---
title: Kojiki: Japan's Oldest Book
author: Mark Cartwright
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/Kojiki/
format: machine-readable-alternate
license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/)
updated: 2025-04-18
---
# Kojiki: Japan's Oldest Book
_Authored by [Mark Cartwright](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/markzcartwright/)_
The *Kojiki* ('Record of Ancient Things') is the oldest book of Japanese history and the oldest text of any kind from [Japan](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Japan/). Compiled in 712 CE by the court scholar Ono Yasumaro, the work begins with the gods and the creation of the world, progresses to the genealogy of the early emperors and ends with the reign of Empress Suiko in 628 CE. Not necessarily an accurate historical record, the *Kojiki* was principally commissioned to establish a clear line of descent from the ruling emperors of the 7th and 8th century CE back to the [Shinto](https://www.worldhistory.org/Shinto/) gods and the supreme sun goddess [Amaterasu](https://www.worldhistory.org/Amaterasu/).
### Purpose
During the [Nara period](https://www.worldhistory.org/Nara_Period/) (710-794 CE) of [ancient Japan](https://www.worldhistory.org/Ancient_Japan/), the imperial court was eager to establish its historical connection with the gods, especially the sun goddess Amaterasu, and the founding fathers of the Japanese nation present in Shinto [mythology](https://www.worldhistory.org/mythology/). There was also a concern that oral traditions and unofficial records were constantly being altered and corrupted and an official permanent record was required for posterity. For these reasons, Emperor Temmu (r. 672-686 CE) commissioned the work, although he would not live to see its completion. The court official and scholar Ono Yasumaro was then selected by Empress Gemmei (r. 707-715 CE) to complete the collection and present, in effect, an established orthodoxy of Japanese history which focussed on Shinto mythology and the genealogy of the imperial line and most powerful noble families (*uji*), especially the Yamato clan. Yasumaro drew on earlier written and oral sources, mostly genealogies of powerful clans, and so the work is not only a valuable record of its time but also of earlier, now lost texts and traditions.
### Content
The *Kojiki* was written in Chinese characters but with some Japanese adaptions in terms of sentence structure. There are some elements such as certain gods and names which show influence from [China](https://www.worldhistory.org/china/) and [Korea](https://www.worldhistory.org/Korea/), but the work is, as a whole, an entirely Japanese construction. Not only a work of prose, the *Kojiki*, like many later Japanese works, regularly inserts into the text poems and folk songs. The work is divided into three books which deal with gods, early hero-like emperors, and then later emperors in turn, but there is no driving narrative or central character or theme. This absence of structure can increase the difficulty in reading the *Kojiki,* and there are, consequently, many inconsistencies, disappearing characters, and unanswered questions.
The *Kojiki* is most celebrated for its description of the 'Age of the Gods' when the world and Japanese islands were created and the gods ruled before withdrawing to leave humanity to rule itself. Indeed, there is said to be 8 million gods or spirits (*[kami](https://www.worldhistory.org/Kami/)*) in the *Kojiki*, although, this is traditionally a number associated with 'infinite' so is not to be taken literally. There are creation gods, gods of fire, storms, sea and winds, as well as countless *kami* manifested in mountains, rivers, trees, and any other natural features of note. There are ancestor gods who head important families and locales and then there is a whole group of demons, evil spirits, and goblins, which inhabit forests, lakes, and graveyards, all awaiting the opportunity to commit mischief on the hapless passer-by.
The stories of the gods are often violent and bloody, with instances of parents killing children and siblings either doing away with each other or forming incestuous relations. The parts of the *Kojiki* relating the reigns of Japan's early emperors are rather more staid and considered by modern scholars to be historically unreliable. Only with the last 250 years of monarchs is it possible to cross reference some details with contemporary Chinese and Korean sources. Further, the age of the Japanese state, traditionally founded in 660 BCE, is thought exaggerated by its authors so that Japan could claim an equal footing with contemporary China and Korea.
[  Amaterasu Emerging From Exile Utagawa Toyokuni III (Public Domain) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/5146/amaterasu-emerging-from-exile/ "Amaterasu Emerging From Exile")### Extracts from the Kojiki
Original preface by Ono Yasumaro:
> So in the dimness of the great commencement, we, by relying on the original teaching, learn the time of the conception of the earth and of the birth of islands; in the remoteness of the original beginning, we, by trusting the former sages, perceive the era of the genesis of Deities and of the establishment of men. (*Kojiki*, 5)
[Izanami and Izanagi](https://www.worldhistory.org/Izanami_and_Izanagi/) create the first island of Japan:
> Hereupon all the Heavenly Deities commanded the two Deities His Augustness the Male-Who-Invites \[Izanagai\] and Her Augustness the Female-Who-Invites \[Izanami\], ordering them to “make, consolidate and give birth to this drifting land.” Granting to them a heavenly jewelled spear, they deigned to charge them. So the two Deities, standing upon the Floating Bridge of Heaven, pushed down the jewelled spear and stirred with it, whereupon, when they had stirred the brine till it curdled, and drew the spear up, the brine that dripped down from the end of the spear was piled up and became the island. This is the Island of Onogoro. (*Kojiki*, 22)
[Susanoo](https://www.worldhistory.org/Susanoo/) kills the dragon monster and finds the sword which will eventually become part of the Japanese regalia:
> …the eight-forked serpent came truly as the old man had said, and immediately dipped a head into each vat, and drank the liquor. Thereupon it was intoxicated with drinking and all eight heads lay down and slept. Then His-Swift-Impetuous-Male-Augustness \[Susanoo\] drew the ten-grasp sabre, that was augustly girded on him, and cut the serpent in pieces, so that the River Hi flowed on changed into a river of blood. So when he cut the middle tail, the edge of his august sword broke. Then, thinking it strange, he thrust into the split flesh with the point of his august sword and looked, and there was a sharp great sword. (*Kojiki*, 75)
[  Susanoo & the Koshi Dragon Utagawa Kuniyoshi (Public Domain) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/5147/susanoo--the-koshi-dragon/ "Susanoo & the Koshi Dragon")Poem from Princess Nunakawa to Okuninusho:
> Come in the dark,
> When the sun has disappeared
> And the night emerges
> Behind the green hills.
> Come smiling, like the morning sun
> In all its glory,
> And take in your embrace
> My arms white as
> Ropes of Taku fiber,
> My breasts, young and soft,
> As the first fall of snow;
> Clasp me in your arms.
> Then you will sleep,
> Your legs stretched out,
> Your head pillowed on
> My jewellike hands;
> So do not press your love
> Too importunately,
> Great Divinity
> Of eight thousand spears.
> (*Kojiki*, quoted in Keene, 45)
The [death](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Death/) of Jimmu (660-585 BCE), Japan's first emperor:
> His Augustness Kamu-nuna-kaha-mimi \[Emperor Suwizei\] ruled the [Empire](https://www.worldhistory.org/empire/). Altogether the august years of this Heavenly Sovereign Kamu-yamato-ihare-biko \[Emperor Jimmu\] were one hundred and thirty-seven. His august mausoleum is on the top of the Kashi Spur on the northern side of Mount Unebi. (*Kojiki*, 185)
The unusual physical features of Emperor Hanzei (r. 406-410 CE):
> His Augustness Midzu-ha-wake dwelt in the [palace](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/palace/) of Shibakaki at Tajihi, and ruled the Empire. The length of this Heavenly Sovereign's august person was nine feet two inches and a half \[2.8 metres\]. The length of his august teeth was one inch \[2.5 cm\], and their breadth two lines, and the upper and lower correspond exactly, like jewels strung. (*Kojiki*, 353)
### Legacy
The *Kojiki* shortly had a sequel of sorts in the *[Nihon Shoki](https://www.worldhistory.org/Nihon_Shoki/)* ('Chronicle of Japan' and also known as the *Nihongi*), which was written by a committee of court scholars in 720 CE. It was designed to address some of the discrepancies in the earlier work and to reassert the genealogies of some of the clans neglected in the *Kojiki*. The *Nihon Shoki* also repeats many of the myths of the *Kojiki* but often from a different viewpoint and with changes in details.
The *Kojiki* is more than an invaluable history source and entertaining compilation of Japanese mythology, it is the cornerstone of the [Shinto religion](https://www.worldhistory.org/collection/43/the-shinto-religion/), its gods and rituals. The work was somewhat neglected in the medieval period but made a stunning comeback to public attention in the 18th century CE when the scholar Motoori Norinaga (1730-1801 CE) famously wrote a 44-volume commentary on the *Kojiki* in 1798 CE. Motoori's book, the *Kojiki-den*, would fuel a great revival in the Shinto and see it reinstated as the state [religion](https://www.worldhistory.org/religion/). The *Kojiki* continued to be influential in the 19th and 20th century CE, too, with the rise of Japanese nationalism when it was used as evidence that the Japanese people were descended from the gods and so were superior to other races. The book continues to be studied today not only for its mythology but also its insight into early Japanese [culture](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/culture/), the beliefs and stylistic approach of its authors, and the evolution of the Japanese language.
This content was made possible with generous support from the [Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation](http://www.gbsf.org.uk/?utm_source=ancient.eu&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=ancient.eu).
#### Editorial Review
This human-authored definition has been reviewed by our editorial team before publication to ensure accuracy, reliability and adherence to academic standards in accordance with our [editorial policy](https://www.worldhistory.org/static/editorial-policy/).
## Bibliography
- [Anonymous. *Kojiki.* Tuttle Publishing; New edition edition (2005-09-30), 2017.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/B019TLL6S0/)
- [Ashkenazi, M. *Handbook of Japanese Mythology.* Oxford University Press, 2008.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0195332628/)
- [Beasley, W.G. *The Japanese Experience A Short History of Japan.* University of California, 1999.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/B000ORKKBI/)
- [Ebrey, P.B. *Pre-Modern East Asia.* Cengage Learning, 2013.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/1133606512/)
- [Hackin, J. *Asiatic Mythology.* Literary Licensing, LLC, 2013.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/1494112566/)
- [Henshall, K. *Historical Dictionary of Japan to 1945.* Scarecrow Press, 2013.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0810878712/)
- [Keene, D. *Seeds in the Heart.* Columbia University Press, 1999.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0231114419/)
- [Mason, R.H.P. *A History of Japan.* Tuttle Publishing, 1997.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/080482097X/)
- [Sansom, G. *A History of Japan to 1334.* Stanford University Press, 1958.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0804705232/)
- [Scott Littleton, C. *Understanding Shinto.* Duncan Baird Publishers, 2002.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/1903296757/)
- [Whitney Hall, J. *The Cambridge History of Japan, Vol. 2.* Cambridge University Press, 1999.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0521223539/)
## About the Author
Mark is WHE’s Publishing Director and has an MA in Political Philosophy (University of York). He is a full-time researcher, writer, historian and editor. Special interests include art, architecture and discovering the ideas that all civilizations share.
## Timeline
- **712 CE**: The [Kojiki](https://www.worldhistory.org/Kojiki/) is written, a collection of oral myths forming the basis of the [Shinto religion](https://www.worldhistory.org/collection/43/the-shinto-religion/).
## Cite This Work
### APA
Cartwright, M. (2017, May 12). Kojiki: Japan's Oldest Book. *World History Encyclopedia*.
### Chicago
Cartwright, Mark. "Kojiki: Japan's Oldest Book." *World History Encyclopedia*, May 12, 2017. .
### MLA
Cartwright, Mark. "Kojiki: Japan's Oldest Book." *World History Encyclopedia*, 12 May 2017, .
## License & Copyright
Submitted by [Mark Cartwright](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/markzcartwright/ "User Page: Mark Cartwright"), published on 12 May 2017. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/deed.en). This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.