ABSTRACT
This chapter proposes that the actual historiographical projects that resulted in Kojiki and Nihon shoki be decoupled and viewed separately. Mitani Eiichi argues that there are hints in Yasumaro’s preface to Kojiki demonstrating that Jito had been involved in the compilation instead of Tenmu. The chapter mentiones that Tenmu may have been worried about the records in possession of the Fune Obito, as it may have contained a revision that would allow the Soga to compete for the throne. A bolder move by Jitos historiographical group concerns Suiko. The chapter suggests that part of the motivation to rewrite Suiko’s history is the influence of stories out of China concerning Emperor Wu Zhao (r. 690–705), China’s first and the only female sovereign. The difficulty with Umezawa’s theory here is that this supposed edict is being reported by Yasumaro, who we can only view as a member of the Jito camp.
