Six National Histories - Rikkokushi

A general term for six national histories compiled by the government. These are the Nihon Shoki, Shoku Nihongi, Nihon Koki, Shoku Nihon Koki, Nihon Montoku Tenno Jitsuroku, and Nihon Sandai Jitsuroku, compiled during the Nara and Heian periods. The compilation of national histories dates back a long time, and it is said that the Tenno Ki and subsequent works were completed in the 7th century during the time of Prince Shotoku, but they are no longer known. A historical bureau was established during the reign of Emperor Tenmu (672-686), and this became the Nihon Shoki, completed in 720 (Yoro 4). Since then, national histories were compiled one after another, leaving behind a national history from the Age of the Gods to 887 (Ninna 3). Both are national histories written in classical Chinese in a chronological format modeled after Chinese historical texts, and the entries for deaths are accompanied by detailed biographies, making them both chronicles and biographies. Among them, the Montoku Jitsuroku and the Sandai Jitsuroku are particularly rich in descriptions and accurate in their reporting. All of these are fundamental sources for the study of ancient history. After the Six National Histories, historical bureaus were often established and plans were made to compile official national histories, but none were completed.

[Mikiya Hayashi]

"Six National Histories" by Taro Sakamoto (1970, Yoshikawa Kobunkan)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

官撰(かんせん)の6種の国史の総称。奈良・平安時代に編纂(へんさん)された『日本書紀』『続日本紀(しょくにほんぎ)』『日本後紀』『続日本後紀』『日本文徳(もんとく)天皇実録』『日本三代実録』がそれである。国史の編纂は古く、7世紀、聖徳太子のときに『天皇記』以下が完成したといわれるが、現在は伝わらない。天武(てんむ)朝（672～686）に史局が開設され、それが『日本書紀』となって720年（養老4）に完成した。以来、相次いで国史が編纂され、これによって神代から887年（仁和3）までの国史が残された。いずれも中国の史書に倣った編年体の漢文の国史で、薨卒(こうそつ)の条には詳しい伝記をのせて、紀伝体を兼ねる。なかでも『文徳実録』『三代実録』は記述が豊富で、記事が正確である。これらすべてが古代史研究の根史料である。六国史以後もしばしば史局が開設され、官撰の国史の編述が計画されたが、いずれも完成しなかった。

［林　幹彌］

『坂本太郎著『六国史』（1970・吉川弘文館）』

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