Japan in those days possessed many scholars who could write Chinese fluently. The composition of Chinese poetry was commenced in the reign of Kōbun, the first book of verses ever published in Japan--the "_Kwaifūso_"--making its appearance at that time. It is on record that, at an earlier epoch--during the reign of the Empress Suiko--Prince Shōtoku, Soga-no-Umako, and others, jointly compiled some historical works, which were, however, almost totally destroyed at the time of the overthrow of the Soga family. Subsequently, the Emperor Temmu instructed Prince Kawashima and others to write a history, and further directed Hieda-no-Are to dictate for transcription the annals of the successive reigns. Again, in 712 A. D., Ō-no-Yasumaro, by command of the Empress Gemmyō, compiled a history of the empire from the earliest days to the reign of Suiko. This work was called the "_Kojiki_." A year later the various provinces received imperial instructions to prepare geographical accounts, each of itself, and these were collated into the "_Fūdoki_" a few of which still remain. During the next reign, the Empress Genshō continued this literary effort by causing Prince Toneri and others to compile the "_Nihongi_," comprising a historical narrative from the beginning of the empire to the reign of Jitō. In these works, the "_Kojiki_" and the "_Nihongi_," the most ancient traditions of the country are to be found. Shortly afterward five other chronicles, known with the "_Nihongi_" as the "Six National Histories," were successively undertaken, the compilation of which continued down to the reign of the Emperor Daigo. To the Japanese poetry of the Nara epoch, however, must be assigned the first place among the literary efforts of the time. While Kōgen was on the throne, Tachibana Moroye collected all the poems then extant, and these, being afterward supplemented by Ōtomo-no-Yakamochi, constitute the "_Manyōshu_," a work containing stanzas full of _verve_ and imagination, simple yet by no means deficient in taste. The longer compositions are especially admirable, and have ever since served as models for writers of Japanese verse. Later generations considered the work as a means of studying the ancient language of the country prior to the Nara epoch, and from it they also derived a knowledge of the customs and sentiments of early times. Consequently the "_Manyōshu_," together with the "_Kojiki_" and the "_Nihongi_," came to be regarded as most precious sources of historical information.