is a general term for Japan's Six National Histories chronicling the mythology and history of Japan from the earliest times to 887. The six histories were written at the imperial court during the 8th and 9th centuries, under order of the Emperors. The basic sources were the court records kept by the Ministry of Central Imperial Affairs, and the biographies of meritorious officials composed in the Ministry of Ceremonial Affairs.
[Kōdansha (1983)]
The collection consists of the following texts:
*''
Nihon Shoki'' (Chronicle of Japan; also called ''Nihongi'') – 30 volumes covering the mythological period through 697. Completed by
Toneri Shinnō in 720.
*''
Shoku Nihongi
The is an imperially-commissioned Japanese history text. Completed in 797, it is the second of the '' Six National Histories'', coming directly after the '' Nihon Shoki'' and followed by '' Nihon Kōki''. Fujiwara no Tsugutada and Sugano no Ma ...
'' (Chronicle of Japan, Continued; also called ''Shokki'') – 40 volumes covering 697 through 791. Completed by
Fujiwara no Tsugutada
, also known as Fujiwara no Tsugutada and Monozomo no Udajin, was a Japanese statesman, courtier and politician during the Nara period.Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Fujiwara no Tsuginawa" in ; Brinkley, Frank ''et al.'' (1915).
Career
...
and
Sugano no Mamichi in 797.
*''
Nihon Kōki'' (Later Chronicle of Japan) – 40 volumes covering 792 through 833. Completed by
Fujiwara no Fuyutsugu
was a Japanese noble, statesman, general, and poet of the early Heian period. A member of the Hokke, he was the second son of the '' udaijin'' Fujiwara no Uchimaro. He attained the court rank of and the position of '' sadaijin'', and posthum ...
and
Fujiwara no Otsugu
was a Japanese statesman, courtier, politician and editor during the Heian period.Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Fujiwara no Otsugu" in . He is credited as one of the collaborative compilers of the '' Nihon Kōki''.Nussbaum, "Nihon Kōki" ...
in 840.
*''
Shoku Nihon Kōki
is an officially commissioned Japanese history text. Completed in 869, it is the fourth volume in the Six National Histories. It covers the years 833–850.
Background
Following the earlier national history ''Nihon Kōki'' (840), in 855 Emperor ...
'' (Later Chronicle of Japan, Continued) – 20 volumes covering 833 through 850. Completed by
Fujiwara no Yoshifusa
, also known as ''Somedono no Daijin'' or ''Shirakawa-dono'', was a Japanese statesman, courtier and politician during the Heian period.Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Fujiwara no Nakahira" in ; Brinkley, Frank ''et al.'' (1915).
When Yosh ...
,
Fujiwara no Yoshimi,
Tomo no Yoshio
, or , was a counsellor of the state in pre-feudal Japan. In Japanese mythology, he was the source for Ban no Yoshio, god of pestilence.
Arson
On the tenth day of the third month of 866, Tomo no Yoshio set fire to the Ōtenmon gate with the in ...
, and
Haruzumi no Yoshitada in 869.
*''
Nihon Montoku Tennō Jitsuroku'' (Veritable Record of Emperor Montoku of Japan; also called ''Montoku jitsuroku'') – 10 volumes covering 850 through 858. Completed by
Fujiwara no Mototsune and
Sugawara no Koreyoshi
was a Japanese aristocrat, poet and politician of the early Heian period. He was the fourth son of Sugawara no Kiyotomo. He reached the court rank of and the position of '' sangi''.
Life
Koreyoshi was said to be intelligent and wise from ...
in 879.
*''
Nihon Sandai Jitsuroku'' (Veritable Record of Three Generations
f Emperorsof Japan; also called ''Sandai jitsuroku'') – 50 volumes covering 858 through 887. Completed by
Fujiwara no Tokihira and
Ōkura no Yoshiyuki in 901.
The national histories were discontinued after the ''Sandai Jitsuroku''; they were followed by the four Mirror books (starting with ''
Ōkagami ''Ōkagami'' () is a Japanese historical tale written in around 1119 by an unknown author. It covers the period 850 to 1025, the golden days of the Fujiwara family's rule. It is said to be a successor (世継物語, ''yotsugi monogatari'') with the ...
'').
See also
*''
Ruijū Kokushi'', a categorized and chronological history text of the ''Six National Histories''
*
Historiography of Japan
The historiography of Japan ( ') is the study of methods and hypotheses formulated in the study and literature of the history of Japan.
The earliest work of Japanese history is attributed to Prince Shōtoku, who is said to have written the ''Te ...
Notes
References
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External links
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Asuka period
Nara period
Heian period
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8th-century books
9th-century books
Kanbun