Awata no Mahito

Awata no Mahito 粟田真人
Illustration by Kikuchi Yōsai, from Zenken Kojitsu
Died	February 28, 719

Awata no Mahito (粟田 真人^?, ? – February 28, 719) was a Japanese noble of the late Asuka period and early Nara period.

The Awata family to which Mahito was born was descended from the Wani clan (和珥氏^?) and Kasuga clan (春日氏^?) and based in Yamashiro Province.

In 681, Mahito was conferred the rank of shōkin-ge (小錦下^?), corresponding to the lower junior fifth rank (従五位下^?) under the Ritsuryō court rank system. With the establishment of the yakusa no kabane system in 684, he gained the title of Ason. In 689, he became vice-director of the dazaifu. He developed experience entertaining guests of honor from other countries. He took part in the planning of the Taihō Code alongside Prince Osakabe and Fujiwara no Fuhito, and in 701 was promoted to head of the Ministry of Popular Affairs. Mahito was also appointed as chief diplomat on a mission to Tang China, receiving a ceremonial sword settō (節刀^?) from Emperor Tenmu as a symbol of his command. This was the first example of such a sword being bestowed, and the action would be repeated for other emissaries to Tang and for important generals.