A diplomatic elixir
In Korea, it has been said that Xu Fu went down to Jeju Island. On the cliff of Jeongbang Waterfall in Seogwipo, Jeju Island, inscribed in Chinese characters is “Xu Shi passes by this place.” Xu Shi is another name for Xu Fu. Some maintain that the name of Seogwipo originated by the fact that Xu Fu came to Jeongbang Waterfall and returned westward. In 2003, Jeju Island’s authorities built the Xu Fu Museum and the Xu Fu Park there.
In Wakayama Prefecture, Japan, there is a gravestone dedicated to Xu Fu. Legend has it that Xu Fu discovered the medicinal plant tendaiuyaku there, settled down and eventually died in the region. In 1978 and 1982 when then Chinese Vice Prime Minister Deng Xiaoping and then Chinese Prime Minister Zhao Ziyang visited Japan, the plant was given to them as gifts. The Japanese authorities explained that they delivered the elixir of life belatedly, 2,000 years after Qin Shi Huang wanted to get ahold of it.
Although Xu Fu’s route is unclear, one thing is certain. Legends about Xu Fu in different areas in Korea and Japan symbolize cultural exchange in ancient East Asia. Xu Fu’s fleet included craftsmen of different fields and they carried seeds of five grains. Xu Fu is believed to be the one who opened Korea-China relations and the one who spread rice farming to Japan.
Last week, a ceremony was held in the Xu Fu Park in Seogwipo to unveil a piece of writing by Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao. Watching the event, I came up with an idea. Summit meetings among Korea, China and Japan were started on Dec. 13 in Fukuoka. When it becomes Korea’s turn, Seogwipo will be a proper place to hold the meeting. If all participants of the meeting recall the history of exchange in the three countries through Xu Fu, minor conflicts or misunderstandings will be solved easily. If the green tea cultivated on a mountain on Jeju Island is served, instead of the elixir of life, the meeting will be just perfect.
The writer is a deputy political news editor of the JoongAng Ilbo.
By Yeh Young-june [yyjune@joongang.co.kr]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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