Heijō-kyō (平城京), Nara

○辛丑。遣新羅使大判官従六位上壬生使主宇太麻呂。少判官正七位上大蔵忌寸麻呂等入京。大使従五位下阿倍朝臣継麻呂泊津嶋卒。副使従六位下大伴宿禰三中染病、不得入京。

First month, twenty-seventh day. Mibu no Utamaro, senior secretary of the embassy to Silla, and Ōkura no Maro, junior secretary, entered the capital with the others. The ambassador, Abe no Tsugumaro, had died while the ship lay at anchor at Tsushima. The vice-ambassador, Ōtomo no Minaka, had fallen ill and could not enter the capital.

○壬辰。詔曰。四月以来。疫旱並行、田苗燋萎。由是。祈祷山川。奠祭神祇。未得効験。至今猶苦。朕以不徳、実致茲災。思布寛仁、以救民患。宜令国郡審録寃獄。掩骼埋胔。禁酒断屠。高年之徒。鰥寡惸独。及京内僧尼男女。臥疾不能自存者。量加賑給。又普賜文武職事以上物。大赦天下。[...]

Nineteenth day. The emperor said: “Since the fourth month, epidemic and drought have come together, and the rice seedlings in the fields have scorched and withered. So we have prayed to the mountains and rivers and made offerings to the kami. But we have seen no result, and even now the people are suffering. Truly it is my lack of virtue that has brought this disaster. I wish to spread kindness and mercy, to save the people from their troubles. Let the provinces and districts review the cases of people wrongly imprisoned. Let them cover exposed bones and bury the rotting dead. Let wine be forbidden and the slaughter of animals stopped. As for the aged, widowers and widows, orphans and the childless old, and the monks, nuns, men, and women of the capital who lie sick and cannot support themselves, give them relief as each one needs. Let gifts also be given to all civil and military officials who hold posts. I declare a general amnesty throughout the realm.”

以前四月已來。京及畿內。悉臥疫病。多有死亡。明知諸國佰姓。亦遭此患。仍條件狀。國傳送之。至宜寫取。即差郡司主帳已上一人。宛使早達前所。無有留滯。其國司巡行部內。告示百姓。若無粥饘等料者。國量宜賑給官物。具狀申送。今便以官印印之。符到奉行。

Since the fourth month, everyone in the capital and the home provinces has fallen sick with the epidemic, and many have died. Clearly the common people of the provinces are suffering from it too. That is why the articles above have been written out. Each province is to pass this order on. When it arrives, have it copied. Then at once send one official of the district, a clerk or higher, as messenger to carry it quickly to the next province, without delay. The governors are to travel through their provinces and announce it to the common people. If any have nothing to make gruel with, the province is to judge what is fitting, give them relief from government stores, and send a full report. This order now bears the Council’s seal. When it arrives, carry it out.