Japanese History Today 2 Kodai (The Ancient Period)

The history textbooks used in high schools are underpinned by an enormous amount of research. This book was planned with the hope that readers might gain an understanding of how research is progressing and learn about the current state of research on Japanese history by using changes in the accounts given in history textbooks as a starting point. For each topic, both veteran researchers and younger researchers have collaborated to clearly explain the accumulation of and advances in research that underpin the contents of textbooks or that it is hoped readers will glean from reading between the lines. As each chapter is not very long, we believe that this book will be useful both as general reading material for first-term university students and also as an introductory summarization of the history of research for students considering studying Japanese history. Each chapter is independent, and so readers can feel free to read from whichever part interests them.
 
The twenty topics were basically selected in line with current textbooks, and while orthodox topics such as the five kings of Wa and immigrants from the Asian mainland have been included, broader topics such as “The Emperor and the Aristocracy” and “The System of Local Chieftains” are also discussed. Furthermore, among topics not usually covered in textbooks, the compilation of the Nihon shoki and the myths of the Kojiki and Nihon shoki are taken up. In prewar government-approved textbooks, the accounts of the Nihon shoki were treated as history, the unbroken imperial lineage since Emperor Jinmu was explained, and myths going back to Amaterasu were also included. Even today, there are forces aiming for a revival of this approach, and some textbooks, under the heading of “Traditions of the Founding of Japan,” state that Emperor Sujin was a real person. However, it is necessary to know why many textbooks do not include any such accounts and what the character of the myths of the Kojiki and Nihon shoki actually is. In addition to traditional text-based history, specialists also touch on the significance for historical research of the wooden tablets unearthed from Heijō Palace and the former capital of Heijōkyō and the excavations of provincial government offices. Another distinctive feature is that the reception of Tang civilization and international exchange broadly within Asia are also considered with reference to Japanese embassies to Tang China, the treasures of the Shōsōin Repository, and Tang-style culture. As for the regency period from the tenth century, the role of provincial administrators (zuryō) in state rule has been carefully summarized, touching on changes in the accounts of textbooks in recent years, and the state of politics and the system of government offices during the regency period are also discussed. The jin no sadame, or assembly of senior nobles, is a topic that is generally only mentioned in textbooks and rarely explained, but this makes it difficult to gain a proper picture of the state in this era, and so it has been deliberately included as a field where advances in the study of ancient history have not at all been reflected in textbooks.
 
In my capacity as editor, in the “Introduction” I discuss how the title “emperor” (tennō) and the name “Japan” (Nihon) were established in the context of the formation of the ancient state and diplomatic negotiations, and in the “Conclusion” I briefly summarize the current state of research and attendant issues regarding the question of how to position Prince Shōtoku, who is not discussed in the main body of the book.
 

(Written by OTSU Toru, Professor, Graduate School of Humanities and Sociology / 2025)