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The Kojiki: An Account of Ancient Matters (Translations from the Asian Classics) Paperback – September 9, 2014

by no Yasumaro Ō (Author), Gustav Heldt (Translator)
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 118 ratings
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Japan's oldest surviving narrative, the eighth-century Kojiki, chronicles the mythical origins of its islands and their ruling dynasty through a diverse array of genealogies, tales, and songs that have helped to shape the modern nation's views of its ancient past. Gustav Heldt's engaging new translation of this revered classic aims to make the Kojiki accessible to contemporary readers while staying true to the distinctively dramatic and evocative appeal of the original's language. It conveys the rhythms that structure the Kojiki's animated style of storytelling and translates the names of its many people and places to clarify their significance within the narrative. An introduction, glossaries, maps, and bibliographies offer a wealth of additional information about Japan's earliest extant record of its history, literature, and religion.
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  1. Print length
    279 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Columbia University Press
  4. Publication date
    September 9, 2014
  5. Dimensions
    8.9 x 5.9 x 0.6 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0231163894
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0231163897
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

An accomplished and approachable translation of a crucially important work that has been desperately in need of such a new rendition. -- David Lurie, Columbia University

A translation of the Kojiki that is accurate and faithful to the original and at the same time exciting to read. A key element of the Kojiki mythology is the power of naming, and Heldt's decision to translate the names of its various gods and royal figures has brought the narrative alive in a way that it has never been before in English. -- Torquil Duthie, University of California, Los Angeles

Heldt's new, complete, and contemporary translation brings vibrancy and clarity to this often politicized work of ancient Japan. The poetry is rendered exquisitely, the narratives unfold with clarity; the translation itself is at once impeccable and imaginative. A master work that will generate discussions far into the future. -- James E. Ketelaar, University of Chicago

The Kojiki has a lot to interest those with a strong passion for Japanese literature an essential read if you have more than a superficial interest in the culture. ― Tony's Reading List

For the reader willing to surrender his or her empirical insistencies - to luxuriate in the beauty of language - the Kojiki is time well spent. ― The Japan Times

The first time a translator has gone so far as to translate the names of the spirits, rulers, and places, an addition that makes the text infinitely more meaningful. ― CHOICE

This rich and accessible translation will be welcomed by specialists and students alike, and will no doubt invite renewed interest in the Kojiki as literature in the English reading audience. -- Ann Wehmeyer ― H-Asia

Gustav Heldt's translation of the Kojiki provides the English-speaking reader with the easiest access to Japan's oldest extant book. ― Japanese Journal of Religious Studies

About the Author

O no Yasumaro (d. 723) was a nobleman of the Japanese court whose O clan ruled over an area bearing the same name near the eighth-century capital of Nara.

Gustav Heldt is an associate professor of Japanese literature at the University of Virginia and the author of The Pursuit of Harmony: Poetry and Power in Early Heian Japan.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Columbia University Press; Illustrated edition (September 9, 2014)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 279 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0231163894
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0231163897
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.6 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 118 ratings

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  1. Gustav Heldt

    Gustav Heldt

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  2. Yasumaro Ō

    Yasumaro Ō

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Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
118 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the book worth the money and say it's a nice book. Opinions are mixed on the translation quality, with some finding it readable and the best yet, while others say the literal translations of names are distracting and they left a lot of grammatical issues unresolved.

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Value for moneyTranslation quality
3 customers mention "Value for money"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book worth the money.

"...edition is a bit on the pricy side considering its small size, it worth it...." Read more

"...It's very frustrating because otherwise it's a rather good, readable translation. This one objection, however, almost ruins the whole thing...." Read more

"nice book" Read more

8 customers mention "Translation quality"4 positive4 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the translation quality of the book. Some mention it's readable to a modern audience and makes the book more coherent. However, others say the literal translations of names are distracting and leave a lot of grammatical issues unresolved.

"This is by far the best translation of the Kojiki yet...." Read more

"...It's a strange and extremely distracting literary choice which breaks the flow of reading...." Read more

"...This translation is very readable to a modern audience, and although I do not read Japanese, I've read scholarly reviews praising Heldt's accuracy...." Read more

"...It's very frustrating because otherwise it's a rather good, readable translation. This one objection, however, almost ruins the whole thing...." Read more

Author doesn't use names
2 out of 5 stars
Author doesn't use names
The translator decided to NOT address the gods by their names and called them by their names meanings instead.It's a strange and extremely distracting literary choice which breaks the flow of reading.Look at the image, I should not have to do this for every page.It's like replacing Yahweh's name with "I am that I am" each time he's is mentioned in the bibleJust write their names dude.
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Top reviews from the United States

Sirris Palmer
5.0 out of 5 stars A Nippon Classic
Reviewed in the United States on June 23, 2024
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I’ve been taking Japanese lessons for three years now, and I felt like this was a necessary read to understand the minute details of Japanese culture. And I’m not disappointed. This is a must-read for those who want a better understanding of Japanese history/mythology.
One person found this helpful
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Justin Searle
5.0 out of 5 stars Best translation of the Kojiki yet!
Reviewed in the United States on September 12, 2015
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This is by far the best translation of the Kojiki yet. Modern yet elegant in its style without the awkward 19th century english stylings of Aston's original translation. Of all the Japanese classics, the Kojiki is by far my favorite! The stories of the Shinto mythology and countless kami have always been facinating to me ever since I first came across them in a college textbook twenty years ago. And while this hard cover edition is a bit on the pricy side considering its small size, it worth it. The hard cover design simple yet beautiful, begging to be opened.

Perhaps one day Gustav Heldt will get around to doing a modern translation of the Nihon Shoki (Nihongi). If so, I'd be there to preorder it.
12 people found this helpful
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Drifter
4.0 out of 5 stars Best Edition for the Common Reader
Reviewed in the United States on March 8, 2015
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This review is for Heldt's edition, which is the most affordable modern translation of the Kojiki. This translation is very readable to a modern audience, and although I do not read Japanese, I've read scholarly reviews praising Heldt's accuracy. I do have two major issues with this edition. The first is Heldt's insistence in translating the names of characters and places. It makes it very difficult to keep track of who is who, and where events are taking place. I lived a year in Japan and I couldn't tell you where most of the stories in the Kojiki took place from this edition because instead of saying "They went to Izumo" Heldt gives us "They went to Bellowing Clouds". Likewise I cannot cross reference anything concerning characters because their Japanese names are not used. My second issue was Heldt's decision to not include notes on the text (foot or end notes). He does include a glossary of personal and place names, but these are listed exclusively under Heldt's translated names (and these translations are exclusively his own, not a scholarly consensus). This again makes cross referencing very difficult. Ultimately this edition is best for someone who is only interested in reading the stories of the Kojiki and necessarily looking to learn much about the politics and such behind the text.

As for the Kojiki itself, I found it to be rather disappointing. It does contain some stories of the Shinto Kami early on, but more than anything this is an inflated genealogical text establishing the tradition of the Japanese Imperial family. I found few of the stories to be exciting. The only tale I found to be emotionally engaging at all was that of Yamato-takeru (here called Yamato Brave). Certain sections of the Kojiki literally just list an emperor's name, their consorts, their offsprings, and the years they reigned. I would only recommend the Kojiki to someone who is really curious about the earliest story of Shinto Kami or with an interest in the establishment of the tradition of the a Japanese Imperial family. If you really want to read the Kojiki and don't want to pay tons of money for a more scholarly developed edition, then this is the one to get.
75 people found this helpful
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Rosa Bencosme
5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding service
Reviewed in the United States on June 18, 2020
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Just like the description. It came very protective Just like it was NEW
One person found this helpful
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Timothy
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful
Reviewed in the United States on June 23, 2020
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The book is beautiful, the cover page is really pristine.
One person found this helpful
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Ryan Preddy
3.0 out of 5 stars The Names!
Reviewed in the United States on September 8, 2021
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Ok so overall the translation is pretty decent, but as others have noted, using literal translations of names is so distracting! For example, people typically translate Ryan as "little king" if someone in 1300 years translated this review and wrote my name as "little king" instead of Ryan, I would consider this bordering on nonsensical. Names are names, and are typically not intended to be read as their literal meaning. In the case of this translation, it's really offputting to read proper nouns in the format of "adjective noun" like "calm man". It's very frustrating because otherwise it's a rather good, readable translation. This one objection, however, almost ruins the whole thing. Still worth a go, though.
15 people found this helpful
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R. E. Momster
5.0 out of 5 stars Vivid translation of the imposing ancient myth of the creation ...
Reviewed in the United States on March 1, 2016
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Vivid translation of the imposing ancient myth of the creation of Japan. Dispels any illusions that the Greeks and Egyptians cornered all the wild weirdness conceivable in a cast of daring and demonic divinities.
One person found this helpful
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Allen G.
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United States on December 25, 2017
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nice book
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Top reviews from other countries

Paul Preston
1.0 out of 5 stars Very poor quality
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 19, 2023
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I was very disappointed in the poor quality of this book compared to the price. It looked cheaply put together. I ordered this as a gift to a family member, and was very embarrassed to send it.
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Derijan
1.0 out of 5 stars Unreadable because of the translation
Reviewed in Germany on October 29, 2021
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So i forced my way through the lenghty introduction, wich is fine since it may help clear up later issues, only to find myself helplessly confused by the literal translation of names. I bought this book to interact with shinto myths and learn about the shinto part of japanese religion. But the texts are nearly unbearable because the different spirits are completely unidentifiable due to the literal translations of their names. I dont get why you would translate names in the first place or ,if you still choose to, at least did it without getting rid of the original name. For example instead of just writing "Reckless Rushing Raging Man" they could have just offered a translation in form of a few extra pages in the beginning with a table of names and their translations, and then just called him "Susanoo" in the rest of the book.
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Ethan
3.0 out of 5 stars Not bad, but some translation annoyances.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 16, 2017
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Translation appears to be solid and the general structure/phrasing of everything is clear and readable, but it becomes a chore to read as Heldt chose to use the literal English translations of places and names rather than a transliteration of the Japanese.
3 people found this helpful
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J
4.0 out of 5 stars Worth reading
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 1, 2017
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A good, readable translation.
One person found this helpful
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SGL
1.0 out of 5 stars Avoid for sanity's sake.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 5, 2022
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Really irritating to read. I understand that the translator wanted to show how good they were at translating, but giving literal english translations of spirits, Gods, and places, makes reading an utter chore. In each passage you have to thumb between the various glossaries just to know who or what they are actually referring to. They should have used the Japanese names and put in a footnote, "the literal translation of this name is Lofty Growth." Because using that name by default is just moronic.

Can nobody translate this book without screwing it up?
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