This is the preface of Kojiki by the compiler Oho-no-Yasumaro.
A vassal Yasumaro, I say:
At the time of origin, a chaos had already curdled, but force and form
had not appeared yet. There were no names, no motions. So nobody knew the
form. Nevertheless Heaven and Earth divided for the first time, the three
deities (Ame-no-Minakanushi, Takami-Musuhi, and Kamu-Musuhi) came into being as the Creator. And then Yin (shadow-, negative-, female-principle) and Yo (light-, positive-, male-principle) divided, and the two deities (Izanaki and Izanami) came into being as the parent of all things.
After that, Izanaki went to the land of Yomi-no-Kuni (Hades-land) and went back, and Sun (Amaterasu) and Moon (Tsukuyomi) were born from washing his eyes by him. And he floated on and sank in
the sea-water, and many deities were born from cleansing his body by him.
Thus, although it is unknown before origin, we can know the circumstances
when the deities conceived the soil (ground) and bore the islands, by the
old traditions. And although it is ancient occurrences, we can know the
circumstances when the deities bore the deities and brought human-beings
into being, thanks to the ancient wise men.
We can know, for example:
The deities hung the mirror on the tree to brought Amaterasu back. Susanowo crunched the beads, and breathed out it as a spray of breath. the deities
were lasting from generation to generation. Amaterasu crunched the sword. Susanowo cut the monster serpent. A great many deities lived long and prospered.
A great many deities consulted in the dry-river-bed of Yasu-no-Kaha, and they subdued the whole country. Then Take-Mikadzuchi disputed on the little beach, and they pacified the country.
Wherefore, Ho-no-Ninigi-no-Mikoto first descended onto the peak of Takachiho from Heaven, and Kamu-Yamato-no-Sumeramikoto (i.e. the first Emperor Jinmu) made his way into the island of Akidzu-Shima (Yamato Province). Then, a weird bear which was a incarnate rude-deity appeared from a river,
and he got the divine sword from Takakuraji, and he happened to meet the men with a tail, and a great raven led him
to Yoshino. He and his men performed a dance and a song in order to throw Yaso-Takeru off his guard, and subjugated the enemy.
The 10th Emperor Sujin received a divine revelation in his dream, so he reverenced heavenly-deities
and earthly-deities. Therefore he have been spoken well of as the wise
monarch.
The 16th Emperor Nintoku saw smoke which rose from the houses of the masses, so he treated the
people tenderly. Therefore he have been immortalized as the holy emperor.
The 13th Emperor Seimu governed the country at the Imperial Palace in Chika-tsu-Afumi Province, and fixed the boundary of each province, and developed the countries.
The 19th Emperor Ingyou governed the country at the Imperial Palace of Asuka in Yamato Province, and established each lineage and each title of clans rightly.
Thus, although their policies have differences each in the degree and grade,
no one of them did not correct the degenerated morality in the light of
circumstances of ancient times, and no one of them did not complement the
half-extinct morality in view of circumstances of their each reign.
During the reign of the emperor who governed the country of eight-great-islands
at the Great Imperial Palace of Kiyomi-Hara of Asuka in Yamato Province, the Prince Imperial [who would be the 40th EmperorTenmu] had the virtue of the monarch, and he got a chance to succeed the throne.
Then he received a divine poems (revelation) in his dream as the meaning
which he would succeed the throne. And he waded across the river at night
and saw black clouds, so that he foresaw that he would succeed the throne.
Nevertheless, the opportunity had not come yet, so he led a secluded life
in Mt.Yoshino.
Before long men gathered to him, and then they marched to the east countries
at length. Then his palanquin made his way instantly, and went across the
mountain and waded across the river, and his Imperial forces braced up
like a peal of thunder, and the forces of clans marched like lightning.
The raised spear enhanced their spirits, and so brave men arose like smoke,
and the hoisted Imperial colors lighted up the men, so that the enemy (The
Prince Ootomo who was the son of the former Emperor Tenji) was driven back as if a roofing tile tumbled down.
Thus, the evil was pacified naturally for a short time. Then, he let cattle
and horses go in order to give a rest at once, and returned to the country
(Yamato Province) in triumph, and furled the colors and put up the spear, and stayed at
the metropolis (Asuka) with dancing and singing. And, he ascended the throne at the Great Imperial
Palace of Kiyomi-Hara, on the second month, year of Tori (i.e. A.D.673).
He excelled Kou-Tei (the mythical emperor of ancient China) in politics, and excelled Bun-Ou (the emperor of the Shuu dynasty in ancient China) in the virtue.
He got the Three Imperial Regalia and ascended the throne, and he governed
all the countries widely. Therefore, Two Essences (Yin and You) interacted normally, and Five Elements circulated normally. He attached
importance to the worship of deities, and promoted a good custom, and enlighten
the whole country.
Moreover, he had a wide knowledge like an ocean, and sought the ancient
matters, and his heart shined all around like a mirror, and he saw through
the ancient reigns.
Hereupon, the Emperor said, "I hear that Teiki (the chronicles with genealogies) and Kyuuji (the archives of tales) with which each clan hand down are contrary to
the fact and have many falsehoods. If we don't correct the mistakes now,
the right substance is lost within a few years. Those (Teiki and Honji) are the principle of the country and the basis of the emperor politics.
Therefore, I desire to selected and recorded Teiki, and examined Kyuuji, and deleted the falsehoods, and fixed the truth, in order to hand down
to posterity."
At that time, there was a retainer. His surname was Hieda and his personal name was Are. He was twenty-eight years old. He was a sagacity by nature, and so he
could recite with his mouth whatever he saw once by his eyes, and he could
memorize in his mind whatever he heard once by his ears. Therefore, the
emperor commanded Are to learn and recite the genealogies of the emperors and the ancient Kyuuji.
Nevertheless, time went and age changed, and the Emperor Tenmu died. So the plans was not carried out.
I think respectfully:
Her Majesty the Empress (i.e. the 43th Empress Genmei) have succeeded the throne, so that she is enlightening the all of the
country and people. Dwelling in the Imperial Palace, her virtue reaches
far to the extent that the clatter of hoofs of a horse can reach. And dwelling
in the Imperial Place, her enlightenment shins far to the extent that the
bow of a rowboat can reach.
We have ceaselessly recorded good omens in the document, for example:
The shine of the sun shone a double by her virtue. There was the wonder
which was not cloud and not smoke. Branches and one stalk bore a great
deal of rice-ears.
Repeating a signal-fire and a interpretation over and over again, the tributes
were offered from the far countries, therefore the month when the warehouse
of the Imperial Palace became empty has not come once.
She excelled U-Ou (the emperor of the Ka dynasty in ancient China) in fame, and excelled Tou-Ou (the emperor of the Yin dynasty in ancient China) in virtue, we can declare so.
Now, she deplores that Kyuuji has had many falsehoods, and desire to correct Teiki included falsehoods, so that she commanded a vassal Yasumaro to select and record Kyuuji which Hieda-no-Are recited by a command and offer it, on the 18th day of the ninth month
of the fourth year of Wadou (i.e. A.D.711). Therefore, I respectfully selected and recorded minutely
as I had been commanded.
Nevertheless, I had difficulty recording in writing, because Chinese character
can be utilized as an ideograph and a phonetic letter. For example, it
is hard to understand the true meaning when it is utilized as an ideograph
all, and it comes to more long letter when it is utilized as a phonetic
letter all.
Therefore, I utilized it in some cases as an ideograph and a phonetic letter
in one word, and I utilized it in some cases as an ideograph all in one
word. And I added the supplementary notes if it is hard to understand the
true meaning, and I did not add the notes if it is easy to understand it.
I have written, from the beginning of the world to the reign of Woharida (the Imperial Palace of the 33th Empress Suiko).
So, from Ame-no-Minakanushi-no-Kami to Hiko-Nagisatake-Ukaya-Fukiahezu-no-Mikoto makes the First Volume, and from Kamu-Yamato-Iharebiko-no-Sumeramikoto to the reign of Homuda (i.e. the 15th Emperor Oujin) makes the Second Volume, and from Ohosazaki-no-Mikado (i.e. the 16th Emperor Nintoku) to the Great Imperial of Woharida makes the Third Volume. Altogether I have written Three Volumes, and I
offer it respectfully.
A vassal Yasumaro, I have said reverently and respectfully.
On the 28th day, the first month, the fifth year of Wadou (i.e. March 10, A.D.712).
Reverently presented by the Court Noble Oho-no-Asomi-Yasumaro,
an Officer of the Upper Division of the Fifth Rank and of the Fifth Order
of Merit.