The medieval Chinese vision of Japan: Buddhist perspectives in the Tang and Song periods

ABSTRACT This article explores the medieval Chinese perception of ‘Japan’ in both secular and Buddhist sources, arguing that in reality two separate lineages of history writing and geography-ethnography existed in China: one based out of the court and another rooted in the Buddhist community. This comparative exercise will further highlight the utility of using state and Buddhist texts when exploring the treatment of foreign polities from the Chinese perspective. In addition, these resources can be aligned with contemporary Japanese sources to further evaluate and confirm details and narratives. This article will argue that major Chinese Buddhist interest in Japan commenced from the tenth century, which was due to connections between Tiantai and Tendai, although recorded testimonies from the ninth century demonstrate that this relationship originated during the late Tang.