Shinigami inspiration: Research Materials

Whenever I read a story that draws inspiration from mythology and folklore, I get all excited about reading the books the authors used for research.

If you are like me, here is the list of books used to research Shinigami:

• For mythology: 
  • The Kojiki: Records of Ancient Matters by Ō no Yasumaro & Princess Iwa (Contributor), translated by Basil Hall Chamberlain
  • Nihon Shoki (or Nihongi) by Ō no Yasumaro, translated by William George Ashton
• For matching the historical atmosphere required for the Nara period: 
  • Xiao Jing, Classic on Filial Piety by Zengzi, translated by James Legge
  • Tales of Old Japan: Folklore, Fairy Tales, Ghost Stories and Legends of the Samurai by Algernon Bertram Freeman-Mitford
  • The World of the Shining Prince: Court Life in Ancient Japan by Ivan Morris
  • The Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu, translated by Royall Tyler
• For the descriptions: 
  • 1000 Poems from the Manyōshū by Ōtomo no Yakamochi (Compiler), translated by Japanese Classics Translation Committee
  • One Hundred Leaves: A new annotated translation of the Hyakunin Isshu by Fujiwara no Teika, translated by Blue Flute ( http://www.followtheblueflute.com )
  • Japan : its architecture, art, and art manufactures by Christopher Dresser
• Others: 
  • Japanese Proverbs: Wit and Wisdom: 200 Classic Japanese Sayings and Expressions by David Galef
  • The Folk Arts of Japan by Hugo M. Munsterberg
  • Elements of Japanese Design by Boyé Lafayette de Mente
  • A Japanese Miscellany: Strange Stories, Folklore Gleanings, Studies Here & There by Lafcadio Hearn

I started the research in December 2018 and spent about three months surrounded by maps, history books, ancient literature and mythology focused chronologies. You can find all the books used for research in my folder on Goodreads.