03 皇紀（上）
神武天皇の国家建設が、実に重要な、そして偉大な御事業であったに拘わらず、正確
に、また詳細に、分からないところがありますのは、その当時の記録が無いからです。
何故その当時の記録が無いのか、と云えば、不幸にしてその頃の我が国には、文字が無
かったからです。日本人の中に、文字を発明する者が無く、また外国から、文字を輸入
する事も無かったからです。
支那には、文字が、古い時代に発明せられ、書物が古くから作られていました。それ
が朝鮮に伝わり、朝鮮から我が国へ入ってきたのは、応神天皇の御代であったと伝えら
れています。即ち応神天皇の十五年には阿直岐、十六年には王仁、二十年には阿知使主
等が帰化して学問を伝えました。王仁は、漢の高祖の子孫で、西文氏の先祖となり、阿
知氏主は後漢の霊帝の子孫で、東文氏の先祖となり、学問を以て、朝廷にお仕えしまし
たので、それからは記録が出来たでしょうが、それまではただ言葉で云い伝えてきただ
けです。口伝だけとなれば、今日から考えると、非常に頼り無い気がしましますが、そ
れは記録が発達し、文字に頼る事になった為に、却って記憶力が衰えたからで、文字に
頼らない人は、今でも記憶力が非常に強く、むつかしい事をよく覚えているのに驚く事
があります。殊に太古には、語部と云うものがあって、物語を諳誦して伝える事を本務
とし、専門としていましたから、たとえ文字が無いにしても出来事の大筋は、云い伝え
られてきたでしょう。それが応神天皇の御代から、段々文字に写されて、記録が出来て
きたでしょう。それを整理して、我が国の歴史をまとめようとしたのは、推古天皇の二
十八年に、聖徳太子が、天皇記･国記その他の歴史をお作りになったのが、最初でした。
その天皇記や国記等は、皇極天皇の御代に、蘇我氏の滅びた時、蘇我氏の為に焼かれま
したが、一部分だけは、火の中より取り出されて、朝廷へ戻りました。然し何分にも、
それは不完全であったし、また諸家に伝わった記録には、色々誤があったので、第四十
代天武天皇は、これ等を整理し、昔からの口伝を秩序立てて、之を稗田阿礼に記憶せし
められました。稗田阿礼は、勅命を受けた時に、年は二十八、生まれつき聡明で、一度
見聞した事は、二度と忘れぬ人でした。然しこの人の寿命にも限りがあるので、第四十
三代元明天皇は、漢字漢文の教養の深い太安万呂に命じて、稗田阿礼の諳誦する所を、
文字に記録させられました。数箇月かかって、和銅五年（西暦七一二年）正月、それが
完成して献上せられました。これが有名な古事記で、上中下の三巻に分かれています。
古事記は古い口伝を本にしたものですが、これとは別に、聖徳太子以来の歴史家の努
力があって、外国の歴史を参考にし、諸家の記録を整理し、之によって口伝に欠けてい
た年月を補い、我が国の歴史を大成する計画が進められていました。それが第四十四代
元正天皇の養老四年（西暦七二〇年）五月に出来上がって、総裁舎人親王より献上せら
れました。日本書紀がそれであります。内容も詳しくなって、全部で三十巻あります。
これは正史として、非常に重んぜられました。その後、その続編がつぎつぎに作られ、
続日本紀、日本後紀、続日本後紀、文徳実録、三代実録とつづき、日本書紀と合わせて
、六国史と呼ばれるようになりました。
かように我が国の歴史を書いた書物の、一番古いのは古事記であり、そりについで古
いのは日本書紀ですが、古事記は第四十三代元明天皇の御代に作られ、日本書紀は第四
十四代元正天皇の御代に完成したのですから、神武天皇との間に、天皇の御代にして四
十数代のへだたりがあり、年月にして一千年前後の間隔があるとしなければなりません
。もっとも応神天皇の御代頃から、漢字を以て記録する事が、段々始まったとし、それ
が古事記や日本書紀の材料になったとしても、その応神天皇は、第十五代の天皇ですか
ら、神武天皇との間に、十数代のへだたりがあります。その十数代の間は、記録が無く
て、専ら口伝によったとしなければなりませんから、建国当時の事、人によって、伝え
がまちまちであるのは、仕方の無い所でしょう。そこで神武天皇の御東征も、安芸（広
島県）に七年、吉備（岡山県）に八年、御滞留になったと、古事記は伝えているのに、
日本書紀では、前者を七十日ばかりとし、後者を三年とし、非常な相違が出てくるので
す。然し細かい点には、そのような違いがあっても、道順は同じであり、話の大筋は変
わっていませんから、大体は前に述べたような事であったとしてよいでしょう。
ただ一つ困る事があります。それは古事記には、御代々の天皇の御名と、その御代の
出来事が書いてありますが、それが何時の事で、そして次の記事との間に、幾年のへだ
たりがあるのか、が書いてありません。つまり古事記は、物語としては、まことに面白
いが、年表を書いて、年月順に整理しようとすると、それは出来ない仕組みになってい
るのです。之にひきかえ日本書紀の方は、年月を明記してあって、時の流れと、出来事
とが、ハッキリ分かるようになっています。殊に神武天皇の御即位を、辛酉の年、春正
月朔日と明記し、それを基準にして、二年、三年と数える事にしてあるので、その御即
位の年を、我が国の紀元元年とし、之によって数えるのを、皇紀と云うのです。その皇
紀では、今年昭和四十五年は、二千六百三十年となっています。
ところが、この日本書紀の年立に、困る事には、無理があるのです。それは古い時代
に、長寿の人が多い事です。長寿と云っても、八十、九十ならば、信用出来ますが、百
数十歳、或いは二百数十歳で活動するとなれば、これは疑わしいとしなげばなりません
。そのような無理は、年立を殆ど気にかけていない古事記にも現れていますから、古事
記や日本書紀の作られた時より、かなり前に、年立の混乱があって、それが影響したよ
うです。人によっては、古事記や日本書紀を尊ぶのあまり、その記事を鵜呑みに呑み込
んで信用しようとする人もありますが、それは贔屓のひき倒しで、無理でしょう。たと
えば、神武天皇の御年、古事記には百三十七歳、日本書紀には百二十七歳とあり、第十
代崇神天皇の御年、古事記は百六十八歳、日本書紀は百二十歳と記しているのです。殊
に甚だしいのは、第十四代仲哀天皇は、日本武尊の御子でありますが、日本書紀の記事
を、そのまま見てゆくと、日本武尊のお崩れになってより、三十六年後にお誕生になっ
た勘定になるのです。何としても、これはあり得ない事ですから、日本書紀の年立には
、大きな無理があり、そしてそれが古事記にも影響を与えてとる所から判断して、この
二つの書物の書きおろされるよりは、ズッと前に、年立の混乱、或いは無理な年立が行
われたに相違ありません。
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03 Imperial History [1]
The founding of the nation of Japan by Emperor Jinmu was indeed an event of
the greatest importance. However, we do not have precise and detailed knowledge
of parts of it, because there are no records left from that period.
Unfortunately, writing did not exist at that time in Japan. None had been
invented, and none had yet to come to Japan from a foreign country.
In China, a written language evolved and books have been written since ancient
times. According to legend, this was transmitted to Korea, and from Korea is
came to Japan during the reign of Emperor Ohjin. In the 15th year of the reign
of Emperor Ohjin, Achiki came; in the 16th year, Wani emigrated, and in the 20th
year, Achi no Omi became naturalized in Japan. Thus in the latter half of the
4th century AD, together they brought academic learning to Japan.
Wani was the descendant of Emperor Gaozu of Han Kingdom of China. He became
the ancestor of Kawachi no Fumiuji. Achi no Omi was the descendant of Emperor
Ling of the Later Han, and he became the ancestor of Yamato no Fumiuji. These
scholars served in the imperial court, so written records must have come into
existence at this time. But till then history in Japan was transmitted orally.
From the modern viewpoint, oral transmission seems very undependable. But this
is because, as record-taking became common, our memory deteriorated by too
much dependence on writing. We are sometimes surprised at those who do not
resort to writing; their powerful memory can recall the most abstruse facts.
In ancient times there was a reciters clan, whose members specialized in the
task of memorizing and reciting tales. Therefore, even without writing, the
outline of the major events that had happened in Japan must have been
transmitted from generation to generation.
From the era of Emperor Ohjin, this orally-retained knowledge must have been
transcribed into writing, and records must have accumulated.
It was Prince Shoutoku (574-622) who sorted and integrated the available
histories of Japan in the 28th year of Empress Suiko (620). He compiled Records
of Emperors (Tennouki), National Histpry (Kokki) and other histories for the
first time.
Yet the histories he compiled were burnt by the Soga Clan when the clan was
destroyed in 645, during the reign of Empress Kougyoku. Some parts were saved,
however,and were returned to the Imperial Court.
These were still incomplete histories. Also the individual clan records were
disparate and erroneous in parts. That is why the fortieth Emperor Tenmu (r.
673-686) organized them. He sorted the ancient legends, and commanded Hieda no
Are to memorize them.
When Hieda no Are received this decree, he was 28 years old. he was most
bright, and gifted with a memory that retained anything that he experienced
once. But Hieda no Are being human, would not live forever. That was why
Empress Genmei (r. 661-721), forty-third in succession, ordered Oh no Yasumaro
to transcribe what Hieda no Are recited.
Oh no Yasumaro had extensive learing in the China classics. The trascription
took a few months, and was completed in the first month of the 5th year of
Wadou era(712). This is Record of Ancient Matters (Kojiki), the three-volume
history of Japan.
Record of Ancient Matters (Kojiki) was based on ancient legends of Japan.
Apart from this, concurrently there was another history compilation project
which was started Prince Shoutoku, and carried on by the historians of the
subsequent era. In this project, the points of reference were taken from the
state histories of foreign countries. Clan histories were selectively
integrated, so as to complement what was missing from the oral transmission.
The aim of this project was to produce an authoritative history of Japan.
The compilaton was completed in the 5th month of the 4th vear of Youou
era(720), during the reign of Empress Genshou. It was presented to the count by
Prince Toneri, the chief compiler. This is Chronicles of Japan (Nihon Shoki).
The content of Chronicles of Japan (Nihon Shoki) is more detailed than Record
of Ancient Matters (Kojiki), as it is a 30-volume work. As the state history of
Japan, this book is of great importance. Succeeding histories were compild in
the following years, and were called Chronicles of Japan Continued (Shoku
Nihongi), Later Chronicles of Japan (Nihon Kouki), Later Chronicles of Japan
Continued (Shoku Nihon Kouki), Veritable Records of Emperor Montoku of Japan
(Nihon Montoku Tennou Jitsuroku), and Veritable Records of the Three Reibns of
Japan (Nihon Sandai Jitsuroku). Grouped together with Chronicles of Japan (Nihon
Shoki), they came to be called the Six Naitional Histories (Rikkokushi).
Thus the most ancient history book of Japan is Record of Ancient Matters
(Kojiki), and then comes Chronicles of Japan (Nihon Shoki). However, the former
was complered during the reign of Empress Genmei, the forty-third in
succession, and the latter, during the reign of Empress Genshou (r. 680-748),
the forty-fouth. This means that there is a gap of over forty generation of
reign between the founder Emperor Jinmu, and three sovereigns.
In terms of times, the span of the book extends for more than one thousand
years. Even if we consider that the written records gradually atarted to take
form during the reign of Emperor Ohjin using imported Chinese chracters,
Emperor Ohjin is the fifteenth Emperor. The gap between him and Emperor Jinmu
is more than ten generations. During these earlier generations, history must
have been kept solely by oral transmission.
This is why the legends about the events of the founding of the nation are
varied, depending on the transmitter.
Let us take the example of the eastward campaign of Emperor Jinmu. Record of
Ancient Matters (Kojiki) states that the Emperor remained in the Province of
Aki (Hiroshima Prefecture) for seven years, and in the Province of Kibi
(Okayama Prefecture), for eight years.
Chronicles of Japan (Nihon Shoki), on the other hand, records that the former
stay was for seventy days, and the latter, three years. This is a great
difference that cannot be discounted. However, even thouth such differences
exist in details the main paths of the records of the campaign are identical.
We can grasp the essence of the events through these records.
Yet there is one point that dismays us. In Record of Ancient Matters (Kojiki),
no time reference is given for the genealogies of the Emperors and the events.
We cannot tell when an event occurred, or the interval between one event and
the next. In other words, Record of Ancient Matters (Kojiki) is most intriguing
as a tale, but we cannot sort the events chronologically to produce a
timetable.
With Chronicles of Japan (Nihon Shoki) this is possible. Dates, months and
years are given clearly. The events can be aligned into the stream of time.
In particular, the date of the ascension of EmperorJinmu is
marked as "kanoto-bird years" (660 BC), the first day of the first month,
spring. This date is instituted as the standard reference, so that the
subsequent years are counted as the second year since the ascension, third year
since, and so on.
That is why this year of ascension, 660 BC, is regarded as the beginning of
the history of Japan. This chronology is called the "imperial years." According
to this, the 45th year of Shouwa era(1970), in which I write this book, is the
263th imperial year.
To our dismay, there is a contradiction in the chronology of Chronicles of
Japan (Nihon Shoki). In ancient times, many lived to an old age, and lives of
eighty and ninety years can be believed. But if they were active at an age of
over one hundred, or over two hundred years, such life spans ought to be
suspect. Similar contradictions appear also in Record of Ancient Matters
(Kojiki) which does not pay attention to chronology. Thus confusion must
existed before these two books came to be compiled.
Some people revere these two history books so much that they blindly accept
the entries as truth. But that is a bias, and illogical. For example, the age
of Emperor Jinmu is atated to be 137 years in Record of Ancient Matters
(Kojiki), and 127 years in Chronicles of Japan (Nihon Shoki). The tenth Emperor
Sujin was 168 years old in the former, and 120 in the latter.
The greatest problem is the Chronicles of Japan (Nihon Shoki) entry of the
fourteenth Emperor Chouai, who was the son of Yamato Takeru no Mikoto.
According to the text, he was born thirty-six years after the death of his
father. This could not be, so chronology does not make sense in Chronicles of
Japan (Nihon Shoki), which probably influenced Record of Ancient Matters
(Kojiki). The confusion, or an abitrary placement of events, took place much
earlier than the compilation of these two historical books.
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少年日本史 (平泉澄)
The story of Japan （Hiraizumi Kiyoshi)
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