Reliability of Kojiki and Nihon Shoki

When writing about the Asuka period, most of the main sources of historical materials are [Kojiki] and [Nihonshoki] . I'm sick.

Historical materials such as Kojiki and Nihon Shoki are often written by posterity in their own way, so I wonder if it would be a good idea to swallow them all, but in reality, they are representative of others. Since there are few historical books, we often rely on these two books.

Kojiki, Nihon Shoki, together " Kiki It is also called, but let's examine the characteristics of each, in addition to the time when this Kiki was compiled, the person who compiled it, and the purpose. And is it really reliable? The theme of this time is to verify.

Characteristics of Kojiki and Nihon Shoki

* Teiki ="Emperor's day succession" =Genealogy of successive emperors or royal families

Kyuji ="Kyuji (hometown) of the predecessor" =folklore and narratives handed down to the royal family

Old things =It is thought that it refers to almost the same content as the Kyuji

* Reason for suspending compilation:Due to the change in Prince Otsu (Otsu no Miko) and other factors, the political situation was not stable.

Why was Kiki compiled? ??

Kiki is a book that was compiled and started under Emperor Tenmu.

Speaking of Emperor Tenmu (formerly the Prince of the Sea), he is the younger brother of Emperor Tenchi, the 38th generation.

Emperor Tenchi had been trying to succeed him for many years with his younger brother, Prince Oumi, who had a high reputation and status, but in his later years he began to recommend Prince Otomo. Taking this opportunity, the Prince of the Sea decided to go to Yoshino.

After Emperor Tenchi died at the age of 46 in 671, Prince Otomo (Emperor Kobun), who succeeded him, was in a situation where he could not organize the imperial court well due to lack of experience. The information that the Emperor Kobun had a plan to "send troops to Yoshino (Prince Otomo)" was transmitted, and it developed into a turbulence in Jinshin. The country was rough. It's been nine years since the defeated Battle of Baekgang.

In addition to the fact that the appearance of the ritual system was being prepared, it is probable that the position in Japan and the national system were not yet solid because Emperor Tenmu took the throne after the Jinshin War. Also, considering that it has not been long since the foreign war, it can be said that the position in East Asia was not solid.

In addition, various Japanese book names are written as the original text in Nihon Shoki. This includes Tennoki and Kokuki. However, there was a "certain incident" in which the original books were lost. It is a strange thing about Otomi. The Soga family's mansion was engulfed in fire during this incident, and many history books were also lost or missing.

It is thought that the Kiki, which is the official history book of the country, was compiled again in order to show the legitimacy of the country and its own throne because it was a period of turmoil both inside and outside the country.

* It was in the Suiko dynasty that the history book compilation business was first mentioned. Speaking of the Suiko dynasty, it was an era when we were trying to create a system like a centralized nation centered on the emperor after dispatching a mission to Sui and being driven back. It can be imagined that the compilation of history books was a means to establish its position as an independent country.

After that, I have compiled history books three times in total, including Kiki, but all of them are in the period when the national view of contact with the great empire is shaking. Teiki was summarized before the Suiko dynasty, but this was around the time when the dynasty was replaced. Genealogy only? Or was it one with the Kyuji? Or part of Kojiki? What a theory, it's not clear. Anyway, it can be said that this is also a time when the situation of the nation is not stable.

How reliable is the material used to write the Kiki?

The main subject of the theme is Kojiki And Nihon Shoki Material "Teiki" and "Kyuji" is about.

400s ・ ・ ・ The clan of the Great King (Emperor) is divided into several royal families

↓

A simple genealogy is created

500s ・ ・ ・ The 26th Emperor Keitai's clan becomes dominant (=royal replacement)

"Teiki" is made

600s ・ ・ ・ Prince Shotoku creates national history

↓

Multiple variants occur in Teiki

(The "Kyuji" is said to have been compiled around 650)

Actually, neither "Teiki" nor "Kyuji" exist, but it is thought that it was a book that existed at that time.

Nihon Shoki Is said to have some original texts in addition to these two books.

• ① Records transmitted to the royal family (=Teiki, Kyuji, etc.)
• ② Records handed down to the great tribes
• ③ Local folklore
• ④ Official records of the imperial court (=court records, diplomatic records by Dazaifu, etc.)
• ⑤ Personal notes, temple-related records (=Iki no Hakatokosho, etc.)
• ⑥ Foreign literature (=Chinese and Korean history books, etc.)

Of these, the most reliable are ⑤ and ⑥ . .. On the other hand, the one with low reliability is ② . .. It is said that many of the influential tribes in the Tenbu dynasty were emerging powers (because half of the tribes declined due to the Jinshin War), so they were often shown to have been influential for a long time.

Isn't the convenience of those who compiled it included?

The bottom line is that these sources almost certainly include the convenience of those who have compiled them . Is believed to be. Maybe things related to the Taika Reform of the Nihon Shoki were added in later times? Is a good example.

It can be said that Emperor Tenmu, whose compilation began, took the throne in the form of denying the successor nominated by the former emperor in the Jinshin War. However, it is not written negatively about the former Emperor Tenji.

The fact that Emperor Tenmu himself supported Emperor Tenji for many years, the fact that the empress of Emperor Tenmu (Empress Jito) is also the daughter of Emperor Tenji, and the father of Fujiwara no Fuhito, who has gradually emerged under that, is Otsu. It is thought that the fact that he was greatly involved in the change of Mi was also the reason why he did not write Emperor Tenji negatively.

Why is the story different between Nihon Shoki and Kojiki?

It is thought that this is because the myths that were not unified at the stage of Emperor Tenmu were organized and organized. But why didn't you unify Nihon Shoki and Kojiki? Becomes a question.

The reason may be that it is due to the difference between "domestic" and "overseas" written in the above table, but I will also introduce the theory that was in another book.

(1) Emperor Tenmu was not satisfied with the Kojiki that was first compiled, and was re-knitted in 681.

(2) Kojiki was compiled as a privately-written book by Emperor Tenmu, and Nihon Shoki was compiled as a history book of the government system.

* How was "Kiki" established? -From the history book of "heaven" and the history book of "earth" (Kodansha selection book Metier)

I think that the domestic and overseas theories apply to (2). Well, there are various theories, and I can't say "this is it".

Considering the above, it seems that the Kiki is that not all documents are reliable, and some parts are credible. The unreliable part has been clarified little by little, but the current situation is that there are still many interpretations that there are various theories.

In Kojiki and Nihon Shoki, Nihon Shoki is probably more credible because it is written by approaching from various directions.

To be honest, it is difficult to decide which theory to take because there are many things that differ depending on the book even if you look it up, but I think that is one of the pleasures of ancient history. It's around this time today.