The oldest surviving major Japanese chronicle, completed in 712, is the Kojiki.
The Kojiki, whose title is commonly translated as “Records of Ancient Matters,” was compiled in the early eighth century. It presents a mixture of creation myths, genealogies, songs, legends, and accounts of early rulers. Its opening sections describe kami such as Izanagi, Izanami, and Amaterasu, making it one of the central textual sources for Japanese mythology and later Shinto interpretation.
The work was compiled under imperial sponsorship and is traditionally associated with Ō no Yasumaro, who recorded material transmitted by Hieda no Are. It was written in a complex style using Chinese characters to represent both language and sound.
The Kojiki is often confused with the Nihon Shoki, which was completed in 720. The Nihon Shoki is more formally structured and has a broader chronological presentation, while the Kojiki is especially important for its mythic narratives and genealogical traditions.