nihongi world literature mr. brennan. swbat gain a deeper understanding of ancient japanese culture...
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NihongiWorld LiteratureMr. Brennan
SWBAT gain a deeper understanding of Ancient Japanese culture by analyzing the form and function of the Ancient Japan’s Nihongi.
1. Mini-Lecture: Shinto & Ancient Japanese Context
2. Class Reading: The Nihon Shoki
Learning Objective
AGENDA
Finish Reading NihongiHomeworkReminders
Ancient Japan
神道 Shinto• The word Shinto was adopted from the written Chinese
shén (spirit or dieties) and dào (philosophical path or
study)
• Shinto is the native spirituality of Japan, consisting of a set of
practices in order to establish a connection between present
day Japan and its ancient past.
• Shinto practices were first recorded in
the written historical records of the
Kojiki and Nihon Shoki in the 8th century.
• However, these Japanese writings should NOT be compared to
texts like the Bible, as they do not refer to a unified "Shinto
religion,” rather to disorganized folklore, history, and mythology.
Nihongi ( 720AD )• The Nihongi, or the “Japanese Chronicles,” is
the second oldest book of classical Japanese
history.
• It is more elaborate and detailed than the Kojiki
( 711 ), and provides the most complete
historical record of ancient Japan.
Nihongi ( 720AD )• Emperor Tenmu (r. 673–686) declared that the histories
of the various clans were accumulating errors and
ordered the commencement of an official project to
consolidate and correct the true history of Japan. In fact,
this was a project not to correct errors but to rewrite
history. Tenmu had come to power in after a bloody civil
war. The newly produced histories would be designed to
strengthen the legitimacy of Tenmu’s rule. While
religious matters were likely included from the beginning
—they were unavoidable, since every major clan traced
its lineage back to a deity—this was a very political
project.
Nihongi
The Nihongi begins with the
Japanese creation myth,
explaining the origin of the world
and the first seven generations of
divine beings, and goes on with a
number of myths and continues
its account through to events of
the 8th century.
Japanese Creation Myth
Ama-terasu no Oho kami
Theogony of NihongiEGG (Heaven/Earth)
Kun-tako-tachi . . . [five] . . . Izanagi no Mikoto Izanami no Mikoto (The Eight Islands of
Japan)
Sosa no wo no
Mikoto
Kushi-nada-hime
Oho-na-muchi no
Kami
Masa-ya-a-katsu-katsu-haya-hi ama
no oshi-ho-mi-mi no Mikoto
Taku-hata-chi-chi-hime
Ama-tsu-hiko-hiko-ho-no-
ninigi
Taka-mi-musubi no
Mikoto
Ka-ashi-tsu-hime
Ho no Susori no Mikoto
Hiko-ho-ho demi no Mikoto Toyo-tama-hime Tama-yori-hime
Ho no akari no Mikoto Kiho-nagisa-take-u gaya-fuki-ahezu no Mikoto
?
EmperorJimmu
Port
rayals
of
Gen
esi
s• Metaphysical (Origin of Cosmos):
• Religious (Poly- Mono- theistic):
• Social/Political (Hierarchy of Power):
• Social/Political (Patri- Matri- archy):
• Axis mundi (World Axis):
• Anthropological (Origin of Man):
• Environmental (Explanation of Natural):
• Psychological (Psyche/Archetypes):
• Morality (Values/Good v. Evil/Purpose of Man):
Chaos within an Egg
Polytheistic
Void of Strict Power Structure
Patriarchy
Japan
Descendants of the gods created by Izanagi and Izanami
Cosmos is within Divine Egg; personification of gods
Duality of In and Yo
Void of strict good and evil; respect natural order
Significance of
Nihongi• Establishes Jimmu, the first emperor of
Japan, as a descendant of Amaterasu.
• Birth of Japanese islands, as well the
kami as ancestors of the various clans,
all of which are revered.
• Establishes the mysterious creating
and harmonizing power of kami, whose
nature transcends understanding
• Man is kami’s child (all worthy of
respect) each destined to carry on
tradition