The <!-- Hong Wontack (洪元卓) is not a historian. In addition: Against NP --> were kings of ancient Japan (Wa) who sent envoys to China during the 5th century to strengthen the legitimacy of their claims to power by gaining the recognition of the Chinese emperor. Details about them are unknown. According to written records in China, their names were San (), Chin (), Sai (), Kō () and Bu ().
Titles bestowed on the Kings of Wa
In general, five kings of Wa were bestowed the titles (Antō [Dai-]Shōgun, Wa-kokuō, [Grand] General of Antō, King of Wa). In the Southern Dynasties of China in this period, there were three ranks of General titles which were bestowed to the chiefs of the subject state (located in the East of China) who sent envoy to the emperor of the Dynasty. The highest general title was (Seitō Dai-Shōgun, Grand General conquering the East). The next high title was (Chintō Dai-Shōgun, Grand General appeasing the East). The third high title and the lowest among three was (Antō Dai-Shōgun, Grand General pacifying the East).
{| class="wikitable"
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! colspan="3" | 2rd rank General !! || colspan="3" | 3rd rank General
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! Rank () !! Military title !! Endowed on !! !! Rank () !! Military title !! Endowed on
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| align="center" | 2 || <br />Grand General of Seitō || King of Goguryeo || || align="center" | 3 || <br />General of Seitō || -
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| align="center" | 2 || <br />Grand General of Chintō || King of Baekje || || align="center" | 3 || <br />General of Chintō || -
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| align="center" | 2 || <br />Grand General of Antō || Sai (King of Wa)<br />Bu (King of Wa) || || align="center" | 3 || <br />General of Antō || align="center" | San, Chin, Sai, Kō<br />(King of Wa)
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| align="center" | || || || || align="center" | 3 || <br />General of Heisei || Subject of Chin
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| align="center" | || || || || align="center" | 3 || - || -
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| align="center" | || || || || align="center" | 3 || <br />General of Seiryo || Subject of Chin
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In the Song dynasty, the emperor bestowed (Grand General conquering the East) on the King of Goguryeo, and (Grand General appeasing the East) on the King of Baekje. However, the Song Emperor bestowed the third general title, (Grand General pacifying the East) on the King of Wa. There are interpretations on this fact that the King of Goguryeo stood in the highest rank, and the King of Wa stood in the lowest rank, while the King of Baekje stood between Goguryeo and Wa. But there are also other opinions against this interpretation. The difference of general ranks among the three states (Goguryo, Baekje, and Wa) was due to the order which each state had first sent envoy to the dynasty, and it cannot be said that the ranks of Goguryeo and Baekje were substantially higher than that of Wa. Sakamoto also points out the different view on these general titles.
Chinese records and the bestowed titles on the kings of Wa
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! Gregorian date (AD)
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! King of Wa
! class="unsortable" width="50%"| Short summary
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| The king of Wa sent a tributary.
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| King San sent a tributary to Jin. Emperor Wu of Song bestowed the title, possibly (General pacifying the East, King of Wa), on San.
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| King San sent Shiba Sōtatsu ()