Editing Nihon Shoki (section)

{{Short description|8th century book of classical Japanese history}}
{{distinguish|Nihon-shiki|Shoku Nihongi}}
{{italic title}}
[[File:Nihonshoki tanaka version.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Page from a copy of the {{Lang|ja-latn|Nihon Shoki}}, early [[Heian period]] (c. 9th century)]]
{{Shintoism}}
The {{nihongo|'''''Nihon Shoki'''''|日本書紀}} or {{Nihongo|'''''Nihongi'''''|日本紀}}, sometimes translated as '''''The Chronicles of Japan''''', is the second-oldest book of classical [[History of Japan|Japanese history]]. It is more elaborate and detailed than the {{Lang|ja-latn|[[Kojiki]]}}, the oldest, and has proven to be an important tool for historians and [[archaeologists]] as it includes the most complete extant historical record of [[ancient Japan]]. The {{Lang|ja-latn|Nihon Shoki}} was finished in [[720 in poetry|720]] under the editorial supervision of [[Prince Toneri]] with the assistance of [[Ō no Yasumaro]] and presented to [[Empress Genshō]].<ref>{{Citation | title = Nihongi: Chronicles of Japan from the Earliest Times to AD 697 | author-link = William George Aston | first = William George | last = Aston | page = xv | chapter = Introduction | publisher = Tuttle Publishing | edition = Tra | date = July 2005 | orig-year = 1972 | isbn = 978-0-8048-3674-6}}, from the original Chinese and Japanese.</ref> The book is also a reflection of [[Chinese influence on Japanese culture|Chinese influence]] on Japanese civilization.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Nihon-shoki | title=Nihon shoki &#124; Mythology, Creation & History &#124; Britannica }}</ref> In Japan, the Sinicized court wanted written history that could be compared with the annals of the Chinese.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Nihon-shoki | title=Nihon shoki &#124; Mythology, Creation & History &#124; Britannica }}</ref> 

The {{Lang|ja-latn|Nihon Shoki}} begins with the [[Japanese creation myth]], explaining the origin of the world and the first seven generations of divine beings (starting with [[Kuninotokotachi]]), and goes on with a number of myths as does the {{Lang|ja-latn|[[Kojiki]]}}, but continues its account through to events of the 8th century. It is believed to record accurately the latter reigns of [[Emperor Tenji]], [[Emperor Tenmu]] and [[Empress Jitō]]. The {{Lang|ja-latn|Nihon Shoki}} focuses on the merits of the virtuous [[Emperor of Japan|rulers]] as well as the errors of the bad rulers. It describes episodes from [[Japanese mythology|mythological]] eras and [[diplomacy|diplomatic]] contacts with other countries. The {{Lang|ja-latn|Nihon Shoki}} was written in [[classical Chinese]], as was common for official documents at that time. The {{Lang|ja-latn|Kojiki}}, on the other hand, is written in a combination of Chinese and phonetic transcription of Japanese (primarily for names and songs). The {{Lang|ja-latn|Nihon Shoki}} also contains numerous [[transliteration]] notes telling the reader how words were pronounced in Japanese. Collectively, the stories in this book and the {{Lang|ja-latn|Kojiki}} are referred to as the Kiki stories.<ref>{{Citation | url = http://www.equinoxpub.com/books/showbook.asp?bkid=184 | title = Equinox Pub}}.</ref>

The tale of [[Urashima Tarō]] is developed from the brief mention in {{Lang|ja-latn|Nihon Shoki}} ([[Emperor Yūryaku]] Year 22) that a certain child of Urashima visited Horaisan and saw wonders. The later tale has plainly incorporated elements from the famous anecdote of "Luck of the Sea and Luck of the Mountains" ([[Hoderi]] and [[Hoori]]) found in {{Lang|ja-latn|Nihon Shoki}}. The later developed Urashima tale contains the [[Rip Van Winkle]] motif, so some may consider it an early example of fictional [[time travel]].<ref>{{citation|title=Malchronia: Cryonics and Bionics as Primitive Weapons in the War on Time|first=Christopher|last=Yorke|journal=[[Journal of Evolution and Technology]]|volume=15|issue=1|date=February 2006|pages=73–85|url=http://jetpress.org/volume15/yorke-rowe.html|access-date=2009-08-29|archive-date=2006-05-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060516005834/http://www.jetpress.org/volume15/yorke-rowe.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The first translation was completed by William George Aston in 1896 (English).<ref>Yasumaro no O.Nihongi: Chronicles of Japan from the Earliest Times to A.D. 697.William George Aston.London.Transactions and proceedings of the Japan Society.2006</ref>