What kind of confections did the Japanese envoys bring from China as gifts during the Tang Dynasty
In Japan, the famous traditional confectionery is called "wagashi," while "tangokashi" refers to confectionery that was introduced from China during the Nara and Heian periods. The term "tangokashi" is sometimes also written as "tangokamono" in Japanese. During other periods, there was no specific term for confectionery introduced from China, as the influence was sporadic.
Confectionery introduced by Spanish and Portuguese traders is called "nanban-gashi" in Japan, because during the Edo period, Spanish and Portuguese people were referred to as "nanban-jin" by the Japanese. The techniques of sugar refining and the use of azuki beans were introduced to Japan during this period.
Later, in order to distinguish traditional Japanese confectionery from Western confectionery that was introduced during the Meiji period, all pre-Meiji confectionery, whether of foreign or local origin, came to be collectively referred to as "wagashi."
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