Wei zhi

• Written: c. 297 CE
• Chinese/Japanese: 魏志 (Wèi zhì / Gi shi)

The Wei zhi ("Records of Wei"), compiled around 297 CE, is the official dynastic history of the Chinese kingdom or dynasty of Cao Wei. The document is of particular significance as containing a relatively extensive contemporaneous description of the political or social structures, and social or cultural lifestyles, of the people of Yayoi period Japan. It is this description which serves as the chief textual account of Himiko and Yamatai.

The text, which refers to Japan as "Wa," describes it as ....

References

• David Lu, Sources of Japanese History, New York: McGraw-Hill (1973), 4.