日本

From 日 (“sun”) + 本 (“origin, root”).

More information

As a state name, the term likely grew from a 7th‑century self‑conception in state letters and gradually replaced 倭 in external usage. The earliest known epigraphic use of 日本 appears in 678, but in a highly literary sense. Documentary records show an oscillation between 倭 and 日本 in the late 670s. By 702–703, the self‑designation 日本國 was stable (Korean sources adopted 日本國 from 698). Chinese histories (the Xin Tang Shu and Jiu Tang Shu) place the renaming around 670; the claim that “Wu Zetian changed it” is best interpreted as Tang-dynasty recognition of the new name.

Early diplomatic topos (607):

Earliest epigraphic 日本 (often rhetorical; sometimes read as “Baekje”) (678):

Reports of renaming (670):

Earliest possible documentary 日本 (if authentic), preserved via quotation (664):

Transition/oscillation in documents (671/672):

Stabilized self‑designation (702~703)