Xu Fu
Chinese alchemist sent to find immortality, who settled in a distant land.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
Xu Fu (also known as Hsu Fu; Chinese: 徐福 or 徐巿; pinyin: Xú Fú; Wade–Giles: Hsu2 Fu2; Japanese: 徐福 Jofuku or 徐巿 Jofutsu; Korean: 서복 Seo Bok or 서불 Seo Bul) was a Chinese alchemist and explorer whose exact birth year is not recorded in reliable historical sources. He served as a court sorcerer in Qin dynasty China and is best known for being sent by Qin Shi Huang on two voyages to find the elixir of life. According to the Records of the Grand Historian, he reached a place with 'flat plains and wide swamps' and proclaimed himself king, rather than simply disappearing at sea. His expeditions and their uncertain destination have made him a figure of historical and legendary significance, particularly in Japan, where he is commemorated in numerous memorials and traditions.
- born
- Exact year unknown (speculative dates often given, e.g., 255 BC)
- died
- Settled in an unknown land after 210 BC (per Records of the Grand Historian)
- field
- Alchemy, exploration
- nationality
- Chinese (Qin dynasty)
- known_for
- Voyages to find the elixir of life; legendary settlement in Japan
Lore & Background
Xu Fu was a court sorcerer under Qin Shi Huang, the ruler of the Qin dynasty who feared death and sought eternal life. In 219 BC, Xu Fu was dispatched with several thousand young boys and girls to retrieve the elixir of life from immortals on Mount Penglai, including the magician Anqi Sheng, said to be a thousand years old. He sailed for several years without finding the mountain. In 210 BC, when Qin Shi Huang questioned him, Xu Fu claimed a giant sea creature blocked his path and requested archers to kill it. The emperor agreed, and after archers killed a giant fish, Xu Fu set sail again. The Records of the Grand Historian states he came to a place with 'flat plains and wide swamps' and proclaimed himself king, rather than vanishing at sea.
Reader's Guide
Xu Fu's significance lies in his role as a court alchemist and explorer whose voyages became the basis for a lasting legend, especially in Japan. Later historical texts, including the Records of the Three Kingdoms and Book of the Later Han, mention his landing in 'Danzhou,' but its location is unknown. More than 1,100 years after his final voyage, monk Yichu wrote during the Later Zhou period that Xu Fu landed in Japan and named Mount Fuji as Penglai. This legend is supported by many memorials to him in Japan, where he is worshipped as the 'god of farming,' 'god of medicine,' and 'god of silk.' He is said to have introduced new farming techniques, plants, and knowledge to ancient Japan, though the texts are written much later. Some modern scholars consider the legend a historical possibility, while others note inconsistencies and a lack of compelling evidence. The Japanese historian Ino Okifu identifies Emperor Jimmu with Xu Fu, and the Yayoi period started around the time of his supposed arrival. Jofuku Park in Shingu, Wakayama Prefecture, is dedicated to him, and the Saga Xu Fu International Symposium was held in 2008.
Did You Know?
- Xu Fu's exact birth year is unknown; later traditions often place it around 255 BC, but this is speculative.
- Later traditions embellish his fleet with details like 60 barques and specific numbers of boys and girls, but the Records of the Grand Historian does not specify these figures.
- Monk Yichu, writing over 1,100 years later, claimed Xu Fu landed in Japan and named Mount Fuji as Penglai—a legendary attribution, not a confirmed historical fact.
- In Japan, Xu Fu is worshipped as the 'god of farming,' 'god of medicine,' and 'god of silk.'
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Xu Fu?
Xu Fu was a Chinese alchemist and court sorcerer during the Qin dynasty who led two maritime expeditions in search of the legendary elixir of immortality. He is one of the earliest documented Chinese explorers to venture beyond the overland trade networks.
What was Xu Fu's role and mission?
Serving as a sorcerer to Qin Shi Huang, he was tasked with finding the elixir of life and sent out to sea on two separate voyages. His work combined alchemical pursuit with genuine geographic exploration of unknown coastal and oceanic regions.
How does Xu Fu's story end?
According to the Records of the Grand Historian, he did not simply vanish at sea but reached a distant land described as having flat plains and wide swamps. There he proclaimed himself king and established a settlement, which is where his recorded story concludes.
Why is Xu Fu significant in exploration history?
His expeditions predate most well-known maritime explorers by centuries and represent some of the earliest recorded Chinese oceanic voyages. He expanded the known world beyond the overland Silk Road corridors into the Pacific maritime sphere.
Is Xu Fu connected to Japanese legend?
In Japanese tradition he is known as Jofuku or Jofutsu and is said to have arrived in Japan with a group of followers, founding a settlement there. This legend persists in local folklore, though concrete archaeological evidence for the claim remains unconfirmed.
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