NihongiWorld LiteratureMr. Brennan

SWBAT gain a deeper understanding of Ancient Japanese culture by analyzing the form and function of the Ancient Japan’s Nihongi.

1. Mini-Lecture: Shinto & Ancient Japanese Context

2. Class Reading: The Nihon Shoki

Learning Objective

AGENDA

Finish Reading NihongiHomeworkReminders

Ancient Japan

神道 Shinto• The word Shinto was adopted from the written Chinese

shén (spirit or dieties) and dào (philosophical path or

study)

• Shinto is the native spirituality of Japan, consisting of a set of

practices in order to establish a connection between present

day Japan and its ancient past.

• Shinto practices were first recorded in

the written historical records of the

Kojiki and Nihon Shoki in the 8th century.

• However, these Japanese writings should NOT be compared to

texts like the Bible, as they do not refer to a unified "Shinto

religion,” rather to disorganized folklore, history, and mythology.

Nihongi ( 720AD )• The Nihongi, or the “Japanese Chronicles,” is

the second oldest book of classical Japanese

history.

• It is more elaborate and detailed than the Kojiki

( 711 ), and provides the most complete

historical record of ancient Japan.

Nihongi ( 720AD )• Emperor Tenmu (r. 673–686) declared that the histories

of the various clans were accumulating errors and

ordered the commencement of an official project to

consolidate and correct the true history of Japan. In fact,

this was a project not to correct errors but to rewrite

history. Tenmu had come to power in after a bloody civil

war. The newly produced histories would be designed to

strengthen the legitimacy of Tenmu’s rule. While

religious matters were likely included from the beginning

—they were unavoidable, since every major clan traced

its lineage back to a deity—this was a very political

project.

Nihongi

The Nihongi begins with the

Japanese creation myth,

explaining the origin of the world

and the first seven generations of

divine beings, and goes on with a

number of myths and continues

its account through to events of

the 8th century.

Japanese Creation Myth

Ama-terasu no Oho kami

Theogony of NihongiEGG (Heaven/Earth)

Kun-tako-tachi . . . [five] . . . Izanagi no Mikoto Izanami no Mikoto (The Eight Islands of

Japan)

Sosa no wo no

Mikoto

Kushi-nada-hime

Oho-na-muchi no

Kami

Masa-ya-a-katsu-katsu-haya-hi ama

no oshi-ho-mi-mi no Mikoto

Taku-hata-chi-chi-hime

Ama-tsu-hiko-hiko-ho-no-

ninigi

Taka-mi-musubi no

Mikoto

Ka-ashi-tsu-hime

Ho no Susori no Mikoto

Hiko-ho-ho demi no Mikoto Toyo-tama-hime Tama-yori-hime

Ho no akari no Mikoto Kiho-nagisa-take-u gaya-fuki-ahezu no Mikoto

?

EmperorJimmu

Port

rayals

of

Gen

esi

s• Metaphysical (Origin of Cosmos):

• Religious (Poly- Mono- theistic):

• Social/Political (Hierarchy of Power):

• Social/Political (Patri- Matri- archy):

• Axis mundi (World Axis):

• Anthropological (Origin of Man):

• Environmental (Explanation of Natural):

• Psychological (Psyche/Archetypes):

• Morality (Values/Good v. Evil/Purpose of Man):

Chaos within an Egg

Polytheistic

Void of Strict Power Structure

Patriarchy

Japan

Descendants of the gods created by Izanagi and Izanami

Cosmos is within Divine Egg; personification of gods

Duality of In and Yo

Void of strict good and evil; respect natural order

Significance of

Nihongi• Establishes Jimmu, the first emperor of

Japan, as a descendant of Amaterasu.

• Birth of Japanese islands, as well the

kami as ancestors of the various clans,

all of which are revered.

• Establishes the mysterious creating

and harmonizing power of kami, whose

nature transcends understanding

• Man is kami’s child (all worthy of

respect) each destined to carry on

tradition