The Kojiki: An Account of Ancient Matters (Translations from the Asian Classics)

"The Kojiki, previously translated as "A Record of Ancient Matters," is considered to be the first literary work in the history of Japan. It is a compilation of myths, history, songs, legends, genealogies, and other disparate works from which written history and literature were later created. The Kojiki tells of the origins of the four home islands of Japan central to the inspiration behind Shinto practices. The work moves in loosely historical progression starting with the creation of Japan in the age of the gods and the descent to earth of the ancestor of the imperial family through the reign of the legendary first sovereign, Emperor Jinmu, and successive rulers up to the reign of the 33rd sovereign, Empress Suiko (who reigned from 592-618). The creation myth describes the origin of Japan through a musuhi or spontaneous power through which the gods came into existence. After seven generations of gods are created by this force the last generation, male and female gods, called Ianagi and Izanami, create the islands of Japan. The two then give birth to the gods of various natural phenomena, including gods of the sea and rivers, of the mountains and plains, of the wind and, finally, of fire, who causes the death of the goddess Izanami. The male deity Izanagi then gives birth himself to the central figure in the Kojiki mythology, the Sun Goddess Amaterasu. Her descendant, the god Ninigi, comes down from heaven to earth and becomes the ancestor of the Yamato emperors"-- Read more... Abstract: "The Kojiki, previously translated as "A Record of Ancient Matters," is considered to be the first literary work in the history of Japan. It is a compilation of myths, history, songs, legends, genealogies, and other disparate works from which written history and literature were later created. The Kojiki tells of the origins of the four home islands of Japan central to the inspiration behind Shinto practices. The work moves in loosely historical progression starting with the creation of Japan in the age of the gods and the descent to earth of the ancestor of the imperial family through the reign of the legendary first sovereign, Emperor Jinmu, and successive rulers up to the reign of the 33rd sovereign, Empress Suiko (who reigned from 592-618). The creation myth describes the origin of Japan through a musuhi or spontaneous power through which the gods came into existence. After seven generations of gods are created by this force the last generation, male and female gods, called Ianagi and Izanami, create the islands of Japan. The two then give birth to the gods of various natural phenomena, including gods of the sea and rivers, of the mountains and plains, of the wind and, finally, of fire, who causes the death of the goddess Izanami. The male deity Izanagi then gives birth himself to the central figure in the Kojiki mythology, the Sun Goddess Amaterasu. Her descendant, the god Ninigi, comes down from heaven to earth and becomes the ancestor of the Yamato emperors" The Kojiki, Previously Translated As A Record Of Ancient Matters, Is Considered To Be The First Literary Work In The History Of Japan. It Is A Compilation Of Myths, History, Songs, Legends, Genealogies, And Other Disparate Works From Which Written History And Literature Were Later Created. The Kojiki Tells Of The Origins Of The Four Home Islands Of Japan Central To The Inspiration Behind Shinto Practices. The Work Moves In Loosely Historical Progression Starting With The Creation Of Japan In The Age Of The Gods And The Descent To Earth Of The Ancestor Of The Imperial Family Through The Reign Of The Legendary First Sovereign, Emperor Jinmu, And Successive Rulers Up To The Reign Of The 33rd Sovereign, Empress Suiko (who Reigned From 592-618). The Creation Myth Describes The Origin Of Japan Through A Musuhi Or Spontaneous Power Through Which The Gods Came Into Existence. After Seven Generations Of Gods Are Created By This Force The Last Generation, Male And Female Gods, Called Ianagi And Izanami, Create The Islands Of Japan. The Two Then Give Birth To The Gods Of Various Natural Phenomena, Including Gods Of The Sea And Rivers, Of The Mountains And Plains, Of The Wind And, Finally, Of Fire, Who Causes The Death Of The Goddess Izanami. The Male Deity Izanagi Then Gives Birth Himself To The Central Figure In The Kojiki Mythology, The Sun Goddess Amaterasu. Her Descendant, The God Ninigi, Comes Down From Heaven To Earth And Becomes The Ancestor Of The Yamato Emperors-- Introduction -- Preface -- Book One. The First Generations Of Spirits; Izanagi And Izanami Amaterasu And Susa-no-o; Ōkuni-nushi; Hiko-ho-no-ninigi; Ho-deri And Hoho-demi -- Book Two. Sovereign Jinmu; Sovereign Suisei; Sovereign Annei; Sovereign Itoku; Sovereign Kōshō; Sovereign Kōan; Sovereign Kōrei; Sovereign Kōgen; Sovereign Kaika; Sovereign Sujin; Sovereign Suinin; Sovereign Keikō; Sovereign Seimu; Sovereign Chūai; Sovereign Ōjin -- Book Three. Sovereign Nintoku; Sovereign Richū; Sovereign Hanzei; Sovereign Ingyō; Sovereign Ankō; Sovereign Yūryaku; Sovereign Seinei; Sovereign Kenzō; Sovereign Ninken; Sovereign Buretsu; Sovereign Keitai; Sovereign Ankan; Sovereign Senka; Sovereign Kinmei; Sovereign Bidatsu; Sovereign Yōmei; Sovereign Sushun; Sovereign Suiko -- Glossary Of General Terms -- Glossary Of Personal Names -- Glossary Of Place Names -- Map 1. Ancient Lands Of Yamato Japan -- Map 2. Central Yamato. [compiled By] Ō No Yasumaro ; Translated By Gustav Heldt. Translated From The Japanese. The Body Of The Translation Is Based On Yamaguchi Yoshinori And Kōnoshi Takamitsu, Eds., Kojiki, Shinpen Nihon Koten Bungaku Zenshû (tokyo: Shōgakukan, 1997). ... This Version Has Also Benefited From The Scholarship Of The Earlier Complete Annotated Translations Into English Made By Basil Hall Chamberlain And Donald Phillipi, And Danno Yoko, As Well As The Word-hoard Amassed By More Than A Century Of English-language Scholarship On Early Japan-- Preface And Author. Includes Bibliographical References. Japan's oldest surviving narrative, the eighth-century Kojiki , chronicles the mythical origins of its islands and their ruling dynasty through a diverse array of genealogies, tales, and songs that have helped to shape the modern nation's views of its ancient past. Gustav Heldt's engaging new translation of this revered classic aims to make the Kojiki accessible to contemporary readers while staying true to the distinctively dramatic and evocative appeal of the original's language. It conveys the rhythms that structure the Kojiki 's animated style of storytelling and translates the names of its many people and places to clarify their significance within the narrative. An introduction, glossaries, maps, and bibliographies offer a wealth of additional information about Japan's earliest extant record of its history, literature, and religion. Contents 7 Acknowledgments 11 Introduction 13 Preface 29 Book One 35 Book Two 89 Book Three 161 Glossary of General Terms 217 Glossary of Personal Names 235 Glossary of Place Names 269 Map 1. Ancient Lands of Yamato Japan 300 Map 2. Central Yamato 301 Bibliography 303 Written by imperial command in the eighth century, The Kojiki is the oldest surviving Japanese book. This compendium of early Japanese life provides a panorama of Japan during its formation.