Abe no Nakamaro's letters to Li Bai

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A series of letters were written from 754 to 756 by the Japanese scholar Abe no Nakamaro to his friend Li Bai over the course of the An Lushan Rebellion. These letters recounted Nakamaro's attempted return to Japan after decades of study and work in Tang China, the true purpose of the voyage, his survival of the subsequent storm that destroyed his ship, his escape from the Golden Turtles' agents in Annam, his investigations into the Golden Turtles and the secrets of the Isu, and his reflections on contemporary political events.

Letters

Letter 1Letter 2

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Dear Li Bai,

I hope all has been well since we last spoke. Since we parted ways in Chang'an in the tenth month of last year, already countless moons separate us. I remember when you were seeing me off, you said to me, "this parting is for a whole lifetime".

I also remember when I first came to the Great Tang, I was still a nineteen-year-old teenager, captivated by all its splendour. As of today, I am already more than half a century old. Having seen the liveliness and beauty of Chang'an and made many intimate friends, the Great Tang has also become a part of me.

However, as my age grows ever older, the more I miss the taste of my hometown. Thirty years of the Great Tang has been as though it were one long, wondrous dream. I only want to, before I die, to experience the scent of my mother's cooking once again.

So, it is for the sake of fulfilling my heart's one last desire that this time I am following Lord Fujiwara's diplomatic mission to the Tang so as to return to Japan with them.

But apart from this, I still have, in fact, another objective.

As you know, I am someone who is full of curiosity, and this curiosity has spurred me to learn some secrets.

It turns out that the Buddha that we know of is called a "Precursor" by some people.

In distant antiquity, the Precursor Shakyamuni guided his masses of disciples to promulgate the proper dharma, receiving deeply the adoration of everyday people. Therefore, once he had discarded his flesh and chosen to enter nirvana, the people overwhelmingly grieved.

After the Buddha's body was cremated, the Buddhist disciples recovered a great amount of multi-coloured pearls. These are the "śarīra", and each one of these śarīra is indestructible. Otherwise, they are filled with Shakyamuni's memories of his past lives—the truth of the world.

Following the trade route of the Western Regions, the śarīra also poured into China in the Han period, and they passed from generation to generation in the midst of the [subsequent] tumultuous era, cared for and protected by great master monks high in virtue and lofty in repute.

At present, the śarīra that we know of has been enshrined by Master Jianzhen of the Yanguang Temple in Yangzhou.

Master Jianzhen is a high priest who is full of wisdom. Even though it is a prosperous era of great peace, he remains as uneasy as he was in olden days.

With you, I am the same. Master Jianzhen clearly knows about the "Golden Turtles'" existence at court. Every type of clue here and there makes it apparent that unforeseen events may soon happen at court, but we still do not know when it will be. Supposing that the śarīra carelessly fall into evil hands, that they are exploited by ambitious people, the outcome may be too dreadful to contemplate.

Master Jianzhen hopes to settle them in a tranquil place far from turmoil. He said that Buddha dharma knows no borders and that perhaps Japan is the best destination.

Master Jianzhen has attempted to ferry east five times before. Unfortunately, he has not met any success, yet the setbacks have only hardened his resolve.

My pressing hope is to assist Master Jianzhen in protecting the śarīra. Notwithstanding this, if Master Jianzhen can borrow this opportunity to transmit the true Buddha dharma to Japan, awakening the populace—this too would be a good thing of immeasurable merit. Therefore, I have linked up with Lord Fujiwara no Kiyokawa of the Tang diplomatic mission, bidding our farewells to Chang'an together. Under secrecy, we picked up Master Jianzhen, raised the ships, and proceeded towards Japan. To our fortune, this operation was not at all discovered by the "Golden Turtles", and yet it was truly terrible.

We were divided into only four ships. Amidst calm ocean currents, the journey was constantly as smooth as the wind. I closed my eyes, and it was as though I could already smell the scents of my hometown.

"Upward gaze at far-stretched skies, my spirits gallop at Nara's edge.
There above at Mikasa's peak, then again the luminous moon."

Following the trail of home, ever closer and closer, I peered at the circular moon and thought of your reluctant parting. Thereupon, I decided to write this letter.

But it was at this moment that a storm arose above the sea.

The first ship, which Lord Fujiwara and I were riding on, unfortunately collided with rocks, and there was no way that it could continue sailing.

We lost contact with the other three ships, and amidst the intense, stormy waves, I gradually lost consciousness as well.

Once I opened my eyes, I found myself on a shore. Our ship had already been wrecked beyond repair, yet I did not know where I was. Lord Fujiwara and I could only lead everyone to abandon the ship and keep moving on to seek help.

I wonder if this is Japan or the Great Tang?

Everything is still unknown. We can only believe in the path beneath our feet. If it is fate that I cannot return home, I can only accept this fate.

I only hope... that Master Jianzhen's ship at least is safe and sound.
I only hope... that the śarīra can safely arrive at their destination.
I only hope... that both the Great Tang and Japan are safe and sound.
......

I do not know when I can send this letter out. For the time being, I will keep it by my side for safeguarding.

If there is a next life, I hope I would be able to drink a jar of wine with you once more.

—Chao Heng (Abe no Nakamaro)

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed: Dynasty