Historically, it was said that the Chinese played an important
role in molding of Japanese civilization as many traditions of the former were
adopted by the latter throughout the centuries. In addition, and literally
speaking, the Chinese Book of Songs, said to be the beginning of Chinese epic
can be compared with Japan’s Man’yoshu. Both tell of the ways of living and the
feelings of the ancient civilizations of both countries. In a way, the history
of Chinese rulers has an evident semblance with that of the Japanese since both
countries were ruled by nobility or rulers of similar status, who were believed
to have been descendants of mythical or legendary empires.
