『日本書紀』와 <日本紀> 명칭에 관한 小考

Abstract

This paper reviews the issue of the naming of Nihonshoki, published in 720. The main issue of the past was whether the original name of the history book was 『Nihonshoki』 or ‘Nihongi’. My opinion is that 『Nihonshoki』 was the original title. The basis of the argument is as follows : First, it’s difficult to disregard the notation of ‘Koki’(古記, The commentary book of Taiho-ryo) which was established in the late 730s, when 『Nihonshoki』 was first appeared. Second, the term ‘Nihongi’ in the article (“修日本紀”) -the article written in May, the 4th year of the reign of Yoro(720) was included in the book 『Shoku-Nihongi』 which is about presenting 『Nihonshoki』 to the king- was not a book name but a common noun used in the mean of ‘Kokushi(history of nation)’. Thrid, there are several instances including the use of ‘Sen-Nihongi-sho (撰日本紀所)’․‘Sen-Kokushi-sho(撰國史所)’ as an example showing the compatible relation between ‘Nihongi’ and ‘Kokushi’. In the next breath, I pointed out that only 『Nihonshoki』 was recognized as the one and only history book and also recognized as ‘Nihongi’ until the appearance of the sequel book 『Shoku-Nihongi』 in 797, against the backdrop of the coexistence of the names 『Nihonshoki』 and ‘Nihongi’ after the compilation of 『Nihonshoki』 in 720.