Dai Nihonshi

The Dai Nihonshi (大日本史), literally History of Great Japan, is a book on the history of Japan written in Classical Chinese. It was begun in the 17th century and was completed by 1715 by Tokugawa Mitsukuni, the head of the Mito branch of the Tokugawa family. After his death, work on the book was continued by the Mito branch until its completion in the Meiji era. The format of the book closely resembles the Chinese literary histories in form and structure and is considered extremely accurate. Dai Nihonshi was given its name by the feudal lord Tokugawa Tsunaeda in 1715, after the death of Tokugawa Mitsukuni. Contemporaneously it was also known by the names Honchō-shiki (lit. Historical Record of the Imperial Court), Kokushi (lit. National History), and Washi (lit. History of Wa).