This episode we are looking at the rule of Shiraga (aka Shiraka), aka Seinei Tennō. His reign, according to the Nihon Shoki, is fairly short, and, to be honest, mostly concerned with his successor—an important subject given that he never seemed to marry or have any children of his own. But rather than worry too much about that, this episode asks the question of just how much can we trust the Chronicles?

In particular, there is still the mess of the Five Kings of Wa, with Kō sending an embassy in 462, and then Bu sending an embassy in 478 that arrives in 479. The 462 embassy lines up nicely with what we read in Wakatake’s lifetime, but everything else lines him up with Bu. However, what if “Bu” were really Shiraga? What does that tell us? This is one of the things we’ll go into in the episode.

Not much more, here, I’m afraid. Go listen to the episode and feel free to reach out with any questions or let me know your personal theories? Whom do you like for Bu and Kō? Or do you subscribe to one of the other theories, such as the idea that they were from Tsukushi or even from the Korean Peninsula?

References

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

• Kim, P., & Shultz, E. J. (2013). The 'Silla annals' of the 'Samguk Sagi'. Gyeonggi-do: Academy of Korean Studies Press.

• Kim, P., Shultz, E. J., Kang, H. H. W., & Han'guk Chŏngsin Munhwa Yŏn'guwŏn. (2012). The Koguryo annals of the Samguk sagi. Seongnam-si, Korea: Academy of Korean Studies Press.

• Soumaré, Massimo (2007), Japan in Five Ancient Chinese Chronicles: Wo, the Land of Yamatai, and Queen Himiko. ISBN: 978-4-902075-22-9.

• Bentley, John. (2006). The Authenticity of Sendai Kuji Hongi: a New Examination of Texts, with a Translation and Commentary. ISBN-90-04-152253.

• Best, J. (2006). A History of the Early Korean Kingdom of Paekche, together with an annotated translation of The Paekche Annals of the Samguk sagi. Cambridge (Massachusetts); London: Harvard University Asia Center. doi:10.2307/j.ctt1tg5q8p

• 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