The Burning of Nihon-gi : A Review of the Theory of the Japanese's Descent from Go-Taihaku(<Special Issue>The Backgrounds of the Production of Medieval Literature)

Abstract

Nihon-gi, a chronicle edited by Chugan-Engetsu in the early Period of Northern and Southern Dynasties, doesn't exist today because all the copies were allegedly burnt in the early modern times for the theory of the Japanese's descent from Go-Taihaku included in it. In the medieval times, however, it was regarded as the most legitimate history of the creation of the country, and even the theory was re-evaluated as an important discourse to endorse the "go-on" readings of Chinese characters. If the chronicle had not been lost, it must have been a first-rate material for studies on the academic background of the medieval times.