Nihongi

Questions for Further Study

• 1.: What does this document, in conjunction with the Yengishiki, tell you about the emergence of Shinto in medieval Japan? How did the medieval Japanese regard their mythological history, and how did that history affect their lives?
• 2.: What vested interest did the emperor and his descendants have in the mythology recorded in the Nihongi?
• 3.: The creation myth recorded in the Nihongi bears obvious comparison with creation myths in the Western tradition, notably that recorded in Genesis. What fundamental differences in the creation accounts can you specify? What historical, cultural, or geographical factors might have accounted for these differences?
• 4.: The concept of a sun goddess was common in early cultures; Amaterasu plays a prominent role in the Shinto pantheon, as did Re for the ancient Egyptians. Less is said about a moon god or goddess. Why do you think early cultures might have revered a moon god such as Tsukiyumi in Japan?
• 5.: The Nihongi is referred to in the entry as Japan’s “mythological authority.” Do you think anything—documents, institutions, organizations, and so forth—functions as a “mythological authority” for the United States? Explain.