The Kojiki is the oldest recorded literary document of Japan. It was commissioned in 712 for the Japanese court. Emperor Tenmu-tenno wanted to collect, review, and record existing materials on myths, genealogies, legends, and historical accounts to avoid incorrect or divergent traditions, thereby preserving a "true" and authoritative history of antiquity. The chronicle begins with the creation and initially covers reports on theogony and descriptions from the lives of the Celestials, leading to the earthly journey of the grandson of the sun goddess and the birth of the later first emperor, Jinmu. The second and third books narrate the history of the empire up to the reign of Empress Suiko (reigned 593-628). For centuries, the Kojiki remained overshadowed by the slightly younger Nihonshoki, only gaining prominence with the Meiji Restoration.