— Wang Wei
The sea is far and wide.
Who knows the other side?
How far is it away?
A thousand miles, you say.
Look at the sun, O please!
Your sail should trust the breeze.
Turtles bear the dark sky;
Giant fish raise waves high.
When you are in your isle,
There are trees from mile to mile.
Though we’re separated for long,
Would you send me your song?
Wang Wei (699–761 CE) was a master poet, painter, and musician of China’s High Tang Dynasty, renowned for his tranquil landscapes, Buddhist-inspired introspection, and refined lyrical style. Often called the “Poet Buddha,” he excelled at capturing profound emotion through subtle natural imagery.
His poem “Farewell to Secretary Chao on His Return to Japan” is a rare and remarkable example of Tang poetry addressing international friendship and cross-cultural exchange. It was written to honor Chao Heng (known in Japanese as Abe no Nakamaro), a Japanese scholar-official who came to China during the Nara period, passed the imperial examinations, served in the Tang court, and formed deep bonds with Chinese literati – including Wang Wei and Li Bai – before finally returning to Japan after decades in China.
The poem opens with awe at the vastness of the eastern sea:”The gathered waters stretch beyond sight – / How can one know what lies east of the Blue Sea?” Japan, imagined as a distant island beyond mythical creatures like the giant turtle ao) and glowing-eyed fish, seems almost otherworldly”ten thousand miles away, as if sailing into emptiness.”
Wang describes Chao’s journey home: navigating only by the sun and trusting the wind, returning to a land “beyond Fusang” (an ancient poetic name for Japan). The closing lines express heartfelt sorrow: now separated by foreign seas, how will they ever exchange letters again?
Rather than focusing on political or exotic details, Wang Wei emphasizes emotional sincerity, cosmic distance, and the fragility of human connection across oceans – making this poem a timeless tribute to cross-cultural friendship.
送秘书晁监还日本国
— 王维
积水不可极，
安知沧海东！
九州何处远？
万里若乘空。
向国唯看日，
归帆但信风。
鳌身映天黑，
鱼眼射波红。
乡树扶桑外，
主人孤岛中。
别离方异域，
音信若为通！
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