Nihongi: Chronicles of Japan, Vol. I (Aston)

Nihongi

Language:

English

Status:

Complete work

Authorship:

Recorded/compiled by others

ates Lappe eng a bs pails er eP na { Nil put ah } fy arog wah wr fe ea ght Lat nf ti, aN S < By any dias pd a ~ TRANSACTIONS AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE JAPAN SOCIETY, LONDON. SUPPLEMENT I. NIHONGI, Chronicles of Japan from the Earliest Times to 4.v. 697. TRANSLATED FROM THE ORIGINAL CHINESE AND JAPANESE BY ~ W. G. ASTON, C.M.G. Honorary Member of the Fapan Society, &c. VOLUME I. Freer G ler of Are Washingion-. LONDON, 1806. PUBLISHED FOR THE SOCIETY BY KEGAN PAUL, TRENCH, TRUBNER - & Co.,. LIMITED, PATERNOSTER HOUSE, CHARING CROSS ROAD, W.C. [All Rights Reserved.| “ere oY} iNG 9 die Vi | PREFACE. TueE chief object of preparing this translation of the standard native history of Ancient Japan, known as the Vzkongz, was to make accessible to European scholars the very considerable store of material for the study of mythology, folk-lore, early civilization, and manners and customs which it contains. It may also prove of interest to those numerous Japanese who are acquainted with the English language, and who may have the curiosity to learn in what light their ancient history and traditions are viewed by a Western student. As only a limited sale of a work of this kind could be ex- pected, the translator was fortunate in being relieved from all pecuniary responsibility for its publication by the Japan Society. His special acknowledgments are due to those mem- bers by whose liberality a guarantee fund for this purpose has been. provided. It remains for him to express his indebtedness to other workers, by whose labours in the field of Japanese and Chinese - learning he has freely profited. The writings of Messrs. Chamberlain and Satow’ have been placed under frequent con- tribution, and for the latter part of the work, the scholarly German translation of the Wzhongz, by Dr. Florenz, has been of the greatest possible assistance. He should also mention the names of Williams, Giles, Parker, Mayers, Gubbins, Hepburn, Anderson, Legge, and Eitel, who

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