The Kojiki and Nikon Shoki Flashcards
Who was the Kojiki for?
Children of the Unji Clans
Who was the Nihon Shoki for?
foreigners and other clans
When was the Kojiki compiled?
712 by the scribe O no Yasumaro
Which one was inspired by Buddhism?
The Kojiki
What is the earliest book to survive to modern day?
The Kojiki
What was the primary function of the Kojiki?
Legitimize the Nara State
What was the Kojiki?
A creation myth
How could have clans influenced the Kojiki?
They used their gods and their ideology to create this myth to legitimize their rule
What is the Nihon Shoki known as?
The “first official history of Japan”
How did the Kojiki used Chinese?
Employed Chinese characters both in the conventional manner and
to represent sounds
What is Musushi?
Spontaneity or Creation Force, used within the Kojiki
What are some characteristics of the Nihon Shoki?
It offers many/different accounts that are then integrated into a single narrative, text records incidents up to recent past used Ying-Yang, 10 times longer than Kojiki
When did the Kojiki become known?
18th century
Who did the other accounts in the Nihon Shoki likely belong to?
Members of the Uji Clans
Who are Izanagi and Izanami?
The main gods that give birth to the islands/gods/objects
Who is Amaterasu?
Sun Goddess, Was born after Izanagi washes his eye after visiting the land of Yomi, Hides in the Heavenly Rock Cave before being lured out
Who is Susano-o-(no-mikoto)?
Amaterasu’s younger brother who caused a ruckus in the Heavens, Slays the 8 tailed serpent
Who is Emperor Ninigi?
Descendant of Amaterasu; ancestor of the imperial family.
What are the similarities of the Kojiki and the Nihon Shoki?
gods and important people often spoke in verse
Combination of “historical” narrative (poetry)
Mirroring of continental historiography/culture
Use of manyo-gana and Kanbun (literary sinitic)
Move from oral practice to written practice → Mokkan culture (Mok = wood | Kan = print)
What are the three books of the Kojiki?
age of the gods, age of the rulers (starting with Emperor Jimmu), Age of Emperor (ending with Empress Suiko)
