| Sacred Texts and Buried Treasures: Issues on the Historical Archaeology of Ancient Japan Subjects: Japan -- History -- To 794; Japan -- Relations -- Korea; Korea -- Relations -- Japan; Japan -- Capital and capitol -- History; Japan -- Antiquities; Inscription Japanese; Wooden tablets -- Japan -- History; The Japanese have long sought inspiration and legitimacy from the written record of their ancient past. The shaping of bygone eras to contemporary agendas began at least by the early eighth century, when the first court histories, namely the Kojiki and the Nihon shoki, were compiled. Farris William Wayne : William Wayne Farris is professor emeritus of Japanese history at the University of Hawai'i, where he served for twelve years as the Sen Sōshitsu XV Distinguished Chair of Traditional Japanese History and Culture. |