This week, we’re going to take a look at the first figure in recorded Japanese history: Himiko, queen of Yamatai. Despite the fact that the records on her are extremely brief, she’s assumed a position of tremendous importance in our thinking about the early history of Japan. We’ll look at our records of her life, and her legacy in Japanese history and self-identity.
Listen to the episode here.
Sources
Kidder, Edward J. Himiko and Japan’s Elusive Chiefdom of Yamatai.
Piggot, Joan R. The Emergence of Japanese Kingship.
Sansom, George B. A History of Japan to 1334.
Totman, Conrad. A History of Japan.
Images (Courtesy of the Wikimedia Foundation)
![An artists rendering from the Meiji Period of Himiko's appearance.](http://historyofjapan.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/399px-queen_himiko.jpg?w=199)
![A Pinghua (vernacular) version of the Sanguozhi, the history containing the first mention of Yamatai and Himiko.](http://historyofjapan.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/xin_quanxiang_sanguo_zhipinghua030.jpg?w=300)
![China during the Three Kingdoms Period -- Cao Wei, the kingdom which made contact with Yamatai, is the yellow one to the north.](http://historyofjapan.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/china_5.jpg?w=300)
![A statue of Empress Jingu, who was considered by some as likely to be the Queen Himiko referenced in Chinese records.](http://historyofjapan.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/379px-empress_okinaga_tarasi.jpg?w=189)