Changes

*''Alternate name'': 日本紀 ''(Nihongi)''

*''Alternate name'': 日本紀 ''(Nihongi)''

Excluding the contemporary ''[[Fudoki]]'', the ''Nihon Shoki'' is coupled with the ''[[Kojiki]]'' as the first two domestic, Japanese histories. Officially finished in [[720]] CE, the ''Nihon Shoki'' had been in progress for almost fifty years. Its compilation was inspired in part by the [[Confucianism|Confucian]] notion of producing annals of each regime, which could then be used to guide later generations.<ref>[[Conrad Totman]], ''Early Modern Japan'', University of California Press (1993), 25.</ref>

The ''Nihon shoki'' is - along with the ''[[Kojiki]]'' - one of the earliest and most canonical ancient official histories of Japan, produced by the imperial court in the early 8th century. Completed in [[720]] under [[Empress Gensho|Empress Genshô]], the ''Nihon shoki'' relates the history of Japan up to [[697]] in thirty volumes; it begins with two volumes containing origin myths and stories of the gods, followed by 28 volumes organized by imperial reign, from [[Emperor Jimmu]] through [[Empress Jito|Empress Jitô]].

 

Its compilation, conducted over roughly fifty years beginning around the 670s, was inspired in part by the Chinese tradition and [[Confucianism|Confucian]] notion of producing annals of each regime, which could then be used to guide later generations.<ref>[[Conrad Totman]], ''Early Modern Japan'', University of California Press (1993), 25.</ref>

 

==Issues of Accuracy==

==Issues of Accuracy==

===Dating===

===Dating===

The ''Nihon Shoki'' dates have long been called into question. W.G. Aston, the translator, notes that in many places the dates need to be moved up as much as 120 years.  

The ''Nihon Shoki'' dates have long been called into question. W.G. Aston, author of the most famous and prominent English-language translation, notes that in many places the dates need to be moved up as much as 120 years.  

Such an example deals with continental relations:

Such an example deals with continental relations:

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Wu 呉, called by the Japanese Go or Kure, was a Chinese dynasty, the last sovreign of which was deposed A.D. 280, long before the despatch of [''[[Achi no Omi]] and his son, Tsuga no Omi'']. We learn, however, from a note to the ''Shukai'' edition that this appellation was aplied (perhaps popularly) to all the six dynasties established at Nanking or the neighbourhood from Wu to Chen inclusive, ie. from A.D. 229-589.

[[Eastern Wu|Wu]] 呉, called by the Japanese Go or Kure, was a Chinese dynasty, the last sovreign of which was deposed A.D. 280, long before the despatch of [''[[Achi no Omi]] and his son, Tsuga no Omi'']. We learn, however, from a note to the ''Shukai'' edition that this appellation was aplied (perhaps popularly) to all the six dynasties established at Nanking or the neighbourhood from Wu to Chen inclusive, ie. from A.D. 229-589.

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==References==

==References==

<references/>

<references/>

[[Category:Nara Period]]

[[Category:Nara Period]]

[[Category:Historical Documents]]

[[Category:Historical Documents]]