said, "Historical criticism, that is, judgment, is practised not for the purpose of disbelieving, but of believing. Its object is not to find fault with the author, but to ascertain how mnch of what he says may be reasonably taken as true." Moreover, even in what is not to be accepted as historic fact there is often much that is valuable from other points of view. If, therefore, we lose a thousand years of so-called Japanese history, it must not be forgotten that Japanese mythology remains as the oldest existing product of the Altaïc mind.
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The following is a list of all the Japanese works quoted in this Introduction and in the Notes to the Translation. For the sake of convenience to the English reader all the titles have been translated excepting some few which, mostly on account of their embodying a recondite allusion, do not admit of translation:—
Catalogue of Family Names, 姓氏錄, by Prince Mata.[1]
Chronicles of Japan (generally quoted as the "Chronicles,") 日本紀 or 日本書紀, by Prince Toneri and others.
Chronicles of Japan Continued, 續日本紀, by Sugauo Ason Mamichi, Fujihara no Ason Tsugunaha and others.
Chronicles of Japan Explained, 釋日本紀, by Urabe no Yasukata.
Chronicles of the Old Matters of Former Ages, 先代舊事記, authorship uncertain.
Collection of a Myriad Leaves, 萬葉集, by Tachibana no Moroye (probably).
Collection of Japanese Songs Ancient and Modern, 古今和歌集, by Ki no Tsurayuki and others.
Commentary on the Collection of a Myriad Leaves, 萬葉考 by Kamo no Mabuchi.
- ↑ The names in small capitals are those by which the authors (or compilers) are best known, and are mostly either their surname or personal name. Japanese usage is however very fluctuating, and sanctions moreover the use of a variety of noms de plume. Thus Motowori is not only often mentioned by his personal name Norinaga, but also by the designation of Suzunoya no Ushi, Mabuchi by the designation of Agatawi no Ushi, etc.
