are ancient reports on provincial culture, geography, and oral tradition presented to the reigning monarchs of Japan, also known as local gazetteers. They contain agricultural, geographical, and historical records as well as mythology and folklore. Fudoki manuscripts also document local myths, rituals, and poems that are not mentioned in the Kojiki and the Nihon Shoki chronicles, which are the most important literature of the ancient national mythology and history. In the course of national unification, the imperial court enacted a series of criminal and administrative codes called ritsuryō and surveyed the provinces established by such codes to exert greater control over them. Kofudoki In the narrower sense, Fudoki refer to the oldest records written in the Nara period, later called (Old-Fudoki). Compilation of Kofudoki began in 713 and was completed over a 20-year period. Following the Taika Reform in 646 and the Code of Taihō enacted in 701, there was need to centralize and solidify the power of the imperial court. This included accounting for lands under its control. According to the Shoku Nihongi, Empress Genmei issued a decree in 713 ordering each to collect and report the following information: Names of districts and townships Natural resources and living things Land fertility Etymology of names for geographic features, such as mountains, plains, and rivers Myths, legends, and folktales told orally by old people Names Empress Genmei ordered in 713 that place names in the provinces, districts, and townships be written in two kanji characters with positive connotations. This occasionally required name changes. For example, became and became . Manuscripts At least 48 of the Gokishichidō provinces contributed to their records but only that of Izumo remains nearly complete. Partial records of Hizen, Bungo, Harima and Hitachi remain and a few passages from various volumes remain scattered throughout various books. Those of Harima and Hizen are designated National Treasures. Below is a list of extant manuscripts and scattered passages. Kinai Yamashiro Province: Yamashiro no Kuni Fudoki 山城国風土記 Yamato Province: Yamato no Kuni Fudoki 大和国風土記 Settsu Province: Settsu no Kuni Fudoki 摂津国風土記 Tōkaidō Iga Province: Iga no Kuni Fudoki 伊賀国風土記 Ise Province: Ise no Kuni Fudoki 伊勢国風土記 Shima Province: Shima no Kuni Fudoki 志摩国風土記 Owari Province: Owari no Kuni Fudoki 尾張国風土記 Mikawa Province: Mikawa no Kuni Fudoki 参河(三河)国風土記 Suruga Province: Suruga no Kuni Fudoki :ja:駿河国風土記 Izu Province: Izu no Kuni Fudoki 伊豆国風土記 Kai Province: Kai no Kuni Fudoki 甲斐国風土記 Sagami Province: Sagami