The writing '諸蕃 (Shoban),' '蕃 (Ban)' (foreign lands) and '蕃国 (Bankoku)' (barbarian countries) were often used, for example in "the Nihon Shoki" (the Chronicle of Japan) in its Article of November, 482 (under the reign of Emperor Seinei,) and in several other Articles of the Chronicle, on the other hand '玄番寮 (Genba-ryo)' (a bureau for Buddhism and aliens) was established under the Ritsuryo System.
『日本書紀』清寧天皇3年11月条（482年）以下複数の記事が見られ、律令制でも「玄蕃寮」が設置されるなど、「諸蕃」・「蕃」・「蕃国」の表記がしばしば用いられた。