Named for the first book of historical stories written in Japanese. Completed in 712, it contains myths, legends and historical accounts of the Imperial court from the earliest days of the creation up to 628. Kojiki is based on the oral shaman tradition and was written in the Chinese characters used to represent Japanese phonetics. Together with Nihonsyoki {see planet  (5082)}, it is an important source book for the mythology, history and ethnology of ancient Japan. (M 22509) _ _.