Kojiki

Abstract

An early Japanese classic, possibly dating as far back as A.D. 712, Kojiki is an invaluable sourcebook for students of Japanese history, religion, anthropology, and literature. Completed under the auspices of the Japanese imperial court, it is the oldest extant book in Japan, and its title (literally, "Record of Ancient Things") suggests an account of a still earlier era. It is the court's statement about the origins of the imperial clan and the leading families, and the beginnings of Japan as a nation; at the same time it is a compilation of myths, historical and pseudo-historical narratives and legends, songs, anecdotes, folk etymologies, and genealogies. An earlier translation by Basil Hall Chamberlain published in 1882 is now out of print. This translation relates the translated text to modern scholarship and includes the most recent commentaries.