Anonymous, Kojiki [Record of Ancient Matters]

Roy Anthony Starrs (University of Otago)

Ed. by Roy Anthony Starrs, University of Otago
The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 10.2.2: Japanese Writing and Culture.
Vol. editors: Mats Arne Karlsson (University of Sydney), Roy Anthony Starrs (University of Otago)

Dates

First circulation or publication 712

Places

Japan (Country of Origin)

Genres and Modes

Anthology/ Collection

Resources

The Kojiki (Record of Ancient Matters, 712 A.D.) is the oldest surviving book-length work of Japanese literature. A compendium of diverse materials assembled by order of the imperial court in the late seventh and early eighth centuries, it is comprised of myths, legends, poems and historical records passed down orally over many centuries – or, from the early seventh century onwards, materials collected in earlier manuscripts now lost. The work is not only of great literary and historical significance, but also of central importance in the native Japanese religious tradition of Shinto, the “way of the gods”, since it contains the foundational myths of the religion. In particular, it has been used in modern times as …

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2430 words

Citation: Starrs, Roy Anthony. "Kojiki". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 17 April 2014 [https://staging.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=35240, accessed 21 November 2024.]

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