We finally made it! The Chronicles of Japan is finally getting into the Japanese Chronicles! And by that I primarily mean the Kojiki and the Nihon Shoki, but there are a few others, so here in this blog post, let’s talk about some of them:

Kokki

The National History submitted by the legendary Shotoku Taishi was originally presented in 620 CE, during the reign of Suiko. It was rescued from fire in 645, but its whereabouts after that are uncertain. It was possibly used in the formulation of the narrative that became the Kojiki as well as the Nihon Shoki. This may be a large part of the Kujiki (below), but most believe the original is actually lost.

Kojiki

The Kojiki is the account recorded by O no Yasumaro from the history memorized by Hieda no Are. This is from the period of Temmu (d. 686) but wsan’t written down until 711-712. It covers up to the period of Suiko (d. 628), but really doesn’t have much other than genalogical information after Buretsu (d. 507).

Nihon Shoki

Sometimes referred to as the Nihongi. This is the most comprehensive of the early histories. It was presented to the court in 720 under the direction of Prince Toneri. O no Yasumaro likely had a hand it, along with many other court scholars. This may be the culmination of a project started as early as 681. It is the first record to actually label the years, though the years given are clearly preposterous until the latter reigns. The earliest year claims to be about 660 BCE, and it continues up until the reign of Jito Tenno, ending in 697. Although there is a main narrative thread throughout, it also includes alternate versions of many stories—especially those from the Age of the Gods. These usually start with something like “In one writing it is said:” These may have been added afterwards, and demonstrate some of the different versions.

Fudoki

The fudoki, or gazetteers, were commissioned in 713 from the various provinces. Only a few of the fudoki (whole or in part) survive. These include the fudoki from Izumo, Harima, Hizen, Hitachi, and Bungo. There are also scattered references in other works that quoted from them before they were lost. The fudoki cover many things, and occasionally include local history, myths, and legends that can be used to help fill in the blanks around some of what we see in other works.

Kogo Shūi

Submitted to the court in 807, compiled by Imbe no HIronari, this is another collection of stories, thought to be for the purpose of defending the Imbe family’s traditional rights against the rise of the Fujiwara, a branch of the Nakatomi.

Kujiki (aka Kyujiki or Kiujiki)

This is a history of Japan up through Suiko’s reign. Early Japanese scholars believed it to be the history that Shotoku Taishi was supposed to have compiled in 620, but later scholarship placed it as late as the 10th century. Some scholars believe that it may be more of an 8th century document, sharing material with the Nihon Shoki and Kojiki, but differing slightly in places.

References

• Ō, Yasumaro, & Heldt, G. (2014). The Kojiki: An account of ancient matters. ISBN978-0-231-16389-7

• Ooms, Herman (2009). Imperial Politics and Symbolics in Ancient Japan: The Tenmu Dynasty, 650-800.  ISBN978-0-8248-3235-3

• Tonomura, Hitomi (July 1994). Positioning Amaterasu: A Reading of the Kojiki. The Japan Foundation Newsletter, 22(2), 12-17.

• Taro, Sakamoto. Brownlee, John S., tr. (1991).  The Six National Histories of Japan. UBC Press, Vancouver. ISBN4-13-027026-5

• Murakami, F. (1988). Incest and Rebirth in Kojiki. Monumenta Nipponica, 43(4), 455-463. doi:10.2307/2384797

• Chamberlain, B. H. (1981). The Kojiki: Records of ancient matters. Rutland, Vt: C.E. Tuttle Co.  ISBN4-8053-0794-3

• Aston, W. G. (1972). Nihongi, chronicles of Japan from the earliest times to A.D. 697. London: Allen & Unwin. ISBN0-80480984-4

• Philippi, D. L. (1968). Kojiki. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press. ISBN4-13-087004-1