Hieda no Are

is primarily known for being instrumental to the compilation of the Japanese text Kojiki in 712. While birth and death are unknown, Are was active during the late 7th and early 8th century.

Background

Very little is known about Are's background. A passage in the Seikyūki (西宮記) suggests that Are belongs to the Sarume-no-kimi family, who trace their ancestry back to the goddess Ame-no-Uzume-no-Mikoto.

Scholars such as Kunio Yanagita and Saigō Nobutsuna theorize that Are was a woman. Are was given the title of , which is typically a male title. However, members of the Sarume-no-kimi family are renowned as shrine maidens to the court, a female institution. In addition, a number of passages within the Kojiki appear to have been written by a woman. Tenmu died before the work could be completed. Later, Empress Genmei ordered Ō no Yasumaro to compile the Kojiki based on what Are had memorized. This was completed in 712.