Page "Kanji" Paragraph 1

Chinese characters ( Japanese: kanji ) first came to Japan on official seals, letters, swords, coins, mirrors, and other decorative items imported from China.

The earliest known instance of such an import was King of Na Gold Seal given by Emperor Guangwu of Han to a Yamato emissary in 57 AD.

Chinese coins from the 1st century AD have been found in Yayoi period archaeological sites.

However, the Japanese of that era probably had no comprehension of the script, and would remain illiterate until the 5th century AD.

According to the Nihon Shoki and Kojiki, a Korean scholar called Wani () was dispatched to Japan by the Kingdom of Baekje during the reign of Emperor Ōjin in the early 5th century, bringing with him knowledge of Confucianism and Chinese characters.