While I use it in my course title, the term #JapaneseMythology gives a false sense of unity and indigeneity. The two earliest texts, Kojiki (712) and Nihon shoki (720), were completed 8 years apart. Their narratives are similar, but they differ in profound ways. 1/9
Perhaps most importantly, the Nihon shoki's cosmogony relies explicitly on yin-yang ideas. It draws heavily upon Chinese texts. The Kojiki is also influenced by continental myths, but it depicts the origin of the world without explicit mention of yin and yang. 2/9
Here's the Kojiki's opening: "When heaven and earth first appeared, the names of the spirits who came about in the high plains of heaven are these" (Heldt). Compare to Nihon shoki: "Of old, Heaven and Earth were not yet separated and Yin and Yang not yet divided." (Aston) 3/9
The Kojiki uses sophisticated writing techniques indebted to China to create an image of a vernacular. The Nihon shoki crafts an image of universality using writing closer to Chinese syntax but it too employs glossing practices that localize the text for Japanese readers. 5/9
Here's Lurie's example describing Amaterasu preparing for battle: K: 亦所取佩伊都〈此二字以音〉之竹鞆而、弓腹振立而; N.S.: 臂著稜威之高鞆,〈稜威,此云伊都。〉振起弓彇. Note that the texts make different semantic and syntactical choices, but both give pronunciation guidance. 6/9
Finally, Nihon shoki includes variants labeled "a certain book says." These are typically indented in manuscripts (like this one), but readers would be confronted with various versions in one source, many different and contradicting the main narrative. 7/9 https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/94/Postscript_from_The_Age_of_Gods_chapter%2C_The_Chronicles_of_Japan_%281286%29.jpg
From these variants, we know that there were many versions floating about and the editors had to make choices. Interestingly, Nihon Shoki chose to be extremely inclusive, while Kojiki limited itself to a single coherent narrative. 8/9
There's more that can be said and I'm looking forward to what my students find in class tomorrow. But for now,I hope it's clear why we can't treat the Kojiki and Nihon shoki as representing a singular Japanese myth. 9/9
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