Xu Fu was a famous explorer and envoy during the Qin Dynasty on the mainland, and he played an extremely important role in Chinese history. According to historical records, Xu Fu once led a fleet of ships across the sea to Southeast Asia or the South Pacific. His expeditions and maritime trade made important contributions to the development of the Silk Road in ancient China. But in addition, there are many mysterious places in Xu Fu's life, such as why he went to sea, what treasures he searched, and whether he had visited Japan. The following is an exploration of these issues.
Why did Xu Fu go to sea?
Regarding Xu Fu's purpose in going to sea, many versions are recorded in the history books. The most widely circulated theory is that Xu Fu once went to the East China Sea on the orders of Qin Shi Huang to find the elixir of immortality, the "elixir". Qin Shi Huang hoped to use this medicine to prolong his life and become an immortal emperor. In the process of searching for the "elixir", Xu Fu went through a series of adventures and explorations, and finally reached the distant South Pacific Ocean.
In addition to this version, some people believe that Xu Fu's purpose in going to sea is not to find "elixirs", but to open up trade channels and explore new business opportunities and resources. At that time, trade between China and the Nanyang region was already very frequent, and the indigenous peoples and merchants of Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands also had developed exchanges and trade networks. Therefore, Xu Fu may have decided to lead a fleet of ships overseas in order to expand China's commercial territory.
Has Xu Fu visited Japan?
There has been debate among historians and archaeologists about whether Xu Fu visited Japan. On the one hand, there are some records that Xu Fu's fleet once reached Japan and left some cultural and technological heritage there. For example, in Japanese history books, there is a record of Xu Fu, saying that "Xu Fu came to Japan and left behind the cultural and technological heritage of the Shindai era." In Japan, such as Kyushu Island and Nara Prefecture, some relics and cultural relics related to Chinese Han Dynasty culture have also been found. These findings suggest that Xu Fu may have visited Japan and contributed to the development of local culture and technology.
On the other hand, some historians and archaeologists have questioned this claim. They believe that Xu Fu was already a very important figure in China at that time, and it is impossible to leave no historical documents or archaeological evidence. And in the archaeological discoveries in Japan, there is no conclusive evidence that these artifacts and relics are related to Xu Fu. Therefore, whether Xu Fu visited Japan needs more historical and archaeological evidence to prove.
Xu Fu's relationship with the first emperor of Japan
In addition to whether Xu Fu visited Japan, there is also a theory that Xu Fu may have some kind of ancestral relationship with the first emperor of Japan. This statement is mainly based on two considerations.
First of all, according to the Chinese history book "Book of the Later Han", the fleet led by Xu Fu once reached Japan, where they communicated with the local indigenous tribes. In Japanese history books, there is a similar record, saying that "Xu Fu came to Japan and left behind the cultural and technological heritage of the Shindai era". These records show that Xu Fu's relationship with Japan is conclusive.
Secondly, according to the Japanese mythology "Kei" and "Kojiki", Emperor Shinshin was the father of Emperor Jinmu of Japan, and Emperor Jinmu was the first emperor of Japan. In these myths, there are also records of Xu Fu, who once played an important role in Japan and established contact with Japanese gods. Although these accounts are not clear and specific, they provide some evidence of the connection between Xu Fu and Emperor Shinjin.
Finally, there are some relics and artifacts that also indicate Xu Fu's relationship with Japan. For example, a collection of Han Dynasty bronzes with the inscription "Xu Fu no Treasure" was found in Saga Prefecture, Kyushu Island, Japan. The appearance of these bronzes suggests that Xu Fu once arrived here and left behind his culture and technology. In addition, in an ancient tomb in Nara Prefecture, Japan, some Chinese Han Dynasty artifacts have also been found, which are more likely to be related to Xu Fu.
In summary, although historians and archaeologists do not agree on whether Xu Fu is the ancestor of Japan's first emperor, Emperor Sumami, the evidence suggests that Xu Fu's relationship with Japan is solid, and that the relationship may be closer than we think. In any case, Xu Fu, as one of the important figures of ancient Chinese exploration and the Maritime Silk Road, his position and influence in the cultural tradition of China and Japan cannot be ignored.