Yamatai Kyushu Theory


The Yamatai Kyushu Theory is the theory that the Yamatai kingdom was located in Kyushu rather than in Honshu as the Yamatai Honshu Theory proposes.
The theory proposes that the original capital of Japan was located in Kyushu, and when the Kofun period began, the Yamato Kingship moved the capital east to the Kinai region, first in the Yamato Province, then Kyoto in the Yamashiro Province.

Overview

In the Edo period, Arai Hakuseki adovocated the "Kinai Yamataikoku theory" which says Yamatai-koku was located in 大和 in the Kinai, Honshu. Later, Arai adovocated the different theory, "Kyūshū Yamataikoku theory" which says Yamatai-koku was located in "Yamato county " in Chikugo Province in his "Foreign Affairs Record".
Since then, the mainstream of academic circles has been divided into the two major theories:
  1. the "Honshu theory" which insists Yamatai-koku was located in the Honshu.
  2. the "Kyushu theory" which insists Yamatai-koku was located in the Kyushu.
The Kyūshū theory has been, additionally, divided into the two schools. One school insists the "Kyushu Yamatai-koku" moved to the East and became the Imperial House of Japan. The other school insists "Kyushu Yamatai-koku" did not move, and was conquered by the influences of the Yamato.

Basic rationale

The basic arguments for the Kyushu theory of the Yamatai Kingdom include the following.

Basis

Advocates

Advocates of the Kyushu theory of the Yamataikoku include Arai Hakuseki, Shiratori Kurakichi, Dairoku Harada, Taku Tanaka, Takehiko Furuta, Kenzaburo Torigoe, Toshiaki Wakai, Biten Yasumoto, Toshio Hoga and others. In addition, it is said that research based on domestic materials such as "Kiki" tends not to be taken into consideration, despite the indications of Taro Sakamoto's "The Birth of the Nation" and Hidesaburo Hara, and Toshiaki Wakai said about this tendency before the war. He criticizes the repressed theory of Sokichi Tsuda as being caused by being touted even after the war.