Studies of the late premodern and early classical Japanese periods highlight the expansion of centralized power and the emergence of a growing elite, often borrowed extensively from their Chinese counterparts to the West. However, the discussion of Chinese language is often left out of consideration as a relevant piece of the larger puzzle. This project explores the construction of statehood in the early Asuka (538-710) and Nara (710-794) periods through the influence of the Chinese language itself. This study will analyze several law codes, edicts of both Tang and Nara emperors, and the official histories of both cultures as a process of understanding legitimization in ancient Japanese imperial courts. Through a comparative analysis of Chinese and Japanese legal frameworks, state historical narratives, and Confucian policies, the influence of the Tang Chinese was undeniably crucial to the justification of their Japanese counterparts, especially towards their domestic and foreign audiences.

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