Rikkokushi Explained

is a general term for Japan's Six National Histories chronicling the mythology and history of Japan from the earliest times to 887.^[1] The six histories were written at the imperial court during the 8th and 9th centuries, under order of the Emperors.^[2] The basic sources were the court records kept by the Ministry of Central Imperial Affairs, and the biographies of meritorious officials composed in the Ministry of Ceremonial Affairs.^[3]

The collection consists of the following texts:

• Nihon Shoki (Chronicle of Japan; also called Nihongi) – 30 volumes covering the mythological period through 697. Completed by Toneri Shinnō in 720.
• Shoku Nihongi (Chronicle of Japan, Continued; also called Shokki) – 40 volumes covering 697 through 791. Completed by Fujiwara no Tsugutada and Sugano no Mamichi in 797.
• Nihon Kōki (Later Chronicle of Japan) – 40 volumes covering 792 through 833. Completed by Fujiwara no Fuyutsugu and Fujiwara no Otsugu in 840.
• Shoku Nihon Kōki (Later Chronicle of Japan, Continued) – 20 volumes covering 833 through 850. Completed by Fujiwara no Yoshifusa, Fujiwara no Yoshimi, Tomo no Yoshio, and Haruzumi no Yoshitada in 869.
• Nihon Montoku Tennō Jitsuroku (Veritable Record of Emperor Montoku of Japan; also called Montoku jitsuroku) – 10 volumes covering 850 through 858. Completed by Fujiwara no Mototsune and Sugawara no Koreyoshi in 879.
• Nihon Sandai Jitsuroku (Veritable Record of Three Generations [of Emperors] of Japan; also called Sandai jitsuroku) – 50 volumes covering 858 through 887. Completed by Fujiwara no Tokihira and Ōkura no Yoshiyuki in 901.

The national histories were discontinued after the Sandai Jitsuroku; they were followed by the four Mirror books (starting with Ōkagami).

See also

• Ruijū Kokushi, a categorized and chronological history text of the Six National Histories
• Historiography of Japan

Notes

1. Kōdansha (1983)
2. Sakamoto (1991)
3. Kōdansha (1983)

References

• Book: Kōdansha . Kodansha Encyclopedia of Japan . Kōdansha . 1983 .
• Book: Sakamoto , Tarō . tr. John S. Brownlee . The Six National Histories of Japan . UBC Press, University of Tokyo Press . 1991 . 0-7748-0379-7.

External links

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