diplomatic mission to Tang China. This mission was part of Japan's efforts to learn from Chinese civilization and bring back knowledge of government, literature, and culture. Unlike most colleagues who returned to Japan, Nakamaro stayed to study at the Taixue, the imperial university in Chang'an. His skill in Chinese literature and administration quickly gained him recognition among Tang officials.
Over the years, Nakamaro's career in the Tang government thrived. He held various positions and eventually became the duhu (protectorate governor) of Annan, which covered parts of modern Vietnam. This appointment was a notable achievement for a foreign-born official, showing his abilities and the trust the Tang court had in him. His leadership in this important region highlighted his administrative talents and cultural adaptability.
During his time in China, Nakamaro kept his identity as a Japanese poet and scholar. He wrote waka poetry expressing his longing for home and works that connected Japanese and Chinese literary traditions. His poetry often touched on themes of exile and nostalgia, resonating with his experience of being far from home. He befriended prominent Chinese poets, including Li Bai, who wrote about their friendship and Nakamaro's life as a Japanese exile in China.
Nakamaro tried to return to Japan at least once, but his ship faced trouble, forcing him to stay in China. He died in Chang'an around 770, after more than fifty years in Chinese service. His life is a rare example of cultural exchange between Japan and China during a time when international movement was both uncommon and significant.
Before Fame
Nakamaro grew up during Japan's Nara period when the country was keen on adopting Chinese government systems, Buddhist teachings, and cultural practices. The Japanese court often sent diplomatic missions to Tang China to learn from what was seen as the world's most advanced civilization. These missions, known as kentōshi, usually included scholars, monks, and officials who would study different parts of Chinese society.
As a young man from Yamato Province, Nakamaro would have been educated in Chinese classics and literature, preparing him for a role in Japan's increasingly China-influenced bureaucracy. Being chosen for the 717 mission to Tang China likely showed his scholarly potential and language skills. His choice to stay in China instead of returning with the diplomatic mission marked the beginning of his shift from being a Japanese student to becoming a Tang official.
Key Achievements
- Served as Tang dynasty duhu (protectorate governor) of Annan, governing parts of modern Vietnam
- Graduated from Taixue, the prestigious imperial university in Chang'an
- Maintained diplomatic and cultural connections between Japan and Tang China for over five decades
- Composed influential waka poetry that bridged Japanese and Chinese literary traditions
- Rose to high administrative rank in the Tang bureaucracy despite being foreign-born
Did You Know?
- 01.Li Bai, one of China's greatest poets, wrote a farewell poem for Nakamaro when he attempted to return to Japan, titled 'Seeing Off Secretary Chao on His Return to Japan'
- 02.He spent over 50 years in China, longer than any other known Japanese official of his era
- 03.His Chinese name Chao Heng was given to him by the Tang court and became his official identity in all Chinese records
- 04.Nakamaro was one of only a handful of foreign-born individuals to reach the high administrative position of duhu in the Tang dynasty
- 05.His waka poems written in China are among the earliest examples of Japanese poetry composed abroad and dealing with themes of cultural displacement