Traditional dating of Japan

The system of traditional dating of Japan is that used by the first Japanese chronicles written (such as the Kojiki and the Nihon Shoki ) to date from the events described in the legends and having taken place at the time prehistoric and at the first historical times. Dating based on the dates of reigns of the Empereurs of Japan, the modern scientific research made it possible to determine that these dates are not credible and do not rest on any real base.

Shift enters the taditionnelle dating and reality

The traditional dating tends in particular to inflate the number of years of reign of the first emperors, which artificially increases the duration of existence of Japan. The Japanese State (or its core and its dynasty) were thus not founded in -660, but much later, probably during the first centuries of the Christian era.

The traditional dates start to correspond rather well with the real history starting from the end of the 6th century. The dates given for this century, and perhaps the precedent, undoubtedly incorrect of much, and are not shifted only a little towards the past.

For example, directing it Hondawake Mikoto (later known under the name of emperor Ōjin), is seen assigning for traditional dates of reign 270 with 310, and 200 for birth dates. Its birth is supposed to have taken place three years after the death of his/her father. According to this chronology, it starts to reign at the 70 years age, and dies at the age of 110. The pregnancy of his/her mother lasts at least three years. None of these traditional dates concerning its life and its reign have basic history real. Currently, it is estimated that its reign took place some share at the beginning of the 5th century.

Origin

According to Edwin O. Reischauer, this system results from the will from the historians and politicians from 7th or 8th century to obtain a dynasty old and as legitimate as that reigning then on the Empire with the Medium. Concerning the supposed date of foundation of Japan (-660), it notes that it was undoubtedly stopped at the beginning of VII^e century by deducting 1260 years, which corresponds to one cyclic period in the Chinese chronologies .

Sources

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