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Encyclopedia > Nihon Shoki
Part of the series on
Shinto

Religions  · Divinities
Creatures & Spirits
Stories and Myths
Kojiki  · Kwaidan
Nihon Shoki  · Otogizoshi
Yotsuya Kaidan
Legendary Figures
Abe no Seimei  · Hidari Jingoro
Kintarō  · Momotarō
Nezumi Kozo  · Tamamo no Mae
Tomoe Gozen  · Urashima Tarō
Sacred Objects
Amenonuhoko  · Kusanagi
Sessho-seki  · Tonbogiri
Three Sacred Treasures
Mythical & Sacred Locations
Horai  · Mt. Hiei
Mt. Fuji  · Rashōmon
Ryugu-jo  · Suzakumon
Takamagahara  · Yomi
Japanese Mythology

The Nihon Shoki (日本書紀?), sometimes translated as The Chronicles of Japan, is the second oldest book of classical Japanese history. It is more elaborate than Kojiki, the oldest, and has proven invaluable to historians as it includes the most complete extant historical record of ancient Japan. Nihon Shoki was finished in 720 under the editorial supervision of Prince Toneri and with the assistance of Ōno Yasumaro. The book is also called the Nihongi (日本紀). Please wikify (format) this article as suggested in the Guide to layout and the Manual of Style. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Amaterasu_cave_wide. ... This is a list of divinities native to Japanese beliefs and religious traditions. ... The following is a list of ryu (dragons), yokai, obake and yurei which are notable in Japanese mythology and folklore. ... Japanese mythology is a complex system of beliefs. ... Kojiki or Furukotofumi (古事記) is the oldest surviving historical book dealing with the ancient history of Japan. ... Illustration from otogizōshi tale, published c. ... Yotsuya Kaidan (四つ谷怪談) is a Japanese ghost story. ... Abe no Seimei (安倍 晴明 921?-1005?) was a leading specialist of onmyodo during the middle of Heian Period. ... The Famous, the Unrivalled Hidari Jingoro (Meiyo migi ni teki nashi Hidari Jingoro); by Utagawa Kuniyoshi Hidari Jingoro (å·¦ 甚五郎 ひだり じんごろう) was a Japanese artist, sculptor and carpenter, active from 1596-1644. ... This article is about the Japanese folklore hero; for the Mortal Kombat character, see Kintaro (Mortal Kombat character). ... Bisque doll of Momotarō Momotarō (桃太郎) is a hero from Japanese folklore. ... Jirokichi the Rat or Nezumi Kozo, (次郎吉 or ねずみ小僧, the latter literally meaning rat boy, ?? - 1832) is a Japanese folk hero, a legendary benevolent outlaw similar to the English Robin Hood. ... Tamamo-no-Mae (玉藻前) is a legendary figure in Japanese mythology. ... A woodblock print of Tomoe Gozen in battle. ... Urashima Tarō ) is a Japanese fairy tale about a fisherman who rescues a turtle and is rewarded with a visit to the RyÅ«gÅ«-jō, the Dragon Palace. ... The following is a list of sacred objects in Japanese mythology. ... Amanonuhoko (Lit. ... Kusanagi-no-tsurugi (Japanese: 草薙の剣) is a legendary Japanese sword as important to Japans history as Excalibur is to Britains. ... The Sessho-seki (Japanese: 殺生石), or Killing Stone, is an object in Japanese mythology. ... The Tonbogiri ) is one of three legendary spears created by the famed swordsmith Masamune, said to be wielded by the daimyo Honda Tadakatsu. ... A representation of the Imperial Regalia of Japan. ... Horai is a place in Japanese mythology. ... Mount Hiei (Jp. ... Mount Fuji (富士山 Fuji-san, IPA: [ɸuʝisaɴ]) is the highest mountain on the island of Honshu and indeed in all of Japan. ... Marker at site of Rashōmon The Rashōmon (羅生門 or 羅城門 Rajōmon;the castle gate) was formerly the grandest of the two city gates of the Japanese city of Kyoto during the Heian period. ... In Japanese legend, Ryūgū-jō (竜宮城) is the undersea palace of Ryujin, the dragon god of the sea. ... The Suzakumon Gate was the main gate of the imperial palace in the Japanese ancient capital of Fujiwarakyō, Nara, and later Kyoto. ... Takama-ga-hara (Japanese: 高天原), or The High Plain of Heaven, is a place in Japanese mythology. ... Yomi (黄泉), the Japanese word for underworld in which horrible creatures guard the exits, is similar to Hades or hell and is most commonly known for Izanamis retreat to that place after her death. ... The following text needs to be harmonized with text in the article Japan#History. ... Kojiki or Furukotofumi (古事記) is the oldest surviving historical book dealing with the ancient history of Japan. ... Events Umayyad caliph Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz succeeded by Yazid II ibn Abd al-Malik The Nihonshoki (日本書紀), one of the oldest history books in Japan, is completed Births Bertrada, wife of Pippin III (d. ... Prince Toneri (舎人親王, Toneri shinnō: 676-735) was a Japanese imperial prince in the Nara period. ...


Like Kojiki, the Nihon Shoki begins with mythological tales, but continues its account through to contemporary events. It is believed to record accurately the latter reigns of Emperor Tenji, Emperor Temmu, and Empress Jitō, and focuses on the merits of the virtuous rulers and the mistakes of the bad ones. It describes episodes from mythological eras and diplomatic contacts with other countries. Though Kojiki was written in transliterated Japanese with Chinese characters, Nihon Shoki was written in classical Chinese, as was common for official documents at that time. // The word mythology (Greek: μυθολογία, from μυθος mythos, a story or legend, and λογος logos, an account or speech) literally means the (oral) retelling of myths – stories that a particular culture believes to be true and that use supernatural events or characters to explain the nature of the universe and humanity. ... Look up Story in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... ... Emperor Temmu (天武天皇 Temmu Tennō) (c. ... Jito Tenno (From Ogura Hyakunin Isshu) Tomb of Emperor Temmu and Empress Jitō Empress Jitō (持統天皇 Jitō Tennō) (645 – December 22, 7021) was the 41st imperial ruler of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. ... His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Akihito of Japan Imperial Seal of Japan The Emperor (天皇 tennō, literally heavenly sovereign) is currently a constitutionally-recognized symbol of the Japanese nation and the unity of its people. ... Japanese mythology is a complex system of beliefs. ... The United Nations, with its headquarters in New York City, is the largest international diplomatic organization. ... 漢字 Chinese character in hànzì, hanja, kanji. ... Classical Chinese or Literary Chinese is a traditional style of written Chinese based on the grammar and vocabulary of very old forms of Chinese , making it very different from any modern spoken form of Chinese. ...

Contents


Chapters

  • Chapter 01: (First chapter of myths) Kami no Yo no Kami no maki.
  • Chapter 02: (Second chapter of myths) Kami no Yo no Shimo no maki.
  • Chapter 03: (Emperor Jimmu) Kamuyamato Iwarebiko no Sumeramikoto.
  • Chapter 04:
  • Chapter 05: (Emperor Sujin) Mimaki Iribiko Iniye no Sumeramikoto.
  • Chapter 06: (Emperor Suinin) Ikume Iribiko Isachi no Sumeramikoto.
  • Chapter 07:
  • Chapter 08: (Emperor Chuai) Tarashi Nakatsuhiko no Sumeramikoto.
  • Chapter 09: (Regent Empress Jingu) Okinaga Tarashihime no Mikoto.
  • Chapter 10: (Emperor Ojin) Homuda no Sumeramikoto.
  • Chapter 11: (Emperor Nintoku) Ōsasagi no Sumeramikoto.
  • Chapter 12:
  • Chapter 13:
  • Chapter 14: (Emperor Yuryaku) Ōhatsuse no Waka Takeru no Sumeramikoto.
  • Chapter 15:
  • Chapter 16: (Emperor Buretsu) Ohatsuse no Waka Sasagi no Sumeramikoto.
  • Chapter 17: (Emperor Keitai) Ōdo no Sumeramikoto.
  • Chapter 18:
  • Chapter 19: (Emperor Kimmei) Amekuni Oshiharaki Hironiwa no Sumeramikoto.
  • Chapter 20: (Emperor Bidatsu) Nunakakura no Futo Tamashiki no Sumeramikoto.
  • Chapter 21:
  • Chapter 22: (Empress Suiko) Toyomike Kashikiya Hime no Sumeramikoto.
  • Chapter 23: (Emperor Jomei) Okinaga Tarashi Hihironuka no Sumeramikoto.
  • Chapter 24: (Empress Kogyoku) Ame Toyotakara Ikashi Hitarashi no Hime no Sumeramikoto.
  • Chapter 25: (Emperor Kotoku) Ame Yorozu Toyohi no Sumeramikoto.
  • Chapter 26: (Empress Saimei) Ame Toyotakara Ikashi Hitarashi no Hime no Sumeramikoto.
  • Chapter 27: (Emperor Tenji) Ame Mikoto Hirakasuwake no Sumeramikoto.
  • Chapter 28: (Emperor Temmu, first chapter) Ama no Nunakahara Oki no Mahito no Sumeramikoto, Kami no maki.
  • Chapter 29: (Emperor Temmu, second chapter) Ama no Nunakahara Oki no Mahito no Sumeramikoto, Shimo no maki.
  • Chapter 30: (Empress Jito) Takamanohara Hirono Hime no Sumeramikoto.

Meiji era print of Emperor Jimmu The legendary tomb of Emperor Jimmu, Nara Emperor Jimmu (神武天皇 Jinmu Tennō; given name: Kamuyamato Iwarebiko, born according to legend on January 1, 711 BCE, and died, again according to legend, on March 11, 585 BCE), was the mythical founder of Japan and is the... Meiji era print of Emperor Suizei Emperor Suizei (綏靖天皇 Suizei Tennō) was the second imperial ruler of Japan to appear on the traditional list of emperors. ... Meiji era print of Emperor Annei Emperor Annei (安寧天皇 Annei Tennō) was the third imperial ruler of Japan to appear on the traditional list of emperors. ... Meiji era print of Emperor Itoku Emperor Itoku (懿徳天皇 Itoku Tennō) was the fourth imperial ruler of Japan to appear on the traditional list of emperors. ... Kōshō is the fifth emperor (tenno) of Japan to appear on the traditional list of emperors. ... Emperor Kōan (孝安天皇 Kōan Tennō) was the sixth imperial ruler of Japan to appear on the traditional list of emperors. ... Emperor Kōrei (孝霊天皇 Kōrei Tennō) was the seventh imperial ruler of Japan to appear on the traditional list of emperors. ... Emperor Kōgen (孝元天皇 Kōgen Tennō) was the eighth imperial ruler of Japan to appear on the traditional list of emperors. ... Emperor Kaika (開化天皇 Kaika Tennō) is the ninth imperial ruler of Japan to appear on the traditional list of emperors. ... Emperor Sujin (崇神天皇 Sujin Tennō) was the tenth imperial ruler of Japan to appear on the traditional list of emperors. ... Grave of Emperor Suinin, Nara Prefecture Emperor Suinin (垂仁天皇 Suinin Tennō) was the eleventh imperial ruler of Japan to appear on the traditional list of emperors. ... Emperor Keikō (景行天皇 Keikō Tennō) was the twelfth imperial ruler of Japan to appear on the traditional list of emperors. ... Emperor Seimu (成務天皇 Seimu Tennō) was the 13th imperial ruler of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. ... ChÅ«ai was a Japanese monarch, the 14th emperor (tenno) of Japan to appear on the traditional list of emperors. ... Empress Consort JingÅ« of Japan (c. ... Emperor ÅŒjin (応神天皇 ÅŒjin Tennō) was the 15th imperial ruler of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. ... Daisen-Kofun, the tomb of Emperor Nintoku, Osaka Emperor Nintoku (仁徳天皇 Nintoku Tennō) was the 16th imperial ruler of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. ... Emperor RichÅ« (履中天皇 RichÅ« Tennō) was the 17th imperial ruler of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. ... Emperor Hanzei (反正天皇 Hanzei Tennō) was the 18th Emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. ... Emperor Ingyō (允恭天皇 Ingyō Tennō) was the 19th imperial ruler of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. ... Emperor Ankō (安康天皇 Ankō Tennō) was the 20th imperial ruler of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. ... Emperor YÅ«ryaku (雄略天皇 YÅ«rayku Tennō, c. ... Emperor Seinei (清寧天皇 Seinei Tennō) was the 22nd imperial ruler of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. ... Kenzō (顕宗天皇 Kenzō Tennō, or rather Kenzo okimi) was the 23rd Japanese imperial ruler, according to the traditional order of succession. ... Emperor Ninken (仁賢天皇 Ninken Tennō, or rather Ninken okimi) (-c. ... Emperor Buretsu (武烈天皇 Buretsu Tennō) (c. ... ... Emperor Ankan (安閑天皇 Ankan Tennō) was the 27th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. ... ... Emperor Kimmei (欽明天皇 Kinmei Tennō) (509-571) was the 29th imperial ruler of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession, and the first to whom contemporary historiography assigns clear dates. ... ... ... ... Empress Suiko (推古天皇) (554-628) was the 33rd imperial ruler of Japan and the first woman to hold this position. ... Emperor Jomei (舒明天皇 Jomei Tennō) (593- November 17, 641) was the 34th imperial ruler of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. ... Empress Kōgyoku (皇極天皇 Kōgyoku Tennō), also Empress Saimei (斉明天皇 Saimei Tennō) (594–661) was the 35th imperial ruler of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. ... Emperor Kōtoku (孝徳天皇 Kōtoku Tennō) (596?- October 10, 654)1 was the 36th imperial ruler of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. ... Empress Kōgyoku (皇極天皇) or Saimei (斉明天皇) (594–661) was the 35th imperial ruler of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. ... ... Emperor Temmu (天武天皇 Temmu Tennō) (c. ... Emperor Temmu (天武天皇 Temmu Tennō) (c. ... Jito Tenno (From Ogura Hyakunin Isshu) Tomb of Emperor Temmu and Empress Jitō Empress Jitō (持統天皇 Jitō Tennō) (645 – December 22, 7021) was the 41st imperial ruler of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. ...

Process of Compilation

Shoku Nihongi notes that "先是一品舎人親王奉勅修日本紀。至是功成奏上。紀三十巻系図一巻" in the part of May, 720. It means "Up to that time, Prince Toneri had been compiling Nihongi on the orders of the emperor; he completed it, submitting 30 volumes of history and one volume of genealogy." The volume of genealogy is no longer extant. The Shoku Nihongi（続日本紀）is an imperially commissioned history of Japan written in the early Heian period. ... Events Umayyad caliph Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz succeeded by Yazid II ibn Abd al-Malik The Nihonshoki (日本書紀), one of the oldest history books in Japan, is completed Births Bertrada, wife of Pippin III (d. ...


Contributors

The process of compilation is usually studied by stylistic analysis of each chapter. Although written in classical Chinese, some sections use styles characteristic of Japanese editors, while others seem to be written by native speakers of Chinese. According to recent studies, most of the chapters after #14 (Emperor Yuryaku chronicle) were contributed by native Chinese, except for Chapters 22 and 23 (the Suiko and Jomei chronicle). Also, as Chapter 13 ends with the phrase "see details of the incident in the chronicle of Ōhastuse(Yūryaku) Emperor" referring to the assassination of Emperor Ankō, it is assumed that this chapter was written after the compilation of subsequent chapters. Some believe Chapter 14 was the first to be completed.


References

The Nihon Shoki is said to be based on older documents, specifically on the records that had been continuously kept in the Yamato court since the sixth century. It also includes documents and folklore submitted by clans serving the court. Prior to Nihon Shoki, there were Tennoki (Chronicle of the Emperors), and Kokki (Chronicle of the State) compiled by Prince Shotoku and Soga no Umako, but as they were stored in Soga's residence, they were burned at the time of the Itsushi Incident. Sculpture of Prince Shotoku in Asuka Dera, Asuka, Nara Prince Shōtoku (聖徳太子 574-622) was a regent and a politician of the Imperial Court in Japan. ... Soga no Umako (蘇我馬子; 551? - 20 May 626), the son of Soga no Iname and the strongest member of Soga clan of Japan, conducted politicial reforms with Prince Shotoku during the rules of Emperors Bidatsu and Suiko, and established Soga clans stronghold in the governemt by having his daughter married... The tomb of Soga no Irukas head in Asuka-mura, Nara Prefecture. ...


The work's contributors refer to various sources which do not exist today. Among those sources, three Baekje documents(Kudara-ki,etc) are cited mainly for the purpose of recording diplomatic affairs.[1][2] Records possibly written in Baekje may have been the basis for the quotations in the Nihon Shoki. But textual criticism shows that scholars fleeing the destruction of the Baekje to Yamato wrote these histories and the authors of the Nihon Shoki heavily relied upon those sources.[1] The use of Baekje's place names in Nihon Shoki is another piece of evidence that the history used Baekje documents.. Baekje (18 BC (legendary) – AD 660) was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, together with Goguryeo and Silla. ...


Some other sources are cited anonymously as aru fumi (一書; other document), in order to keep alternative records for specific incidents.


Rhetoric

Nihon Shoki has a Japan-centric outlook (comparable to Sinocentrism) and suppresses unflattering information. For example, it records Korean embassies as having "sent tribute to Japan", but does not record that Japan sent tribute to China, merely that Japan "sent envoys." The Sinocentric World: The area of usage of Chinese characters at its maximum extent (to a considerable extent following the borders of the Qing dynasty). ...


Exaggeration of Lengths of Reign

Most scholars agree that the purported founding date of Japan (660 BCE) and the first thirteen emperors of Japan are mythical. This does not necessarily imply that the persons referred to did not exist, merely that there is insufficient evidence to conclude that they existed or can be assigned to a particular period of history. It is much more likely that they were chieftains, or local kings, and that the polities they ruled would not have encompassed all, or even most, of Japan.


For those monarchs, and also for the Emperors Ojin and Nintoku, the lengths of reign are likely to have been exaggerated in order to make the origins of the imperial family sufficiently ancient to satisfy numerological expectations. It is widely believed that the epoch of 660 BCE was chosen because it is a "xīn-yǒu" year in the sexagenary cycle, which according to Taoist beliefs was an appropriate year for a revolution to take place. As Taoist theory also groups together 21 sexagenary cycles into one unit of time, it is assumed that the compilers of Nihon Shoki assigned the year 601 (a "xīn-yǒu" year in which Prince Shotoku's reformation took place) as a "modern revolution" year, and consequently recorded 660 BCE, 1260 years prior to that year, as the founding epoch. Emperor ÅŒjin (応神天皇 ÅŒjin Tennō) was the 15th imperial ruler of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. ... Daisen-Kofun, the tomb of Emperor Nintoku, Osaka Emperor Nintoku (仁徳天皇 Nintoku Tennō) was the 16th imperial ruler of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. ... The word epoch can mean either an interval of time, or a particular point in time used as a reference point. ... The Chinese sexagenary cycle (Chinese: ; pinyin: gānzhÄ«) is a cyclic numeral system of 60 combinations of the two basic cycles, the ten Heavenly Stems (天干; tiāngān) and the twelve Earthly Branches (地支; dìzhÄ«). These have been traditionally used as a means of numbering the years, not only in... For other uses of the words tao and dao, see Dao (disambiguation). ...


Kesshi Hachidai (Eight undocumented monarchs)

For the eight emperors of Chapter 4, only the years of birth and reign, year of naming as Crown Prince, names of consorts, and locations of tomb are recorded. They are called the Kesshi Hachidai (欠史八代) because no legends are associated with them. Recent studies support the view that these emperors were invented to push Jimmu's reign further back to the year 660 BCE. Nihon Shoki itself somewhat elevates the "tenth" emperor Sujin, recording that he was called the Hatsu-Kuni-Shirasu (御肇国: first nation-ruling) emperor.


See also

William George Aston (1841-1911) was a British consular official in Japan. ...

References

  1. ^ a b Sakamoto, Taro. The Six National Histories of Japan: Rikkokushi. UBC Press. ISBN 0-7748-0379-7, 40.
  2. ^ Delmer M. Brown The Cambridge History of Japan. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-22352-0, 170.

External links

  • Nihon Shoki TEXT

 

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