일본고대국가 덴노(天皇)의 외교기능

Diplomatic Function of the Emperor of Ancient Japan

This paper aims at analyzing the role of tenno in the ritsuryo system. It focus particularly on the role of tenno in exercising its diplomatic prerogative. The study can be summarized as follows. Firstly, the tenno represented the state in dealing with foreign relations by sending the credentials in his name. The tenno played a key role in sending the envoys and Buddhist monks to T’ang China. There was no government organization within the Daizokan which dealt with diplomatic affairs. Secondly, the tenno began to play a very limited role in dealing with foreign relations. From the late ninth century it became customary that the tenno did not receive foreign envoys. the Japanese envoy was no longer sent to T’ang China. Thirdly, it has to be pointed out that the diplomatic functions of ancient Japanese state were rather temporary than systematized. Lastly, the diplomatic function of the tenno can be characterized by its peculiar role in granting royal gifts to the foreign envoys.