The Kojiki lit. “Record of ancient things” (古事記), is a book of Japanese mythology recorded in regard to the origin of the four main islands of Japan and the Kami, and is the oldest surviving chronicle in Japan, dating in its completion in 712 A.D., composed in the Japanese Imperial Court in the ancient capital of Nara, by Ō no Yasumaro at the request of Empress Gemmei (元明天皇, gemmei-tenno).
In regard to those directly responsible for its compilation, Ō no Yasumaro (太 安万侶) was a Japanese nobleman, bureaucrat, and chronicler in the imperial court, and possibly could have been the son of Ō no Honji (多 品治), a participant in the Jinshin War of 672. His most well-known accomplishment was compiling and editing the Kojiki with the assistance of
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Later, Empress Gemmei ordered Ō no Yasumaro to compile the Kojiki based on what Are had memorized in 711 using the differing clan chronicles and native myths, finishing it the following year, 712.
The myths contained in the Kojiki are part of the inspiration behind Shinto practices and myths, including the misogi purification ritual. The Kojiki contains various songs/poems throughout, and is divided into three parts: the Kamitsumaki (上巻 "first volume"), the Nakatsumaki (中巻 "middle volume") and the Shimotsumaki (下巻, "lower volume"). The Kamitsumaki, also known as the Kamiyo no Maki (神代巻, "Volume of the Age of the Gods"), includes the preface of the Kojiki, and is focused on the deities of creation and the births of various deities of the Kamiyo period, or Age of the Gods as well as outlining the myths concerning the foundation of Japan, describing how Ninigi-no-Mikoto, grandson of Amaterasu and great-grandfather of Emperor Jimmu, descended from heaven to Takachihonomine in Kyūshū and became the progenitor of the Japanese imperial line; “Then Ama-tsu-piko-no-ninigi-no-mikoto was commanded to leave the heavenly rock-seat. Pushing through the myriad layers of the heavens’ trailing clouds, pushing his way with an awesome pushing, he stood on a flat floating island by the Heavenly Floating Bridge, and descended from the heavens to the peak Kuji-puru-take of Mount Taka-chi-po of Pimuka in Tsukushi” The Nakatsumaki begins with
From 30 BC to 300 AD is known as the Yayoi Period, and is the time when rice was introduced to the Islands of Japan. With agriculture now involved, social classes developed with landowners starting to create factions with followers underneath them. The most influential leader of this time is believed to be Queen Himiko, who ruled Japan as it gained advances such as iron working from other developing countries. The formation of the first true governing body of Japan was in the Kofun Period, which spanned 300 to 538. From 538 to 710, the Asuka Period introduced the Oni’s supposed creators, the religion of Buddhism. It also marked the end of Early Japan, and the several different Periods after would be much longer and hold many more events, changes in power, all the while shaping and molding Japan’s culture into what it is today. In the year 710, Nara, the first Japanese capital as built. Large Buddhist monasteries were scattered around the city, spreading the religion’s influence. This influence continued to grow to such a strong position, that the capital had to be moved to the city of Nagaoka in 784. Later, the capital was moved again, where it would remain in Heian, current day Kyoto, for over a thousand years. This time period is believed to be when the Oni myth and story was first created, if not
Buddha in the Land of Kami reviews Japan on a historical account. It revisits the story of the Kami and elaborates on the country’s uniqueness. Significant to Japanese culture, this film recognizes Chinese culture as the primary influence on Japan formation. The film given categorizes as a historical documentary that appears to be in the setting of Japan from the seventh and twelfth centuries. Although World History; Culture, States and Societies, explore a different time frame (500 B.C.E- Seventh century), there are still many similarities as compared to the documentary; such as the importance of the Kami, and the role Chinese culture play on the development of Japan.
In 1159, Kiyomori of the Taira clan was victorious over the Minamoto clan. Kiyomori murdered all the adults of the Monamoto clan and forced the children into exile. The emperor rewarded Kiyomori victory by giving him an advisor position in the government. This event was significant because Kiyomori was the first warrior in Japan’s government. Like the Fujiwara family, Kiyomori desired a royal bloodline within the Taira clan. So the Taira clan consorted with the imperial family in efforts to secure an imperial bloodline. Later, Kiyomori obtain a higher government position and more importantly a grandson was born and is heir to the throne. Feeling cheated an imperial prince sought the exiled Minamoto to overthrow the Taria clan. In 1180, Yoritomo of the Minamoto clan formed an army and battled with Taira clan that is known as the Genpei War. Eventually, Kiyomori died and the Taria clan shortly declined after him. During these battles warriors ran amok pillaging the Japan’s cuntryside. To end the chaos and violence the imperial turned to Yoritomo. Yoritomo in return raise an army of samurais and took complete control of the government and transformed it into a military government. The Kamakura government consisted of the emperor, shogun, and the house men. The emperor served merely as a figurehead, he little to no control of his government. The shogun had
Musui 's Story is a samurai 's autobiography that portrays the Tokugawa society as it was lived during Katsu Kokichi 's life (1802 - 1850). Katsu Kokichi (or Musui) was a man born into a family with hereditary privilege of audience with the shogun, yet he lived a life unworthy of a samurai 's way, running protection racket, cheating, stealing, and lying. Before we discuss how Musui 's lifestyle was against the codes that regulated the behavior of the samurai, it is essential that the role of the samurai in Japanese society be understood.
Shinto tradition has been the aboriginal native tradition responsible for the Japanese tendency to locate divinity in a nature population. According to Okano Haruko, author of Women and Sexism in Shinto, the woman’s role in the Shinto religion was that she was the medium of direct contact with the deity and announced the divine will to humankind. The realization of this will on earth was entrusted to the man. Thus priesthood was embodied in this male plus female relationship. However, in time the more dependent role that “magical elements” in the religion were the more important the woman’s role became. Little is known about Japan before the advent of writing, so piercing together women’s lives and contributions to early Japanese history is difficult. The traditional Japanese woman has evolved in response to the influences of the religion that dominated Japan of the times, roles of women in ancient Japan elicits inconsistencies primary due to
Throughout history artists have used art as a means to reflect the on goings of the society surrounding them. Many times, novels serve as primary sources in the future for students to reflect on past history. Students can successfully use novels as a source of understanding past events. Different sentiments and points of views within novels serve as the information one may use to reflect on these events. Natsume Soseki’s novel Kokoro successfully encapsulates much of what has been discussed in class, parallels with the events in Japan at the time the novel takes place, and serves as a social commentary to describe these events in Japan at the time of the Mejeii Restoration and beyond. Therefore, Kokoro successfully serves as a primary
Advice to Young Samurai was written written by Shiba Yoshimasa in 1400. This Text comes from Japan. Shiba Yoshimasa live from 1349 to 1410. He was a general, an administrator, a feudal Lord, as well as a poet. The document being examined was written by Yoshimasa as a manual intended to give advice for young warriors of which would be descendants of him. In Japan, being a Samurai was a common practice between the twelfth and nineteenth century, which explains why this document would have been produced at this time.
The principal Japanese institution was the uji, or clan. Each clan controlled their own territory, and was composed of both commoners and aristocrats. It also had its own mythology centered on a divine ancestor. The imperial family, the Yamato clan, gained domination over the other clans, and became the primary focus of Japanese myth. Jimmu-tenno was said to be the founder of the imperial family, although he did have an older brother who was killed in battle during their quest to move east to find the best place to rule and for new territories.
One creation story says that long ago, two gods named Izanagi and Izanami were commanded by the primal gods to make and solidify the land of Japan. The two gods then threw a spear into the sea. The mud that dripped from the spear became an island, and there, Izanagi and Izanami built a palace and married each other. Over time, Izanami gave birth to the islands of Japan and many deities, but she died giving birth to her last one, who was a fire god. Angry, Izanagi beheaded his son and followed Izanami to Yomi, the Land of the Dead, urging her to return back with him.
The author who brought to us The Tale of Genji, a novel now regarded as the first written novel in history, left behind an arguably more treasurable artifact: a diary that opens a window into history. The Diary of Lady Murasaki by Lady Murasaki Shikibu gives the reader a glimpse of the imperial court during eleventh century Japan and presents the past in an illuminated vision. Being an attendant in the imperial court, Lady Murasaki is frequently involved with the activities of elite Japanese women. Her day-to-day interaction with the nobles and elites enhance her account with the curious perspective of an elite female. As a woman, Lady Murasaki's descriptions are oriented around clothing
State of War: The Violent Order of Fourteenth Century Japan by Thomas Donald Conlan tracks the events in Japan between 1336 and 1392. Conlan provides his wisdom on how state and society operated in the Nanbokucho period through various source documents portraying the warriors not by their romanticized “knights of the round table” ideal, but rather showing that while there were alliances of connivence, they could be broken just as easily as they were made, revealing that pragmatism was paramount above all else.
In the classic film Seven Samurai, Akira Kurosawa, one of Japan’s most famous and influential directors, delves into the world of samurai during the Sengoku period. Kurosawa has inspired many filmmakers, and the themes and story of Seven Samurai can be seen mirrored in films. In the film, Kurosawa paid special detail to small details important to Japan’s history and culture, both past and present.
Periods of time with peace and stability politically and religiously, paired with flourishing arts, are called "Golden Ages". One thriving, revolutionizing time like this occurred in Heian, Japan from 794 to 1185 C.E., under the rule of the Fujiwara family. Succeeding the Nara period, many aspects of the Heian culture, such as Buddhism and the writing system, were borrowed from China. However, in this time, Japan took those preconceived ideas and really made them their own, adding many new ones along the way. The peace and stability, as well as influential literature greatly contributed to this period’s golden legacy. Poetry during this time, most importantly Lady Murasaki 's novel, "Tale of Genji", reflected this time period and forever changed today 's writing, making this era a truly prosperous golden age.
Avakian, Monique. The Meiji Restoration and the Rise of Modern Japan. Boston: Silver Burdett, 1991. 38-54.
A famous Japanese writer Ihara Saikaku, born in 1642, was a son of a wealthy merchant in Osaka. He had a wife and three kids, one of which was blind and in addition to taking care of his family, he learned to write haikai poetry and comics at a young age. Since his wife died at a young age, he became adventurous as “he traveled extensively writing about the various parts of the country” (Rollins, para.4). One of his first novels is called Koshoku Ichidai Otoko in 1682, which led to Saikaku becoming the first Japanese writer able to reflect the life of the modern city Japan and how he supported equality.