Rikkokushi
Encyclopedia
is a general term for Japan's six national histories chronicling the mythology and history of Japan from the earliest times to AD 887. The six histories were written at the imperial court during the eighth and ninth centuries, under order of the Emperors. 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.
The collection consists of the following texts:
The national histories were discontinued after the Sandai Jitsuroku; they were followed by the four Mirror books (starting with Ōkagami).
The collection consists of the following texts:
- Nihon ShokiNihon ShokiThe , sometimes translated as The Chronicles of Japan, is the second oldest book of classical Japanese history. It is more elaborate and detailed than the Kojiki, the oldest, and has proven to be an important tool for historians and archaeologists as it includes the most complete extant historical...
(Chronicle of Japan; also called Nihongi) – 30 volumes covering the mythological period through 697697Year 697 was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 697 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Religion :* Approximate date of the Council of Birr,...
. Completed by Toneri Shinnō in 720720Year 720 was a leap year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 720 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Asia :* The Nihon Shoki , one of the oldest history...
. - Shoku NihongiShoku NihongiThe is an imperially commissioned Japanese history text. Completed in 797, it is the second of the Six National Histories, coming directly after the Nihon Shoki and followed by Nihon Kōki. Fujiwara no Tsugutada and Sugano no Mamichi served as the primary editors...
(Chronicle of Japan, Continued; also called Shokki) – 40 volumes covering 697697Year 697 was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 697 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Religion :* Approximate date of the Council of Birr,...
through 791791Year 791 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 791 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Europe :* The Avars invade Europe again, but are...
. Completed by Fujiwara no Tsugutada and Sugano no Mamichi in 797797Year 797 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 797 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Byzantine Empire :* July 17 – Irene of Athens...
. - Nihon KōkiNihon Kokiis an officially commissioned Japanese history text. Completed in 840, it is the third volume in the Six National Histories. It covers the years 792-833.-Background:...
(Later Chronicle of Japan) – 40 volumes covering 792792Year 792 was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 792 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Byzantine Empire :* Irene is confirmed empress of the...
through 833833Year 833 was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar.- Asia :* al-Mu'tasim succeeds his brother Al-Ma'mun as Abbasid caliph....
. Completed by Fujiwara no Fuyutsugu and Fujiwara no OtsuguFujiwara no Otsuguwas a Japanese statesman, courtier, politician and editor during the Heian period. He is credited as one of the collaborative compilers of the Nihon Kōki.-Career at court:He was a minister during the reigns of Emperor Saga, Emperor Junna and Emperor Nimmyō....
in 840840Year 840 was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar.-Europe:* After the death of Louis the Pious, his sons Lothar, Charles the Bald and Louis the German fight over the division of the Holy Roman Empire, with Lothar succeeding as Emperor.-Asia:* Tang Wu Zong succeeds Tang Wen Zong...
. - Shoku Nihon KōkiShoku Nihon Kokiis an officially commissioned Japanese history text. Completed in 869, it is the fourth volume in the Six National Histories. It covers the years 833-850.-Background:...
(Later Chronicle of Japan, Continued) – 20 volumes covering 833833Year 833 was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar.- Asia :* al-Mu'tasim succeeds his brother Al-Ma'mun as Abbasid caliph....
through 850850Year 850 was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar.- Asia :* Emperor Montoku succeeds Emperor Nimmyō as Emperor of Japan.- Europe :...
. Completed by Fujiwara no YoshifusaFujiwara no Yoshifusa, also known as Somedono no Daijin or Shirakawa-dono, was a Japanese statesman, courtier and politician during the Heian period.When Yoshifusa's grandson was enthroned as Emperor Seiwa, Yoshifusa was assumed the role of regent for the young monarch...
, Fujiwara no Yoshimi, Tomo no YoshioTomo no YoshioTomo no Yoshio 伴善男 was a counsellor of the state in Japan.-Arson:On the tenth day of the third month of 866, Tomo no Yoshio set fire to the Ōtenmon gate with the intent of placing blame on the minister of the left, the sadajin Minamoto no Makoto. Yoshio was able to convince the minister on the...
, and Haruzumi no Yoshitada in 869869Year 869 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar.- Asia :* May 26 – An earthquake and tsunami devastate a large part of the Sanriku coast near Sendai, Japan....
. - Nihon Montoku Tennō JitsurokuNihon Montoku Tenno Jitsuroku, abbreviated as Montoku Jitsuroku, is an officially commissioned Japanese history text. Completed in 879, it is the fifth text in the Six National Histories series...
(Veritable Record of Emperor Montoku of Japan; also called Montoku jitsuroku) – 10 volumes covering 850850Year 850 was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar.- Asia :* Emperor Montoku succeeds Emperor Nimmyō as Emperor of Japan.- Europe :...
through 858858Year 858 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Louis the German invades West Francia, hoping to secure Aquitaine from his brother Charles the Bald, but fails....
. Completed by Fujiwara no MototsuneFujiwara no Mototsune, also known as Horikawa Daijin, was a statesman, courtier and politician during the Nara period.Mototsune continued the trend begun by Yoshifusa of monopolizing the position of regent to the Japanese emperor. He was third son of Fujiwara no Nagayoshi, brother of Yoshifusa, and Fujiwara no Otoharu...
and Sugawara no Koreyoshi in 879879Year 879 was a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Pope John VIII recognizes the Duchy of Croatia as an independent state....
. - Nihon Sandai JitsurokuNihon Sandai Jitsuroku, abbreviated as Sandai Jitsuroku, is an officially commissioned Japanese history text. Completed in 901, it is the sixth and final text in the Six National Histories series. It covers the years 858-887.-Background:...
(Veritable Record of Three Generations [of Emperors] of Japan; also called Sandai jitsuroku) – 50 volumes covering 858858Year 858 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Louis the German invades West Francia, hoping to secure Aquitaine from his brother Charles the Bald, but fails....
through 887887Year 887 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* The city of Toledo rises against the Umayyad leader....
. Completed by Fujiwara no TokihiraFujiwara no Tokihirawas a Japanese statesman, courtier and politician during the Heian period.-Career:Tokihira was a minister under Emperor Daigo.* 891 : Tokihira was given a rank which was the equivalent of sangi....
and Ōkura no Yoshiyuki in 901901Year 901 was a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar.- Africa :* Abu 'Abdullah al-Shi'i leads the rebellion of the Kutama Berbers against the Aghlabid emirate in Ifriqiya ....
.
The national histories were discontinued after the Sandai Jitsuroku; they were followed by the four Mirror books (starting with Ōkagami).
See also
- Ruijū KokushiRuiju Kokushiis a historical text that categorizes and chronologizes the events listed in the Six National Histories. It was compiled by Sugawara no Michizane and completed in 892. The text was commissioned by Emperor Uda.-Contents:...
, a categorized and chronological history text of the Six National Histories