Rikkokushi (六国史), also romanized Rokkokushi, is a general term for Japan's six earliest national histories.[1] These six books chronicle the mythology and history of Japan from the earliest times to AD 887.
History
The six histories were written at the Imperial court during the eighth and ninth centuries. These works include[2]
- Nihon shoki (Chronicle of Japan, also called Nihongi), 720[3]
- Shoku Nihongi (Continued Chronicle of Japan, also called Shokki), 797[4]
- Nihon kōki (Later Chronicle of Japan), 840[5]
- Shoku Nihon kōki (Continued Later Chronicle of Japan), 869[6]
- Nihon Montoku Tennō Jitsuroku (True Record of Emperor Montoku of Japan; also called Montoku jitsuroku), 879[7]
- Nihon Sandai Jitsuroku (True Record of Three Generations [of Emperors] of Japan; also called Sandai jitsuroku), 901[8]