Book of Han Mentions Japan

The Book of Han (Hanshu), completed around 111 CE, contains the earliest known written reference to Japan in recorded history. Compiled by the Chinese historian Ban Gu, this official history of the Western Han Dynasty (206 BCE–25 CE) provides a brief account of the peoples living across the sea from the Chinese mainland, offering an early glimpse into the Japanese archipelago during the Yayoi period. In the text, Japan is referred to as “Wa,” a term used by Chinese sources to describe the inhabitants of the islands. The Hanshu notes that the people of Wa lived in numerous small communities and maintained contact with the Han court. It records that envoys from these groups visited China, indicating the existence of early diplomatic or tribute relations. These references suggest that societies in Japan had begun forming organized political units capable of engaging in external relations. The period described corresponds broadly to the Yayoi era (c. 300 BCE–300 CE), when significant cultural and technological changes were taking place in Japan. Archaeological evidence from this time shows the spread of wet-rice agriculture, the use of metal tools, and the growth of more structured settlements. The brief account in the Book of Han aligns with these developments, reflecting a society transitioning toward more complex forms of organization. Although limited in detail, the Hanshu provides a valuable external perspective on early Japan and represents the starting point of written historical references to the region in East Asian records.