Kamu-yamato-ihare-biko no Mikoto (Emperor Jimmu), dwelling with his elder brother Itsuse no Mikoto in the palace of Takachiho, consulted him and said:
"Where would it be best to dwell in order to carry on the government of the kingdom peacefully? I am thinking of going eastward."
Thus, departing from Himuka, he journeyed to Tsukushi.
When he arrived at Usa in the land of Toyo no Kuni, two natives named Usatsuhiko and Usatsuhime built a palace which could be entered with one stride and offered him a grand feast.
From there he moved to the palace of Okada in Tsukushi, where he dwelt for one year.
From that land he journeyed upward and dwelt seven years in the palace of Takeri in the land of Aki.
From that land he moved and journeyed upward and dwelt eight years in the palace of Takashima in Kibi.
As he was journeying upwards from that land, he met in the straits of Hayasui a person riding on a tortoise's back, fishing and flapping his wings as he came.
Calling him closer, he asked: "Who are you?"
He answered: "I am an earthly deity."
Again he asked: "Do you know the sea-lanes?"
He answered: "I know them well."
Again he asked: "Will you serve as my attendant?"
He answered: "I will serve."
Then he stretched out a pole and drew him into the boat.
He bestowed upon him the name Saone-tsuhiko.
This is the ancestor of the Kuni no Miyatsuko of Yamato.
As they journeyed upward from that land, they passed the crossing of Nami-pana and anchored at the cove of Shira-kaka of the bluish clouds.
At this time, Nagasune-biko of Tomi raised an army and, lying in wait, engaged them in battle.
Then they took the shields which they had put in the boat and alighted.
Therefore that place was named Tate-tsu. It is what is called today Tade-tsu of Kusaka.
Then, while fighting with Tomi-biko, Itsuse no Mikoto received a deep wound in his hand from Tomi-biko's arrow.
Then Itsuse no Mikoto said: "It is not right for me, the child of the sun-deity, to fight facing the sun. This is why I have been wounded by such a lowly wretch. Now let us go around to where the sun will be at our backs and attack."
Thus agreeing, they went around from the south.
When they arrived at the sea of Chinu, he washed the blood off his hand; this is why it is called the sea of Chinu.
From this place they journeyed on and, arriving at the rivermouth of Wo in the land of Ki, Itsuse no Mikoto said:
"Oh, to have to die from the wounds inflicted by such a lowly wretch!"
Thus shouting manfully, he died.
Therefore that rivermouth is called the rivermouth of Wo.
His tomb is at Kama-yama in the land of Ki.
When Kamu-yamato-ihare-biko no Mikoto journeyed around from that place and arrived in the village of Kumano, a large bear could be seen faintly moving around; then it disappeared.
As they continued on, Kamu-yamato-ihare-biko no Mikoto (Emperor Jimmu) and his troops were suddenly overcome and fell into a deep slumber.
At this time, a person named Taka-kuraji of Kumano came to the site and presented a sword to Jimmu. As soon as he received it, Jimmu awoke, and the unruly deities in the Kumano mountains were all magically quelled. His troops also woke up and rose to their feet.
When Jimmu asked how he had obtained the sword, Taka-kuraji explained that he had received it in a dream. In the dream, Amaterasu Omikami and Takagi no Kami commanded Takemikazuchi no Kami to descend and help Jimmu, as the Central Land of the Reed Plains was in an uproar.
Takemikazuchi no Kami replied that he would not descend himself, but would send the sword with which he had pacified the land. The sword's name was Sajifutsu no Kami, also known as Mikafutsu no Kami and Futsu no Mitama. He instructed that the sword be dropped through a hole in the roof of Taka-kuraji's storehouse.
When Taka-kuraji awoke, he found the sword just as he had been told in the dream, and he presented it to Jimmu.
At this time, Takagi no Kami once again gave instructions, saying, "O child of the heavenly deities, do not proceed further into the interior than this! The unruly deities are extremely numerous. From heaven, we will now dispatch a giant crow; this giant crow will lead the way. Follow after it and continue your journey."
As they followed the giant crow, they arrived at the lower reaches of the Yoshino River. There, they met a man catching fish in a bamboo trap, who introduced himself as Nipe-mochi no Ko, an earthly deity.
Continuing on, a man with a tail came forth from a well, which had a bright light shining in it. When asked, he replied that he was an earthly deity named Wihika.
Entering the mountains, they met another man with a tail who came forth by pushing aside large boulders. He introduced himself as Iwa-oshi-waku no Ko, an earthly deity who had come to meet Jimmu after hearing of his arrival.
From there, they pierced their way across and came to Uda, which is why it is called Uda no Ukachi.
In Uda, there were two brothers, Ye-ukashi and Oto-ukashi.
They first dispatched the giant crow to ask them, saying: "The child of the heavenly deities has now arrived. Are you willing to serve him?"
Then Ye-ukashi, lying in wait for this messenger, turned him back by shooting a humming arrow at him.
This is why the place where this humming arrow came to rest is called Kabura-zaki.
Intending to ambush them, Ye-ukashi began to assemble troops; but being unable to do so, he deceitfully promised to serve the child of the heavenly deities, and built a large hall.
Inside this hall, he built a trap and waited.
At this time Oto-ukashi came forth and, making obeisance, said: "My elder brother Ye-ukashi shot at and forced back the messenger of the child of the heavenly deities; intending to ambush you, he tried to assemble troops, but was unable to do so.
"Therefore he built a hall, in which he constructed a trap in which to entrap you. "Therefore I have come before you to reveal this."
Then Michi no Omi no Mikoto, the ancestor of the Muraji of the Otomo, and Okume no Mikoto, the ancestor of the Atahe of the Kume, summoned Ye-ukashi and reviled him, saying: "You will go first into the great hall which you have built and reveal the manner in which you intend to serve."
Then, grasping their sword-hilts, readying their spears, and fixing their arrows, they drove him inside.
Then he was caught by the very trap he had made and died. Then they pulled him out and hacked him to bits.
For this reason that place is called the Bloody Plain of Uda.
All of the viands which were offered by Oto-ukashi were given to the troops. At this time, he sang:
On the high place Of Uda
We set a snipe-net;
We waited,
But no snipe were caught. Instead, a dauntless fine Whale was caught.
If the old wife
Asks for some to eat, Slice off and give her
Only a little, like the berries Of the tachi-shiba.
If the new wife
Asks for some to eat, Slice off and give her Plenty, like the berries Of the ishi-sakaki.
Ee shi ya ko shi ya!
This is to deride.
Aa shi ya ko shi ya!
This is to laugh to scorn.
This Oto-ukashi is the ancestor of the Mochitori of Uda.
When Kamu-yamato-iharebiko no Mikoto arrived at the great pit dwelling of Osaka, there were eighty mighty men with tails, of the Tsuchigumo, waiting inside the pit dwelling with great clamor.
Then the child of the heavenly deities commanded that a banquet be given to the eighty mighty men.
To serve the eighty mighty men he assigned eighty food-servers, and had each of them wear a sword.
He instructed the food-servers, saying: "When you hear the Song, then cut them down!" The song which was a signal for smiting the Tsuchigumo was:
Many people Are in the large Pit dwelling
Of Osaka.
Even though many people Are there,
The gallant
Lads of the Kume,
With their mallet-headed swords,
With their stone mallets Will smite them relentlessly
The gallant Lads of the Kume, With their mallet-headed swords, With their stone mallets-
Now is the time to smite them!
As this song was sung, they drew their swords and smote them to death all at once. Later, as he was about to smite Tomi-biko, he sang:
In the millet fields Of the gallant Lads of the Kume:
A single smelling leek- Up with it by its roots,
With all the buds on its roots:
Thus will we smite them relentlessly. Again he sang:
Beneath the fence of the gallant Lads of the Kume, Grows a pepper plant-
It burns the mouth;
Like this sting, I will not forget, But will smite them relentlessly!
Again he sang:
On the large rocks Of the sea of Ise Of the divine wind
There are crawling around Shellfish
Like these, we will crawl around them And smite them relentlessly!
Again, when he was attacking Ye-shiki and Oto-shiki, his troops were momentarily exhausted, and he sang:
Watching the enemy Of Mount Inasa
Of the lined-up shields, We fought,
But now we are starving.
Ukai—you keepers
Of the cormorants of the isles— Come quickly to our aid!
At this time, Nigihayahi no Mikoto came and said to the child of the heavenly deities:
"Having heard that the child of the heavenly deities had descended from the heavens, I too descended after him."
Thus saying, he presented the heavenly emblems and served him.
Nigihayahi no Mikoto took Tomiyahime, the younger sister of Tomi-biko, as his wife, and she gave birth to a child, Umasakimade no Mikoto.
This is the ancestor of the Muraji of the Mononobe, the Omi of the Hotosumi, and the Omi of the Unebe.
Having thus subdued and pacified the unruly deities and having swept away the defiant people, he dwelt in the palace of Kashihara at Unebi and ruled the kingdom.
When Kamu-yamato-ihare-biko no Mikoto was in the land of Himuka, he took Ahirahime, the younger sister of the Kimi of Obashi in Ata, as his wife. Two children were born: Tagishimimi no Mikoto and Kisu-mimi no Mikoto.
However, when he sought further for a maiden to become his chief empress, Okume no Mikoto said:
"There is here a maiden of whom it is said that she is the child of a deity. The reason why she is said to be the child of a deity is this:
"The daughter of Mizokui of Mishima, whose name was Seyatatara-hime, was beautiful. The deity Omononushi no Kami of Miwa saw her and admired her.
"When the maiden was defecating, he transformed himself into a red painted arrow and, floating down the ditch where she was defecating, struck the maiden's genitals. Then the maiden was alarmed, and ran away in great confusion.
"Then she took the arrow and placed it by her bed.
"Immediately it turned into a lovely young man, who took the maiden as wife, and there was born a child named Hototatara Isusukihime no Mikoto. Another name was Himetatara-isuke-yori-hime.
The name was later changed to this because of dislike for the word hoto (vagina). "For this reason she is said to be the child of a deity."
At this time there were seven maidens playing on the plain of Takasachi in Yamato. Isuke-yori-hime was among them.
Okume no Mikoto, seeing Isuke-yori-hime, said to the emperor in a song: Seven maidens
Walking along
The plain Takasachi
In Yamato—
Which of them will you wed?
At the time Isuke-yori-hime was standing out in front of those maidens.
Then the emperor, looking upon the maidens, knew in his heart that it was Isuke-yori-hime standing out in front, and replied in a song:
The eldest maiden
Standing slightly out in front, Her will I wed.
Then, when Okume no Mikoto announced the emperor's will to Isuke-yori-hime, she saw the tattooing around the eyes of Okume no Mikoto; thinking it strange, she sang:
Ame-tsutsu
Chidori mashi toto— Why the tattooed eyes?
Then Okume no Mikoto sang in reply:
The better to meet Maidens face to face Are my tattooed eyes.
Then the maiden promised to serve the emperor.
The home of Isuke-yori-hime no Mikoto was by the Sawi River. The Emperor journeyed to Isuke- yori-hime's home and slept there one night.
The river is called the Sawi River because there are many mountain lilies by the river. The name of the mountain lilies was taken, and the river called Sawi River. The old name of the mountain lily was sawi.
Later, when Isuke-yori-hime entered the palace, the Emperor sang:
In a humble little house Nestling in a reed-plain, Spreading out the cleat Rustling sedge-mats, The two of us slept.
Thus the children born were named Hiko-ya-wi no Mikoto; next, Kamu-ya-wi-mimi no Mikoto; next, Kamu-nunakaha-mimi no Mikoto. (Three children)
After the emperor's death, the elder half-brother Tagishimimi no Mikoto took Isuke-yori-hime, the empress, as his wife, and plotted to kill the three younger brothers.
At this time their mother Isuke-yori-hime, suffering in anguish, warned her sons of the danger in a song. The song said:
Clouds are rising From the Sawi River; On Unebi Mountain
The leaves of the trees are rustling; The wind is about to blow.
Again she sang:
On Unebi Mountain
During the day the clouds shift restlessly; Now it is night,
And as if to warn that the wind is about to blow, The leaves of the trees are rustling.
Then her sons, hearing and understanding, took alarm. As they were about to kill Tagishimimi, Kamu-nunakaha-mimi no Mikoto said to his elder brother Kamu-ya-wi-mimi no Mikoto:
"My brother, take the weapons and go in and kill Tagishimimi."
When he took the weapons and went in and was about to kill him, his hands and feet shook so that he was unable to kill him.
Then the younger brother, Kamu-nunakaha-mimi no Mikoto, asked for the weapons from his elder brother, went in, and killed Tagishimimi.
Therefore, they also called him Take-nunakaha-mimi no Mikoto to praise his name.
At this time, Kamu-ya-wi-mimi no Mikoto ceded his birthright to his younger brother, Take- nunakaha-mimi no Mikoto, saying:
"I was unable to kill the enemy, and it was you who finally killed him. Therefore, even though I am the older brother, it is not right for me to be the first. For this reason, be the first and rule the kingdom. I will help you and will serve as a priest."
Hiko-ya-wi no Mikoto is the ancestor of the Muraji of Mamuta and the Muraji of Teshima.
Kamu-ya-wi-mimi no Mikoto is the ancestor of the Omi of Oho, the Muraji of the Chihisako-be, the Muraji of the Sakahi-be, the Kimi of Hi, the Kimi of Oho-tsu-ahe, the Kimi of Aso, the Muraji of the Miyake of Tsukushi, the Omi of the Sasaki-be, the Miyatsuko of the Sasaki-be, the Miyatsuko of the Wo-hatsuse, the Atahe of Tsuke, the Kuni no Miyatsuko of Iyo, the Kuni no Miyatsuko of Shinano, the Kuni no Miyatsuko of Iwa-ki in Michinoku, the Kuni no Miyatsuko of Naka in Hitachi, the Kuni no Miyatsuko of Nagasa, the Atahe of Funaki of Ise, the Omi of Nihwa in Wobari, and the Omi of Shimada.
Kamu-nunakaha-mimi no Mikoto ruled the kingdom.
The years of Emperor Kamu-yamato-ihare-biko were one hundred and thirty-seven. His tomb is to the north of Mount Unebi atop the oak ridge.
Kamu-nunakaha-mimi no Mikoto dwelt in the palace of Takaoka in Katsuraki and ruled the kingdom.
The emperor took Kaha-mata-hime, the ancestor of the Agata-nushi of Shiki, as his wife, and there was born the child Shiki-tsuhiko-tama-de-mi no Mikoto. (One child)
The years of the emperor were forty-five. His tomb is on the hill Tsukuda no Oka. CHAPTER 57: Reign of Emperor Annei.
Shiki-tsuhiko-tama-de-mi no Mikoto dwelt in the palace of Katashipo no Uki-ana and ruled the kingdom.
This emperor took Akuto-hime, the daughter of the Agata-nushi Haye, the elder brother of Kaha- mata-hime, as his wife, and there was born the child Toko-ne-tsu-hiko-irone no Mikoto; next, Ohoyamatohiko-suki-tomo no Mikoto; and next, Shiki-tsuhiko no Mikoto.
From among the three children of this emperor, Ohoyamatohiko-suki-tomo no Mikoto ruled the kingdom.
Next, Shiki-tsuhiko no Mikoto had two children.
One child was the ancestor of the Inaki of Sutsu in Iga, of the Inaki of Nabari, and of the Inaki of Mine.
The other child, Wadatsumi no Mikoto, dwelt in the palace of Miwi in Awaji. This prince had two daughters.
The elder daughter was named Haho-irone; another name was Ohoyamato-kuni-are-hime no Mikoto.
The younger daughter was named Haho-irodo. The years of the emperor were forty-nine.
His tomb is at Mihoto at Mount Unebi.
Ohoyamatohiko-suki-tomo no Mikoto dwelt in the palace of Sakahi-oka in Karu and ruled the kingdom.
This emperor took Futo-ma-waka-hime no Mikoto, the ancestor of the Agata-nushi of Shiki, as his wife; another name was Ihihi-hime no Mikoto.
There was born the child Mima-tsuhiko-kaeshi-ne no Mikoto; next, Tagishi-hiko no Mikoto. (Two children)
Mima-tsuhiko-kaeshi-ne no Mikoto ruled the kingdom.
Next, Tagishi-hiko no Mikoto is the ancestor of the Wake of Chinu, the Wake of Take in Tajima, and the Inaki of Ashwi.
The years of the emperor were forty-five.
His tomb is by the valley of Manago at Mount Unebi.
Mimatsu-hiko-kaeshi-ne no Mikoto dwelt in the palace of Wakigami in Katsuraki and ruled the kingdom.
This emperor took Yoso-taho-hime no Mikoto, the younger sister of Okitsuyoso, the ancestor of the Muraji of Obari, as his wife.
There was born the child Ame-oshi-tarashi-hiko no Mikoto; next, Ohoyamatotarashi-hiko-kunioshi- bito no Mikoto. (Two children)
The younger brother, Tarashi-hiko-kunioshi-bito no Mikoto, ruled the kingdom.
The elder brother, Ame-oshi-tarashi-hiko no Mikoto, is the ancestor of the Omi of Kasuga, the Omi of Ohoyake, the Omi of Ahata, the Omi of Wo-no, the Omi of Kaki no Moto, the Omi of Ichihiwi, the Omi of Ohosaka, the Omi of Ana, the Omi of Taki, the Omi of Haguri, the Omi of Chita, the Omi of Muza, the Omi of Tsunoyama, the Kimi of Ihitaka in Ise, the Kimi of Ishishi, and the Kuni no Miyatsuko of Chikatsu-ahumi.
The years of the emperor were ninety-three. His tomb is on Mount Hakata in Wakigami. CHAPTER 60: Reign of Emperor Koan.
Ohoyamatotarashi-hiko-kunioshi-bito no Mikoto dwelt in the palace of Akizushima at Muro in Katsuraki and ruled the kingdom.
This emperor took as wife his niece, Oshika-hime no Mikoto, and there was born the child Ohokibi no Moro-susu no Mikoto; next, Ohoyamatoneko-hiko-futo-ni no Mikoto. (Two children)
Ohoyamatoneko-hiko-futo-ni no Mikoto ruled the kingdom. The years of the emperor were one hundred and twenty-three. His tomb is on the hill Tamade no Oka.
Ohoyamatoneko-hiko-futo-ni no Mikoto dwelt in the palace of Ihodo at Kuroda and ruled the kingdom.
This emperor took as wife Kuhashi-hime no Mikoto, the daughter of Oho-me, the ancestor of the Agata-nushi of Towochi; and there was born the child Ohoyamatoneko-hiko-kuni-kuru no Mikoto. (One child)
Again he took as wife Chichihaya-ma-waka-hime of Kasuga and there was born the child Chichihaya-hime no Mikoto. (One child)
Again he took as wife Ohoyamato-kuni-are-hime no Mikoto and there was born the child Yamato- to-momo-so-bime no Mikoto; next, Hiko-sashi-kata-wake no Mikoto; next, Hiko-isase-ri-hiko no Mikoto, also named Ohokibi-tsuhiko no Mikoto; and next, Yamato-tobi-haya-waka-ya-hime no Mikoto. (Four children)
Again, he took as wife the younger sister of Are-hime no Mikoto, Haho-irodo, and there was born the child Hiko-same-ma no Mikoto; next, Waka-hiko-take-kibi-tsuhiko no Mikoto. (Two children)
This emperor had altogether eight children. (Five princes and three princesses) Ohoyamatoneko-hiko-kuni-kuru no Mikoto ruled the kingdom.
Ohokibi-tsuhiko no Mikoto, together with Waka-hiko-take-kibi-tsuhiko no Mikoto, placed ceremonial jars before the Hi River in Harima; and making Harima their starting point, they subdued and pacified the land of Kibi.
This Ohokibi-tsuhiko no Mikoto is the ancestor of the Omi of the Kami-tsu-michi of Kibi.
Next, Waka-hiko-take-kibi-tsuhiko no Mikoto is the ancestor of the Omi of the Shimo-tsu-michi of Kibi and the Omi of Kasa.
Next, Hiko-same-ma no Mikoto is the ancestor of the Omi of Ushika in Harima.
Next, Hiko-sashi-kata-wake no Mikoto is the ancestor of the Omi of Tonami in Koshi, the Omi of Kunisaki in Toyo no Kuni, the Kimi of Ihohara, and the Atahe of the Ame of Tsunuga.
The years of the emperor were one hundred and six. His tomb is at Umasaka at Katawoka.
This emperor took as wife Utsu-shikome no Mikoto, the younger sister of Utsu-shiko-wo no Mikoto, the ancestor of the Omi of Hozumi, and there was born the child Ohobiko no Mikoto; next, Sukuna-hiko-take-wi-gokoro no Mikoto; next, Waka-yamato-neko-hiko-oho-bibi no Mikoto. (Three children)
Again he took as wife Ikaga-shikome no Mikoto, the daughter of Utsu-shiko-wo no Mikoto, and there was born the child Hiko-futsu-oshi no Makoto no Mikoto.
Again he took as wife Hani-yasu-hime, the daughter of Aotama of Kahuchi, and there was born the child Take-hani-yasu-biko no Mikoto. (One child)
This emperor had altogether five children.
Waka-yamato-neko-hiko-oho-bibi no Mikoto ruled the kingdom.
The child of the eldest brother Ohobiko no Mikoto, Take-nunakaha-wake no Mikoto, is the ancestor of the Omi of Abe.
Next, Hiko-ina-kozi-wake-mikoto is the ancestor of the Omi of the Kashihade.
Hiko-futsu-oshi no Makoto no Mikoto took as wife Takaina-bime of Katsuraki, the younger sister of Oho-nabi, the ancestor of the Muraji of Obari, and there was born the child Umashi-uchi no Sukune. This is the ancestor of the Omi of Uchi in Yama-shiro.
Again he took as wife Yama-shita-kage-hime, the younger sister of Uzu-hiko, the ancestor of the Kuni no Miyatsuko of Ki, and there was born the child Takeshi-uchi no Sukune.
This Takeshi-uchi no Sukune had altogether nine children. (Seven boys and two girls)
Hata no Yashiro no Sukune is the ancestor of the Omi of Hata, the Omi of Hayashi, the Omi of Hami, the Omi of Hoshikaha, the Omi of Ahumi, and the Kimi of the Hatuse-be.
Next, Kose no Okara no Sukune is the ancestor of the Omi of Kose, the Omi of the Sasaki-be, and the Omi of the Karu-be.
Next, Soga no Ishikaha no Sukune is the ancestor of the Omi of Soga, the Omi of Kahabe, the Omi of Tanaka, the Omi of Takamuku, the Omi of Oharida, the Omi of Sakurawi, and the Omi of Kishida.
Next, Heguri no Tsuku no Sukune is the ancestor of the Omi of Heguri, the Omi of Sawara, and the Muraji of the Uma-mikupi.
Next, Ki no Tsuno no Sukune is the ancestor of the Omi of Ki, the Omi of Tsuno, and the Omi of Sakamoto.
Next, Kume no Maitohime. Next, No no Irohime.
Next, Katsuraki no Nagaye no Sotsuhiko is the ancestor of the Omi of Tamade, the Omi of Ikuhaha, the Omi of Ikuye, and the Omi of Agina.
Also, Wakugo no Sukune is the ancestor of the Omi of Yenoma. The years of this emperor were fifty-seven.
His tomb is on the middle hill at the pond Tsurugi no Ike.
Waka-yamato-neko-hiko-oho-bibi no Mikoto dwelt in the palace of Izakaha in Kasuga and ruled the kingdom.
This emperor took as wife Takano-hime, the daughter of Yugori, the Oho-agata-nushi of Tanihwa, and there was born the child Hiko-yu-musu-mi no Mikoto. (One child)
Again he took as wife his stepmother, Ikaga-shikome no Mikoto, and there was born the child Mimaki-iri-biko-iniwe no Mikoto; next, Mimatsu-hime no Mikoto. (Two children)
Again he took as wife Oketsu-hime no Mikoto, the younger sister of Hiko-kuni-oketsu no Mikoto, the ancestor of the Omi of Wani, and there was born the child Hiko-imasu no Miko. (One child)
Again he took as wife Washi-hime, the daughter of Tarumi no Sukune of Katsuraki, and there was born the child Take-toyo-hadura-wake no Miko. (One child)
This emperor had altogether five children. (Four princes and one princess) Mimaki-iri-biko-iniwe no Mikoto ruled the kingdom.
The children of his elder brother, Hiko-yu-musu-mi no Miko, were Ohotsutsuki-tari-ne no Miko; next, Sanuki-tari-ne no Miko. (Two children)
These two princes had five daughters.
Next, Hiko-imasu no Miko took as wife Yama-shiro no Enatsu-hime, also named Karihata-tobe, and there was born the child Oho-mata no Miko; next, Wo-mata no Miko; next, Shibumi no Sukune no Miko. (Three children)
Again he took as wife Saho no Ohokura-mi-tome, the daughter of Take-kuni-katsu-tome of Kasuga, and there was born the child Saho-biko no Miko; next, Wo-zaho no Miko; next, Saho-hime no Mikoto, also named Sahadi-hime.
This Saho-hime no Mikoto became the empress of Emperor Ikume. Next, Muro-hiko no Miko. (Four children)
Again he took as wife Okinaga no Mizu-yori-hime, the daughter of the deity Ame no Mikage no Kami, who is worshiped by the priests of Mikami of Chikatsu-ahumi; and there was born the child Tanihwa no Hiko-tatasu-michi no Ushi no Miko; next, Mizuho no Ma-waka no Miko; next, Kamu- oho-ne no Miko, also named Yatsuri no Iri-biko no Miko; next, Mizuho no Iho-yori-hime; next, Miwi-tsu-hime. (Five children)
Again he took as wife Oketsu-hime no Mikoto, the younger sister of his mother, and there was born the child Yama-shiro no Oho-tsutsuki no Ma-waka no Miko; next, Hiko-osu no Miko; next, Irine no Miko. (Three children)
Hiko-imasu no Miko had altogether eleven children.
The children of the elder brother Oho-mata no Miko were Ake-tatsu no Miko; next, Unakami no Miko. (Two children)
This Ake-tatsu no Miko is the ancestor of the Kimi of the Homudi-be of Ise and of the Miyatsuko of Sana in Ise.
Next, Unakami no Miko is the ancestor of the Kimi of Himeda.
Next, Wo-mata no Miko is the ancestor of the Kimi of Magari in Tagima. Next, Shibumi no Sukune no Miko is the ancestor of the Kimi of Sasa.
Next, Saho-biko no Miko is the ancestor of the Muraji of the Kusakabe and of the Kuni no Miyatsuko of Kahi.
Next, Wo-zaho no Miko is the ancestor of the Wake of Kaduno, and of the Wake of Kano in Chikatsu-ahumi.
Next, Muro-hiko no Miko is the ancestor of the Wake of Mimi in Wakasa.
Michi no Ushi no Miko took as wife Kahakami no Masu no Iratume of Tanihwa, and there was born the child Hibasu-hime no Mikoto; next, Matono-hime no Mikoto; next, Oto-hime no Mikoto; next, Mikado-wake no Miko. (Four children)
This Mikado-wake no Miko is the ancestor of the Wake of Ho in Mikawa.
The younger brother of this Michi no Ushi no Miko, Mizuho no Ma-waka no Miko, is the ancestor of the Atahe of Yasu in Chikatsu-ahumi.
Next, Kamu-oho-ne no Miko is the ancestor of the Kuni no Miyatsuko of Motosu in the land of Mino and of the Muraji of the Naga-hata-be.
Next, Yama-shiro no Oho-tsutsuki no Ma-waka no Miko took as wife Tanihwa no Adi-saha-bime, the daughter of his younger brother Irine no Miko, and there was born the child Kanime-ikazuchi no Miko.
This prince took as wife Takagi-hime, the daughter of Tohotsu-omi of Tanihwa, and there was born the child Okinaga no Sukune no Miko; next, Soratsuhime no Mikoto; and next, Okinaga-hiko no Miko. (Three children)
This prince is the ancestor of the Kimi of Homudi in Kibi and the Kimi of Aso in Harima.
Again, Okinaga no Sukune no Miko took as wife Kaha-mata no Ina-yori-bime, and there was born the child Oho-tamu-saka no Miko.
This is the ancestor of the Kuni no Miyatsuko of Tajima.
The above-mentioned Take-toyo-hadura-wake no Miko is the ancestor of the Omi of the Chimo-ki, the Miyatsuko of the Oshinumi-be, the Miyatsuko of the Minaha, the Oshinumi-be of Inaba, the Wake of Takano in Tanihwa, and the Abiko of Yosami.
The years of this emperor were sixty-three. His tomb is on the hill of Izakaha.
Mimaki-iri-biko-iniwe no Mikoto dwelt in the palace of Mizugaki at Shiki and ruled the kingdom.
This emperor took as wife Tohotsu-ayu-me-makuhashi-hime, daughter of Arakaha-tobe, the Kuni no Miyatsuko of Ki, and there was born the child Toyo-ki-iri-biko no Mikoto; next, Toyo-suki-iri- hime no Mikoto. (Two children)
Again, he took as wife Oho-ama-hime, the ancestor of the Muraji of Obari, and there was born the child Oho-iriki no Mikoto; next, Ya-saka no Iri-biko no Mikoto; next, Nunaki no Iri-bime no Mikoto; next, Towochi no Iri-bime no Mikoto. (Four children)
Again, he took as wife Mimatsu-hime no Mikoto, the daughter of Ohobiko no Mikoto, and there was born the child Ikume-iri-biko-isachi no Mikoto; next, Iza no Ma-waka no Mikoto; next, Kuni- kata-hime no Mikoto; next, Chichitsuku-yamato-hime no Mikoto; next, Iga-hime no Mikoto; next, Yamato-hiko no Mikoto. (Six children)
This emperor had altogether twelve children. (Seven princes and five princesses) Ikume-iri-biko-isachi no Mikoto ruled the kingdom.
Next, Toyo-ki-iri-biko no Mikoto is the ancestor of the Kimi of Kami-tsu-keno and of Shimo-tsu- keno.
The younger sister, Toyo-suki-hime no Mikoto, performed the worship at the shrine of the Great Deity of Ise.
Next, Oho-iriki no Mikoto is the ancestor of the Omi of Noto.
Next, Yamato-hiko no Mikoto—at the time of this prince, they first made a human fence at a tomb.
During the reign of this emperor, many epidemics occurred, and so many people died that the whole population seemed to be on the verge of extinction.
The emperor sorrowed and grieved, and at night, while he was upon the divine bed, Omononushi no Ohokami appeared to him in a dream and said:
"This is my will. But if Oho-tata-neko is made to worship before me, then the divine wrath will be averted, and the land will be peaceful and at ease."
Because of this, messengers were sent out urgently in all directions to look for someone named Oho-tata-neko.
Then in the village of Mino in Kahuchi, the man was found and presented to the emperor. Hereupon the emperor asked him: "Whose child are you?"
He answered: "Omononushi no Ohokami took Ikutama-yori-bime, the daughter of Suwe-tsu-mimi no Mikoto, as his wife, and there was born a child named Kushimikata no Mikoto; whose child was Ihikatasumi no Mikoto; whose child was Takemikazuchi no Mikoto; whose child am I, Oho-tata- neko."
Hereupon the emperor rejoiced greatly and said: "The kingdom will be peaceful, and the people will flourish."
Then Oho-tata-neko no Mikoto became a priest and worshipped before the deity Omiwa no Ohokami at Mount Mimoro.
Again, Ikaga-shiko-wo no Mikoto was commanded to make a number of heavenly flat vessels, and the shrines of the heavenly deities and of the earthly deities were designated.
Also, red-colored shields and spears were offered to the deity Sumisaka no Kami of Uda, and black- colored shields and spears were offered to the deity of Ohosaka.
Besides, from the deities on the hillsides to the deities in the river rapids, he presented ceremonial offerings to all of the deities without any omissions.
Because of this, the divine wrath ceased completely, and the nation was peaceful and at ease.
The reason why the man called Oho-tata-neko was known to be the child of a deity was this: The Ikutama-yori-bime mentioned above was beautiful in appearance.
There was a young man, whose form and dignity were without parallel at the time, who suddenly came at midnight.
They loved each other and became man and wife.
After they had been married a short time, the maiden became pregnant.
Then her father and mother, thinking it strange that she was pregnant, asked their daughter:
"You have become pregnant all by yourself. How did you come to be pregnant without a husband?" She replied: "There is a lovely young man, whose name I do not know, who comes every night.
During our married life, I naturally became pregnant."
At this, her father and mother, desiring to know who this man was, instructed their daughter: "Scatter red clay by the bed. Thread hemp yarn to a needle, and sew it onto the hem of his garment." She did as instructed.
The next morning, when they looked, the yarn attached to the needle passed through the keyhole of the door and went outside. There were only three rolls of the yarn left. At this they discovered the manner of his departure through the keyhole.
When they followed the yarn, the path went to Mount Miwa and left off at the shrine of the deity. This is how it was known he was the child of a deity.
Because there were three rolls of yarn left over, the name of the place is Miwa.
This Oho-tata-neko no Mikoto is the ancestor of the Kimi of Miwa and the Kimi of Kano.
Also during this reign, Ohobiko no Mikoto was dispatched to the Koshi region and his son, Take- nunakaha-wake no Mikoto, was dispatched to the twelve regions of the East, in order to pacify the disobedient people there.
Also, Hiko-imasu no Miko was dispatched to the land of Tanihwa to kill Kuga-mimi no Mikasa.
When Ohobiko no Mikoto had started out for the land of Koshi, a young girl wearing a waist-skirt was standing on the pass Herazaka in Yamashiro and singing:
Alas, Mimaki-iro-biko! Alas, Mimaki-iri-biko! Little do you know
That they are plotting in stealth to take your life. Going around
From the back door, Going around
From the front door, Looking in at you— Alas, Mimaki-iri-biko!
Then Ohobiko no Mikoto thought this strange and, turning his horse around, asked the young girl: "What are these words that you have said?"
Then the young girl replied: "I did not say anything. I was merely singing a song." Then she disappeared suddenly, no one knows where.
Ohobiko no Mikoto went back and reported this to the emperor.
Then the emperor said in reply: "This is, I think, an omen that my elder half-brother in the land of Yamashiro, Take-hani-yasu no Miko, has devised some evil plans. My uncle, raise an army and go."
When he dispatched him, in company with Hiko-kuni-buku no Mikoto, the ancestor of the Omi of Wani, they placed ceremonial jars on the pass Wani-zaka and departed.
At this time, when they arrived at the river Wagara in Yamashiro, Take-hani-yasu no Miko had raised an army and, waiting for them, blocked the road.
Each on an opposite side of the river, they stood facing each other and challenged each other. That is why the name of that place is Idomi. Now it is called Izumi.
Then Hiko-kuni-buku no Mikoto said: "Let your side first shoot the ceremonial arrow." Although Take-hani-yasu no Miko shot, he could not make a hit.
Then the arrow shot by Hiko-kuni-buku no Mikoto immediately hit Take-hani-yasu no Miko, and he died.
Then his army was completely defeated and fled in confusion.
Pursuing after the fleeing army, they arrived at the ford of Kusuba. They were all so sorely pressed that they evacuated feces, which adhered to their trousers.
That is why the name of that place is Kuso-bakama. Now it is called Kusuba.
Again, when they blocked the path of the fleeing army and cut them down, they floated in the river like cormorants.
That is why the name of that river is U-kaha.
Also because of the cutting down and slaughtering of the warriors, the name of that place is Hafuri- sono.
Thus finishing the pacification, they went up and reported on their mission.
Then Ohobiko no Mikoto, in accordance with the previous command, set out for the land of Koshi.
Thereupon, Take-nuna-kaha-wake, who was dispatched through the East, and his father Ohobiko happened to come together at Ahidu.
That is why that place is called Ahidu.
They pacified the governments of the lands to which they were dispatched and returned to report on their missions.
Thus the kingdom was peaceful, and the people were wealthy and flourishing.
At this time, men were made to present tribute from their bows and women from their fingertips. In praise, this reign was called that of Emperor Mimaki who first ruled the land.
It was also during this reign that the Yoshimi pond was made and that the Sakahori pond in Karu was also made.
The years of the emperor were one hundred and sixty-eight. He died in the twelfth month of the 5th year of the Tiger.
His tomb is on the hill Magari no Oka on the road at Yamanohe.
Ikume-iri-biko-isachi no Mikoto dwelt in the palace of Tamagaki at Shiki and ruled the kingdom.
This emperor took as wife Sahadi-hime no Mikoto, the younger sister of Saho-biko no Mikoto, and there was born the child Ho-mutsu-wake no Mikoto. (One child)
Again he took as wife Hibasu-hime no Mikoto, the daughter of Tanihwa no Hiko-tatasu-michi no Ushi no Miko, and there was born the child Inishiki no Iri-biko no Mikoto; next, Ohotarashi-hiko- oshiro-wake no Mikoto; next, Oho-nakatsu-hiko no Mikoto; next, Yamato-hime no Mikoto; next, Waka-ki no Iri-biko no Mikoto. (Five children)
Again he took as wife Nuhata no Iri-bime no Mikoto, the younger sister of Hibasu-hime no Mikoto, and there was born the child Nu-tarashi-wake no Mikoto; next, Iga-tarashi-hiko no Mikoto. (Two children)
Again he took as wife Azami no Iri-bime no Mikoto, the younger sister of Nuhata no Iri-bime no Mikoto, and there was born the child Ikobaya-wake no Mikoto; next, Azami-tsu-hime no Mikoto. (Two children)
Again he took as wife Kaguya-hime no Mikoto, the daughter of Ohotsutsuki-tari-ne no Miko, and there was born the child Wozabe no Miko. (One child)
Again he took as wife Karihata-tobe, the daughter of Fuchi of Ohokuni in Yamashiro, and there was born the child Ochi-wake no Miko; next, Ika-tarashi-hiko no Miko; next, Itoshi-wake no Miko. (Three children)
Again he took as wife Oto-karihata-tobe, the daughter of Fuchi of Ohokuni, and there was born the child Ihatsuku-wake no Miko; next, Ihatsuku-bime no Mikoto, also named Futadi no Iri-bime no Mikoto. (Two children)
This emperor had sixteen children. (Thirteen princes and three princesses)
Ohotarashi-hiko-oshiro-wake no Mikoto ruled the kingdom. His height was one rod and two inches. The length of his legs was four feet and one inch.
Next, Inishiki no Iri-biko no Mikoto made the pond of Chinu, and also made the pond of Sayama, and also made the pond of Takatsu in Kusaka.
He also dwelt in the palace of Kahakami in Totori and had a thousand swords made; then he presented them to the shrine of Isonokami.
Then, dwelling in that palace, he established the Kaha-kami-be.
Next, Oho-nakatsu-hiko no Mikoto is the ancestor of the Wake of Yamanohe, the Wake of Sakikusa, the Wake of Inaki, the Wake of Ada, the Wake of Mino in the land of Obari, the Wake of Ihanashi in Kibi, the Wake of Koromo, the Wake of Takasuka, the Kimi of Asuka, and the Wake of Mure.
Next, Yamato-hime no Mikoto performed the worship at the shrine of the Great Deity of Ise. Next, Ikobaya-wake no Miko is the ancestor of the Wake of the Anaho-be of Saho.
Next, Azami-tsu-hime no Mikoto became the wife of Inase-biko no Miko.
Next, Ochi-wake no Miko is the ancestor of the Yama no Kimi of Wotsuki and the Kimi of Koromo in Mikawa.
Next, Ika-tarashi-hiko no Miko is the ancestor of the Yama no Kimi of Kasuga, the Kimi of Ike in Koshi, and the Kimi of the Kasuga-be.
Next, Itoshi-wake no Miko—because he was childless, the Iro-be was established as his Mi-ko- shiro.
Next, Ihatsuku-wake no Miko is the ancestor of the Kimi of Hakubi and the Kimi of Miwo.
Next, Futadi no Iri-bime no Mikoto became the wife of Yamato-takeru no Mikoto.
When this emperor made Saho-bime his empress, Saho-biko no Miko, the elder brother of Saho- bime no Mikoto, asked his younger sister:
"Which do you love more, your husband or your elder brother?" She answered: "I love my elder brother more."
Then Saho-biko no Miko plotted, saying: "If you truly love me, then you and I will rule the kingdom."
Then he made a dagger of eight-fold temperings and gave it to his younger sister, saying: "Take this dagger and stab the emperor to death in his sleep."
The emperor, unaware of this plot, was asleep with his head on the empress's knee. Then the empress took the dagger in order to stab the emperor in the throat.
She raised it three times but, overcome with grief, could not bring herself to stab him in the throat; she wept, her tears dropping upon his face.
At this, the emperor awoke with a start and asked the empress: "I saw a strange dream: from the direction of Saho, a fierce rainstorm came and suddenly moistened my face. Also, a little snake of many colors wrapped itself around my throat. What omen does such a dream carry?"
Then the empress, thinking it useless to deny it, told the emperor: "My elder brother Saho-biko no Miko asked me: 'Which do you love more, your husband or your elder brother?' Since he asked me face to face, there was nothing to do but to reply, 'I love my elder brother more.' Then he bade me, saying: 'You and I together will rule the kingdom. Therefore, kill the emperor.'
"Thus saying, he made a dagger of eight-fold temperings and gave it to me. Intending to stab you in the throat with it, I raised it three times, but immediately grief welled up within me and, unable to stab you in the throat, I wept. The tears dropped and moistened your face. Surely this is the omen."
Then the emperor said: "I was nearly deceived!"
Then he raised an army to attack Saho-biko no Miko. Thereupon the prince built a rice-stronghold, and waited there for the attack.
At this time, Saho-bime no Mikoto, hopelessly yearning for her elder brother, fled the palace by the rear gate and entered that rice-stronghold. At the time, the empress was pregnant.
Thereupon the emperor, yearning for the empress now pregnant, and recalling that he had loved her for three years, caused the army to go around and did not attack at once.
While there was thus a lull, the child which she was carrying was born. Then she placed the child outside the rice-stronghold and sent word to the emperor:
"If you deign to regard this child as your son, then take him to you."
Then the emperor said: "Although I bitterly hate your elder brother, I cannot overcome my love for my empress."
And he thus determined to get the empress back.
Therefore he selected from his warriors men of strength who were fast and agile and said to them:
"When you take the child, then carry off also the princess his mother. Whether it be by the hair or by the hand, by whatever part you are able to catch hold of, grasp her and pull her forth."
The empress, foreseeing his intentions, shaved off all her hair and then covered her head with the hair. Also she rotted a string of beads and bound them in three layers around her hands. Also, she rotted her garments with wine and wore them as if they were perfect.
After making these preparations, she carried the child in her arms and put him outside the stronghold.
Then the men of strength took the child and also grabbed for the mother.
When they grabbed her hair, her hair came off by itself. When they grabbed her hand, the strings of beads broke. When they grabbed her garments, the garments immediately tore.
Therefore, although they were able to take the child, they could not take the mother.
The warriors returned and said: "Her hair came off by itself, her garments tore easily, and the strings of beads which she wore wrapped around her hands broke immediately; therefore we did not get the mother, but were able to take the child."
Then the emperor, full of regret and rancor, hated the people who made the beads and confiscated all their lands.
Again the emperor said to his empress:
"It is usual for the names of children to be given by the mother. What name shall be given to this child?"
She replied: "Since he was born amid the flames just as the rice-stronghold was burning, his name should be Ho-mutsu-wake no Miko."
Again the emperor said: "How shall he be reared?"
She replied: "Employ a wet-nurse, and assign senior and junior bathing women; thus should he be reared."
Thus he was reared in accordance with what the empress said.
Again he inquired of the empress, saying: "Who is to loosen the auspicious little cord which you have made fast?"
She replied: "The two princesses Ye-hime and Oto-hime, daughters of Tanihwa no Hiko-tatasu- michi no Ushi no Miko, are pure subjects; therefore employ them."
Thus, finally Saho-biko no Miko was killed, and his younger sister also followed him.
The manner in which the prince was entertained is this: a forked cryptomeria tree from Ahidu in Obari was made into a little forked boat, which was brought up and sailed on the pond of Ishishi and the pond of Karu in Yamato; the prince was taken there and entertained.
However, this prince, even when his beard eight hands long extended down over his chest, was unable to speak.
But once when he heard the cry of a high-flying swan, he uttered childish babblings for the first time.
Then Ohotaka of Yamanohe was dispatched to capture the bird.
Thereupon this man followed after the swan from the land of Ki to the land of Harima; then he pursued it across the land of Inaba, and arriving in the land of Tanihwa and the land of Tajima, pursued it around the eastern regions and arrived at the land of Chikatsu-ahumi.
Then he crossed the land of Mino, and passing through the land of Obari, pursued it across the land of Shinano, and finally caught up with it in the land of Koshi.
There, at the river-mouth of Wanami, he spread a net and captured the bird and brought it up and presented it. That is why that river-mouth is called Wanami.
Again, when the prince saw the bird, he wanted to say something, but could not speak as he desired.
Hereupon the emperor was grieved, and as he slept he was told in a dream: "If my shrine is built like the emperor's palace, then the prince will surely speak."
Being told thus, he divined with a grand divination to discover which deity's will this was. The curse was discovered to be the will of the great deity of Izumo.
Then, as he was about to dispatch the prince to worship at the shrine of the great deity, he sought an auspicious person to send along with him.
Then Ake-tatsu no Miko was chosen by divination.
Then he commanded Ake-tatsu no Miko to swear oaths: "If worshipping this great deity be really efficacious, may the heron living in the tree by the pond of Sagisu be stricken by my oath."
When he said this, the heron fell to the ground and died. Again he spoke: "Live by my oath!"
Then it came back to life.
Again he caused the wide-leaved great oak by the Point of Amakashi to wither by oath and brought it back to life by oath.
Thus Ake-tatsu no Miko was granted the name Yamato-hashiki-tomi-toyo-asakura no Ake-tatsu no Miko.
Then when the two princes Ake-tatsu no Miko and Unakami no Miko were dispatched along with the prince, they divined and were informed:
"If you leave by the Nara road, you will meet the crippled and the blind. If you leave by the Ohosaka road, you will meet the crippled and the blind. Only the Ki road is an auspicious road, like an armrest."
[After thus divining], they went out, and everywhere they went they established Homudi-be [corporations].
After going to Izumo and worshipping the great deity, when they were on their way back, in the midst of the Hi River they built a pontoon bridge and erected a temporary palace for him to dwell in.
Thereupon Kihisatsu-mi, the ancestor of the Kuni no Miyatsuko of Izumo, made a mountain of green leaves as a decoration and set it up down the river.
When they were about to present his food, the prince spoke: "That downriver which is like a mountain of green leaves, looks like a mountain but is not a mountain. Could it be the ceremonial place of the priests who worship Ashi-hara-shiko-wo no Ohokami in the shrine of So at Ihakuma in Izumo?" [Thus] he inquired.
Then the princes, his attendants, heard and rejoiced, saw and were glad, and causing the prince to remain in the palace Adimasa no Naga-ho no Miya, they sent urgent messengers [to the emperor].
Then the prince wedded Hi-naga-hime for one night. When he stole a glance at the maiden, she was a snake. Seeing this, he was afraid and ran away.
Then Hi-naga-hime grieved and, lighting up the ocean, came in pursuit in a boat. Then the prince, more and more afraid, fled up the mountain pass carrying his boat.
At this time they reported on their mission, saying: "Because he worshipped the great deity, the great prince is now able to speak. For this reason we have come up."
Then the emperor rejoiced, and sent back Unakami no Miko and had him construct a shrine.
At this time the emperor, on account of the prince, established the Totori-be, the Tori-kai-be, and the Homudi-be, as well as the senior and junior bathing women.
Again, the emperor, in accordance with the words of the empress, summoned the daughters of Michi no Ushi no Miko, altogether four maidens: Hibasu-hime no Mikoto, next Oto-hime no Mikoto, next Utagori-hime no Mikoto, and next Matono-hime no Mikoto.
However, he retained only two, Hibasu-hime no Mikoto and Oto-hime no Mikoto, and returned the two younger princesses to their homeland because they were extremely ugly.
At this time Matono-hime said in shame: "To be sent back from among my own sisters because of my ugliness—oh, the exceeding shame of having this known in the nearby villages!"
Thus saying, when she arrived at Sagaraka in the land of Yamashiro, she attempted to hang herself from the branch of a tree. Therefore the name of that place is Sagari-ki. Now it is called Sagaraka.
Then when she arrived at Otoguni, she at last fell into a deep pool and died. Therefore the name of that place is Ochi-kuni. Now it is called Otoguni.
Also the emperor dispatched Tajima-mori, the ancestor of the Muraji of the Miyake, to the land of Toko-yo to seek the fruit of the seasonless fragrant tree.
Then Tajima-mori at last arrived in that country and plucked the fruit of the tree, eight leafy branches and eight leafless branches.
But as he was bringing them, the emperor died.
Dividing the branches, Tajima-mori presented four leafy branches and four leafless branches to the empress and four leafy branches and four leafless branches at the tomb of the emperor.
Holding up the fruit in his hands, he shouted and wept, saying: "I have brought the fruit of the seasonless fragrant tree from the land of Toko-yo!"
At last, while shouting and weeping, he died.
The seasonless fragrant tree is the tachibana of today. The years of this emperor were one hundred and fifty-three.
His tomb is on the plain Mi-tachi no at Sugahara.
Also at the time of the death of his empress Hibasu-hime no Mikoto, the Ishiki-tsukuri [corporation] and the Hanishi-be [corporation] were established.
This empress was buried in the tomb of Terama at Saki.
Emperor Ohotarashi-hiko-oshiro-wake dwelt in the palace of Hishiro at Makimuku and ruled the kingdom.
This emperor took as wife Inabi no Oho-iratume of Harima, the daughter of Waka-hiko-take-kibi- tsuhiko, ancestor of the Omi of Kibi, and there was born the child Kushi-tsuno-wake no Miko; next,
Oho-usu no Mikoto; next, Wo-usu no Mikoto, also named Yamato-woguna no Mikoto; next, Yamato-neko no Mikoto; next, Kamu-kushi no Miko. (Five children)
Again he took as wife Yasaka no Iri-bime no Mikoto, the daughter of Yasaka no Iri-biko no Mikoto, and there was born the child Waka-tarashi-hiko no Mikoto; next, Ihoki no Iri-biko no Mikoto; next, Oshi-wake no Mikoto; next, Ihoki no Iri-bime no Mikoto.
The children of another concubine were Toyo-to-wake no Miko; next, Nuna-shiro no Iratume.
The children of another concubine were Nunaki no Iratume; next, Kagayori-hime no Mikoto; next, Waka-ki no Iri-biko no Miko; next, Kibi no Ye-hiko no Miko; next, Takagi-hime no Mikoto; next, Oto-hime no Mikoto.
Again, he took as wife Mihakashi-bime of Himuka, and there was born a child Toyo-kuni-wake no Miko.
Again he took as wife Inabi no Waka-iratume, the younger sister of Inabi no Oho-iratume, and there was born a child Ma-waka no Miko; next, Hiko-hito no Oho-ye no Miko.
Again he took as wife Kaguro-hime, the daughter of Sume-iro-oho-nakatsu-hiko no Miko, the great-grandson of Yamato-takeru no Mikoto, and there was born a child Oho-ye no Miko.
Of all the children of this emperor Ohotarashi-hiko, twenty-one are recorded and fifty-nine are not, making a total of eighty children.
Among them, the three princes Waka-tarashi-hiko no Mikoto, Yamato-takeru no Mikoto, and Ihoki no Iri-biko no Mikoto bore the title of heir apparent, and the remaining seventy-seven princes were assigned as the Kuni no Miyatsuko, the Wake, the Inaki, and the Agata-nushi of the various lands.
Waka-tarashi-hiko ruled the kingdom.
Wo-usu no Mikoto pacified the unruly deities and the unsubmissive people of the east and west. Next, Kushi-tsuno-wake no Miko is the ancestor of the lower Muraji of Mamuta.
Next, Oho-usu no Mikoto is the ancestor of the Kimi of Mori, the Komi of Ohota, and the Kimi of Shimada.
Next, Kamu-kushi no Miko is the ancestor of the Abiko of the Sakabe of the land of Ki and of the Sakabe of Uda.
Next, Toyo-kuni-wake no Miko is the ancestor of the Kuni no Miyatsuko of Himuka.
At this time, the emperor heard that Ye-hime and Oto-hime, the daughters of Oho-ne no Miko, the ancestor of the Kuni no Miyatsuko of Mino, were beautiful, and he dispatched his son Oho-usu no Mikoto to summon them.
But Oho-usu no Mikoto, who was dispatched, instead of summoning them, made the two maidens his wives.
Further, he sought for other women and, deceptively calling them the maidens, presented them to the emperor.
The emperor learned that they were other women, stared fixedly at them, and kept them without marrying them, thus causing them agony.
Oho-usu no Mikoto took Ye-hime as wife, and there was born a child Oshi-kuro no Ye-hiko no Miko. This is the ancestor of the Wake of Unesu in Mino.
Again, he took Oto-hime as wife, and there was born the child Oshi-kuro no Oto-hiko no Miko. This is the ancestor of the Kimi of Mugetsu.
During this reign, the Ta-be was established; also the bay of Aha in Azuma was constructed; the Kashihade no Oho-tomo-be was established; and also the Miyake of Yamato was established.
Also the pond of Sakate was made and bamboo planted on its bank.
The emperor said to Wo-usu no Mikoto: "Why does your elder brother not come to the morning and evening meals? Take it upon yourself to teach and admonish him."
After this had been said, five days passed, but he still did not come.
The emperor then asked Wo-usu no Mikoto: "Why has your elder brother not come for such a long time? Is it perhaps that you have not yet admonished him?"
He replied: "I have already entreated him."
Then he said: "In what manner did you entreat him?"
He replied: "Early in the morning when he went into the privy, I waited and captured him, grasped him and crushed him, then pulled off his limbs, and wrapping them in a straw mat, threw them away."
At this, the emperor was terrified at the fearless, wild disposition of this prince and said:
"Toward the west, there are two mighty men called Kumaso-takeru. They are unsubmissive, disrespectful people. Therefore, go and kill them."
Thus saying, he dispatched him.
At this time, he was still a youth wearing his hair up on his forehead.
Then Wo-usu no Mikoto received from his aunt, Yamato-hime no Mikoto, an upper garment and a skirt and, with a small sword in his bosom, set out.
When he arrived at the house of the Kumaso-takeru, he found that the house was surrounded by three rows of warriors, and that they were building a pit dwelling and were inside it.
At the time, there was a great deal of noise about the coming feast celebrating the new pit dwelling, and food was being prepared.
Walking around the vicinity, he waited for the day of the feast.
When the day of the feast arrived, he combed his hair down in the manner of a young girl's and put on the upper garment and the skirt of his aunt. Thus, completely taking on a young girl's appearance, he mingled with the women and went into the pit dwelling.
Then the two Kumaso-takeru, the elder and the younger, looked with admiration at this maiden and had her sit between them as the festivities continued.
Then, when the feast was at its height, Wo-usu no Mikoto took his sword from his bosom and, seizing the Kumaso's collar, stabbed him clear through the chest.
Then the younger Takeru, seeing this, was afraid and ran out.
Pursuing him to the foot of the stairs leading out of the pit dwelling, he seized him by the back, took the sword, and stabbed him clear through from the rear.
Then Kumaso-takeru said: "Do not move the sword. I have something to say." Then holding him down, he allowed it for a while.
Then he said: "Who are you, my lord?"
Whereupon he said: "I am the son of Emperor Ohotarashi-hiko-oshiro-wake, who dwells in the palace of Hishiro and rules Oho-ya-shima-guni; and my name is Yamato-woguna no Miko. Hearing that you Kumaso-takeru were unsubmissive and disrespectful, he dispatched me to kill you."
Then Kumaso-takeru said: "Indeed this must be true. For in the west, there are no brave, mighty men besides us. But in the land of Oho-yamato, there is a man exceeding the two of us in bravery! Because of this, I will present you with a name. May you be known from now on as Yamato-takeru no Miko!"
After he had finished saying this, Wo-usu no Mikoto killed him, slicing him up like a ripe melon. From that time, he was called Yamato-takeru no Mikoto to praise his name.
Then as he returned, he subdued and pacified all of the mountain deities, river deities, and deities of the sea-straits.
Intending to kill Izumo-takeru, he pledged friendship with him on his arrival. Then he secretly made an imitation sword of ichii wood, which he wore at his side.
They bathed together in the Hi River.
At this time, Yamato-takeru no Mikoto came out of the river first and put on the sword which Izumo-takeru had worn, saying: "Let us exchange swords!"
Then Izumo-takeru came out of the river and put on the imitation sword which Yamato-takeru no Mikoto had worn.
Whereupon Yamato-takeru no Mikoto invited him saying: "Come, let us cross swords!"
As they were unsheathing their swords, Izumo-takeru was unable to unsheathe the imitation sword. Then Yamato-takeru no Mikoto, unsheathing his sword, struck and killed Izumo-takeru.
Then he made a song, saying:
The many-clouds-rising Izumo-takeru
Wears a sword
With many vines wrapped around it, But no blade inside, alas!
Thus, having swept away and pacified his foes, he went up and reported on his mission.
Then the emperor once again commanded Yamato-takeru no Mikoto: "Subdue and pacify the unruly deities and the unsubmissive people of the twelve regions to the East!"
He dispatched together with him the ancestor of the Omi of Kibi, whose name was Mi-suki-tomo- mimi-take-hiko, and bestowed upon him a giant spear of hihiragi wood.
Thus, when he received the command and set out, he went to the shrine of the Great Deity of Ise and worshipped at the court of the Deity.
Then he said to his aunt, Yamato-hime no Mikoto: "Is it because the emperor wishes me to die soon? Why did he dispatch me to attack the evil people of the West? Then when I came back up, why did he dispatch me once more after only a short while, without giving me troops, to subdue the evil people of the twelve regions to the East? In view of all this, he must wish me to die soon."
Thus saying, he lamented and cried.
On his departure, Yamato-hime no Mikoto gave him the sword Kusanagi. She also gave him a bag and said: "Should there be an emergency, open this bag."
Thereupon, he arrived in the land of Owari and went into the house of Miyazu-hime, the ancestress of the Kuni no Miyatsuko of Owari.
Although he desired to marry her, he decided to marry her on his return.
Thus promising, he proceeded to the eastern lands and subdued and pacified all the unruly deities and unsubmissive people of the mountains and rivers.
At that time, when he arrived in the land of Sagamu, the Kuni no Miyatsuko of that land deceived him, saying: "In this plain there is a great pond. In the pond there lives a deity who is an extremely unruly deity."
Then when he went into the plain in order to see that deity, the Kuni no Miyatsuko set fire to the plain.
Realizing that he had been deceived, he opened the bag given him by his aunt, Yamato-hime no Mikoto, looked inside and found a fire-striking implement.
Then, first, he mowed away the grass with his sword; then he lit a fire with the fire-striking implement and set a counter-fire to keep the fire away.
Then he went back out and killed the Kuni no Miyatsuko and all of his clan. Then he set fire to them and burned them. Today the place is therefore called Yakizu.
From there he proceeded to cross the sea of Hashiri-mizu.
Just then the deity of the crossing stirred up the waves, so that the boat went adrift and could not move forward.
Then his empress, whose name was Oto-tachibana-hime no Mikoto, said: "I will go into the sea in your stead, O prince. You, O prince, must complete the mission entrusted to you and return to report on it."
When she was about to go into the sea, they took many layers of sedge-mats, many layers of skin- carpets, and many layers of silk carpets and spread them out on top of the waves, and she went down onto them.
At this time the rough waves of themselves became calm, and the boat was able to move forward. Then the empress sang this song:
O you, my lord, alas—
You who once, standing among the flames Of the burning fire, spoke my name
On the mountain-surrounded Plain of Sagamu!
Seven days later, the empress's comb was washed ashore. Taking this comb, they made her tomb and placed it within.
From there he proceeded and subdued all of the unruly Emishi and pacified the unruly deities of the mountains and rivers.
Then on his way back to the capital, he arrived at the foot of the pass of Ashigara, and just as he was eating his travel rations, the deity of the pass, assuming the form of a white deer, came and stood there.
Then he took a piece of hiru left over from his meal and struck the deer. It hit the deer's eye and killed him.
Then he climbed up the pass and, grieving, sighed three times: "My wife, alas!" Therefore the name of the land is Azuma.
Then he proceeded overland from that land to Kai.
While he was there at the palace of Sakahori, he sang this song:
How many nights have we slept Since passing Nihibari
And Tsukuba?
Then the old man tending the fire sang this song to continue his song: The number of days is, altogether,
Of nights, nine, And of days, ten.
Then he rewarded the old man and made him the Kuni no Miyatsuko of the land of Azuma.
He entered the dwelling of Miyazu-hime, with whom he had previously made a promise of marriage.
Then, when presenting his food, Miyazu-hime brought the great wine-cup and presented it to him. However, Miyazu-hime had menstrual blood adhering to the hem of her cloak.
Noticing the menstrual blood, he sang this song:
Across the heavenly Kagu Mountain
Flies like a sharp sickle The long-necked swan.
Your arm slender and delicate Like the bird's neck
Although I wish to clasp It in my embrace; Although I desire
To sleep with you, On the hem
Of the cloak you are wearing The moon has risen.
Then Miyazu-hime sang this song in reply: O high-shining
Sun-Prince,
O my great lord Ruling in peace!
As the years one by one Pass by,
The moons also one by one Elapse.
It is no wonder that
While waiting in vain for you, On the cloak
I am wearing
The moon should rise.
Then they were conjugally united; and he, leaving his sword Kusanagi at Miyazu-hime's dwelling, went to take the deity of Mount Ibuki.
At this time he said: "I will take the deity of this mountain with my bare hands." Thus saying, he went up the mountain.
Then on the mountain he met a white boar the size of a cow.
Thereupon he spoke out and said: "This is the deity's messenger, which is here transformed into a white boar. I will not kill it now, but will kill it when I come back."
Thus saying, he went up.
At this time, the deity of the mountain caused a violent hail storm and dazed Yamato-takeru no Mikoto.
It was not the deity's messenger which had been transformed into the white boar, but the deity himself. He was dazed because he had spoken out to it.
Then he came back down the mountain; his mind awoke somewhat as he rested at the spring of Tama-kura-be.
For that reason, that spring is called the spring Wi-same.
From there he set out and, arriving on the plain of Tagi, he said: "I had always thought in my heart of flying through the skies, but now my legs cannot walk; they have become wobbly."
For this reason, that place is called Tagi.
From there he proceeded a little further and because of his extreme fatigue walked along slowly, using a staff.
For this reason, that place is called Tsue-tsuki Pass.
When he arrived at the foot of the single pine on the Cape of Wotsu, he found that a sword which he had left behind when he had eaten there had not disappeared but was still there. Then he sang this song:
Directly across From Owari,
On the Cape of Wotsu you stand, O lone pine
-- O my brother! O lone pine, Were you a man,
I would give you a sword to wear, I would dress you with clothes,
O lone pine
-- O my brother!
Proceeding from there, when he arrived at the village of Mihwe, he again said: "My legs are like a threefold curve and I am extremely tired."
For this reason, that place is called Mihwe.
From there he proceeded to the plain of Nobo, where he sang this song recalling his homeland:
Yamato is
The highest part of the land;
The mountains are green partitions Lying layer upon layer.
Nestled among the mountains, How beautiful is Yamato!
Again he sang:
Let those whose life Is secure
Take from the Heguri Mountains (of the rush matting)
Leaves of the great oak And wear them in their hair
-- O my lads!
This song is a Kuni-shinohi-uta. Again he sang:
From the direction Of my beloved home The clouds are rising.
This is a Kata-uta.
By this time, his illness had become most critical. Then he sang this song:
Next to the maiden's Sleeping-place
I left
The sabre, the sword— Alas, that sword!
Immediately after he had sung the songs, he died. Then couriers were sent to the emperor.
At this time, his empresses and children who were in Yamato came down to the plain of Nobo and constructed his tomb.
Then, crawling around the neighboring rice paddies, they sang while weeping: The vines of the tokoro
Crawl around
Among the rice stems,
The rice stems, in the rice paddies Bordering on the tomb.
At this time, he was transformed into a giant white bird and, soaring through the skies, flew away toward the beach.
Then the wives and children, though their feet were cut by the stumps of the bamboo reeds, forgot the pain and ran after the bird, weeping.
At this time, they sang this song:
Moving with difficulty, up to our waists In the field of low bamboo stalks,
We cannot go through the skies But, alas, must go by foot!
Again, when they waded into the sea and moved through the waves with difficulty, they sang: Going by sea, waist-deep in the water,
We move forward with difficulty; [Like] plants growing
By a large river, [We] drift aimlessly In the ocean currents.
Again, when the bird had flown to the rocky shores, they sang:
The plover of the beach Does not go by the beaches,
But follows along the rocky shores.
These four songs were sung at his funeral. For this reason, even today these songs are sung at the funeral of an emperor.
From that land the bird flew away and stopped at Shiki in the land of Kawachi.
For this reason, they built his tomb at that place and enshrined him there. This tomb is called the White Bird Tomb.
However, from that place the bird again soared through the heavens and flew away.
During the entire time that Yamato-takeru no Mikoto went about subduing the country, the ancestor of the Atahe of the Kume, whose name was Nana-tsuka-hagi, served in his company as his food- server.
This Yamato-takeru no Mikoto took as wife Futadi no Iri-bime no Mikoto, the daughter of Emperor Ikume, and there was born the child Tarashi-nakatsu-hiko no Mikoto. (One child)
Again he took as wife Oto-tachibana-hime no Mikoto, who entered the sea, and there was born the child Waka-takeru no Miko. (One child)
Again he took as wife Futadi-hime, the daughter of Oho-tamu-wake, ancestor of the Kuni no Miyatsuko of Yasu in Chikatsu-ahumi, and there was born the child Ina-yori-wake no Miko. (One child)
Again he took as wife Oho-kibi-take-hime, the younger sister of Take-hiko, the Omi of Kibi, and there was born the child Take-kahiko no Miko. (One child)
Again he took as wife Kukuma-mori-hime of Yamashiro, and there was born the child Ashi-kagami- wake no Miko. (One child)
Again, there was a child of another wife, Okinaga-ta-wake no Miko.
This Yamato-takeru no Mikoto had altogether six children. Tarashi-nakatsu-hiko no Mikoto ruled the kingdom.
Next, Ina-yori-wake no Miko is the ancestor of the Kimi of Inukami and the Kimi of the Takebe.
Next, Take-kahiko no Miko is the ancestor of the Kimi of Aya of Sanuki, the Wake of Ise, the Wake of Towho, the Obito of Masa, and the Wake of Miyaji.
Ashi-kagami-wake no Miko is the ancestor of the Wake of Kamakura, the Kimi of Wotsu, the Wake of Ihashiro, and the Wake of Hukita.
Next, the child of Okinaga-ta-wake no Miko was Kuhimata-naga-hiko no Miko.
This prince had a child Ihi no Ma-kuro-hime no Mikoto; next, Okinaga-ma-waka-nakatsu-hime; and next, Oto-hime. (Three children)
The above-mentioned Waka-takeru no Miko took as wife Ihi no Ma-kuro-hime and there was born the child Sume-iro-oho-nakatsu-hiko no Miko.
This prince took as wife Shiba no Hime, the daughter of Shiba no Iriki of Ahumi and there was born the child Kaguro-hime no Mikoto.
Emperor Ohotarashi-hiko took as wife Kaguro-hime no Mikoto and there was born the child Oho- ye no Miko. (One child)
This prince took as wife his half-sister Shirokane no Miko and there was born the child Oho-na-kata no Miko; next, Oho-nakatsu-hime no Mikoto. (Two children)
This Oho-nakatsu-hime no Mikoto was the mother of Kagosaka no Miko and Oshikuma no Miko.
The years of Emperor Ohotarashi-hiko were one hundred and thirty-seven. His tomb is on the road at Yamanohe.
Emperor Waka-tarashi-hiko dwelt in the palace of Taka-anaho at Shiga in Chikatsu-ahumi and ruled the kingdom.
This emperor took as wife Oto-takara no Iratume, the daughter of Take-oshi-yama-tari-ne, ancestor of the Omi of Hodzumi, and there was born the child Waka-nu-ke no Miko. (One child)
Making Takeshi-uchi no Sukune the Oho-omi, he established the Kuni no Miyatsuko of the various lands, large and small.
He also established the boundaries of the various lands and the Agata-nushi of the various agata, large and small.
The years of the emperor were ninety-five. He died on the fifteenth day of the third month of the second year of the Hare.
His tomb is at Tatanami in Saki.
Emperor Tarashi-nakatsu-hiko dwelt in the palace of Toyora in Anato and in the palace of Kashii in Tsukushi and ruled the kingdom.
This emperor took as wife Oho-nakatsu-hime no Mikoto, the daughter of Oho-ye no Miko, and there were born the children Kagosaka no Miko and Oshikuma no Miko. (Two children)
Again, he took as wife Okinaga-tarashi-hime no Mikoto.
This empress gave birth to Homuya-wake no Mikoto; next, to Ohotomo-wake no Mikoto, also named Homuda-wake no Mikoto. (Two children)
The reason why this crown prince was given the name Ohotomo-wake no Mikoto is this:
When he was newly born, there was a piece of flesh on his arm which resembled an arm-guard. For this reason, he was given this name.
Thus it was known that, even while in the womb, he ruled the land. During this reign, the Miyake of Ahaji was established.
In those days, the Empress Okinaga-tarashi-hime no Mikoto often became divinely possessed.
It was at the time when the emperor dwelt at the palace of Kashii in Tsukushi and was about to attack the land of the Kumaso. The emperor was playing the cither, and the Oho-omi Takeshi-uchi no Sukune abode in the ceremonial place in order to seek the divine will.
Then the empress became divinely possessed and spoke these words of instruction:
"There is a land to the west. Gold and silver, as well as all sorts of eye-dazzling precious treasures, abound in this country. I will now give this country into your hands."
Hereupon the emperor replied: "When one climbs to a high place and looks toward the west, no land is visible. There is only the ocean."
Saying that this was a deceiving deity, he pushed away the cither and sat silent without playing it.
Then the deity, greatly enraged, said: "You are not to rule this kingdom. Go straight in one direction!"
At this time, the Oho-omi Takeshi-uchi no Sukune said: "This is a dreadful thing. My lord, continue to play the cither!"
Finally, then, he drew the cither to him and began to play reluctantly.
After a while, the sound of the cither stopped. When they raised the lights, they saw that he was dead.
Besides, great offerings were assembled from throughout the land; and a thorough search was made for such sins as skinning alive, skinning backwards, breaking down the ridges, covering up the ditches, defecation, incest, and sexual relations with horses, cows, chickens, and dogs; then a great exorcism of the entire land was held.
Then again Takeshi-uchi no Sukune abode in the ceremonial place in order to seek the divine will.
The instructions given then were exactly as those given previously: "This land is the land to be ruled by the child who is inside your womb."
Then Takeshi-uchi no Sukune said: "O awesome great deity, what is the child who is inside the womb of the deity?"
The answer was: "It is a boy-child."
Then he inquired specifically: "I should like to know the name of the great deity who is now giving such instructions."
The answer was: "This is the will of Ama-terasu-oho-mi-kami, also of the three great deities Sokohadutsu-no-wo, Naka-hadutsu-no-wo, and Uha-hadutsu-no-wo."
It was at this time that the names of these three great deities were revealed.
"If at this time you truly wish to seek that land, then present offerings to all the heavenly deities and the earthly deities, as well as to all the deities of the mountains and of the rivers and seas.
"Enshrine our spirit at the top of the ship, and put wood ashes into a gourd; make many chopsticks and flat plates and cast all of them out to float on the ocean, then cross over!"
Then, exactly in accordance with these instructions, they put their army in order and marshalled many ships.
As they were crossing the sea, all the fish of the sea, the small as well as the large, bore the ships across on their backs.
Then a favorable wind began to blow strongly, and the ships moved along with the waves.
These waves washed the ships ashore in the land of Shiragi, and they came to rest halfway across the country.
At this time, the king of the country, struck with awe, said: "From now on I will obey the will of the emperor and will become your royal stable-groom. Every year I will arrange the many ships in line, without giving their bottoms time to dry, and without letting their oars and rudders dry; together with heaven and earth, unceasing will I serve."
In accordance with this, the land of Shiragi was designated as the royal stable-groom, and the land of Kudara was designated as the overseas Miyake.
Then she stood her staff at the gate of the king of Shiragi and worshipped the rough spirit of the great deities of Suminohe, whom she made the tutelary deities of the land. Then she crossed back over the sea.
In order to delay the birth, she took stones and attached them to her skirt around the waist. After she had crossed over to the land of Tsukushi, the child was born.
The name of the place where the child was born is Umi.
Also, the stones which she attached to her skirt are in the village of Ito in the land of Tsukushi.
Again, when she reached the hamlet of Tama-shima in the agata of Matsura in Tsukushi, she ate a meal by the river.
At the time, it was the early part of the fourth month. She went out on the rocks in the midst of the river, unraveled some threads from her skirt, and using grains of cooked rice as bait, fished for the trout in the river.
The name of this river is Wo-gawa, and the name of this rock is Kachi-do-hime.
For this reason, in the early part of the fourth month, the custom of women unraveling threads from their skirts and fishing for trout with rice grains as bait has continued until today.
At this time, as Okinaga-tarashi-hime no Mikoto was returning to Yamato, she prepared a funeral ship and put her son in this funeral ship, because there was doubt about the popular mind.
First of all, she caused rumors to be spread to the effect that the prince had already died.
As she thus proceeded up to Yamato, Kagosaka no Miko and Oshikuma no Miko, hearing of this, plotted to wait and take them; they went out on the Toga plain and were divining by hunting.
Then Kagosaka no Miko climbed up a kunugi tree and looked out; whereupon a huge, enraged boar came and uprooted the kunugi tree and ate up Kagosaka no Miko.
His younger brother Oshikuma no Miko, not afraid even after this, raised an army and waited for them.
Then he approached the funeral ship and was about to attack this supposedly empty ship. But troops descended from the funeral ship and engaged him in battle.
At this time, Oshi-kuma no Miko's commanding general was Isahi no Sukune, the ancestor of the Kishibe of Naniha.
The crown prince's commanding general was Naniha-neko-take-furukuma no Mikoto, the ancestor of the Omi of Wani.
When they had pushed them back as far as Yamashiro, they ordered their ranks, and both sides engaged in battle without further retreating.
Then, using cunning, Take-furukuma no Mikoto caused it to be said that Okinaga-tarashi-hime no Mikoto was dead and that there was no use in fighting further.
Then, cutting his bowstring, he pretended to surrender.
At this time, the opposing general, entirely believing this deception, unstrung his bows and put away his weapons.
Then the empress's troops took extra bowstrings from their topknots, restrung their bows, and attacked again.
They fled in retreat as far as the pass Ahusaka, where they again faced each other in battle. Having pursued them and defeated them at Sasanami, they completely slaughtered their army.
At this time, Oshi-kuma no Miko, together with Isahi no Sukune, was hard pressed in pursuit and went by ship across the lake. He sang this song:
Come, my lads,
Rather than receive the wounds Inflicted by Furukuma,
Come, like the Nihodori birds,
Let us dive into the waters of the lake of Ahumi! Then, entering the lake, they died together.
Then Takeshi-uchi no Sukune took the crown prince to perform a purification; when they were passing through the lands of Ahumi and Wakasa, they built a temporary palace at Tsuruga in the nearer province of Koshi and abode there.
Then the deity Izasa-wake no Oho-kami no Mikoto, who dwelt in that place, appeared at night in a dream and said: "I would like to change my name to the name of the prince."
Then he spoke words of blessing and said: "With awe, we will effect the change in accordance with your command."
Again the deity spoke: "Tomorrow morning let him go out upon the beach. I will present the offerings for the name-change."
That morning, when he went out on the beach, there were dolphins with broken snouts lying all over the shore.
At this time, the prince had these words spoken to the deity: "You have given me fish from your own august food!"
Also, the name of the deity was praised and called Mi-ke-tsu-oho-kami. This is now called Kehi-no- oho-kami.
Also, the blood in the snouts of the dolphins smelled strongly; for this reason, that shore was called Chi-ura. It is now called Tsuruga.
At this time, when he went back to the capital, his mother Okinaga-tarahi-hime no Mikoto brewed wine auguring his safe return and presented it to him.
Then his mother sang this song: This wine
Is not my wine.
The ruler of wine,
He who dwells in Toko-yo, The rock-standing
Deity Sukuna Divinely blessed, Blessed with fury, Abundantly blessed, Blessed going around, And presented
This wine:
Drink deeply!
-- Sa sa! --
Thus singing, she presented the great wine.
Then Takeshi-uchi no Sukune on behalf of the prince sang this song in response: Whoever it was
Who brewed this wine Must have brewed it Turning his drum
On one side for a mortar, While singing songs;
He must have brewed it While dancing.
That must be why this wine, This wine
Is so extraordinarily enjoyable!
-- Sa sa! --
These are Saka-kura no Uta.
The years of Emperor Tarashi-nakatsu-hiko were altogether fifty-two. He died on the eleventh day of the sixth month of the ninth year of the Dog.
His tomb is at Nagaye in Wega in Kawachi.
The empress died at the age of one hundred and was interred at the tomb of Tatanami in Saki.
Homuda-wake no Mikoto dwelt in the palace of Akira at Karushima and ruled the kingdom.
This emperor took as wives three princesses, daughters of Homuda no Ma-waka no Miko. The name of one of them was Takagi no Iri-bime no Mikoto; the next was Nakatsu-hime no Mikoto; the next was Oto-hime no Mikoto.
The father of these princesses, Homuda no Ma-waka no Miko, was the child of Ihoki no Iri-biko no Mikoto and his wife Shichiki-tome, the daughter of Take-inada no Sukune, the ancestor of the Muraji of Owari.
The children of Takagi no Iri-bime no Mikoto were Nukata no Oho-nakatsu-hiko no Mikoto; next, Oho-yama-mori no Mikoto; next, Iza no Ma-waka no Mikoto; next, the younger daughters Ohohara no Iratume and Takamuku no Iratume. (Five children)
The children of Nakatsu-hime no Mikoto were Ki no Arata no Iratume; next, Oho-sazaki no Mikoto; next, Ne-tori no Mikoto. (Three children)
The children of Oto-hime no Mikoto were Ahe no Iratume; next, Ahadi no Mihara no Iratume; next, Ki no Uno no Iratume; next, Mino no Iratume. (Five children)
Again, he took as wife Miya-nushi-ya-gaha-ye-hime, the daughter of the Ohomi Hiure of Wani, and there was born the child Udi no Waki-iratsuko; next, the younger sisters Yata no Waki-iratume and Me-dori no Miko. (Three children)
Again he took as wife the younger sister of Ya-gaha-ye-hime, Wo-nabe no Iratume, and there was born the child Udi no Waki-iratume. (One child)
Again he took as wife Okinaga-ma-waka-nakatsu-hime, the daughter of Kuhimata-naga-hiko no Miko, and there was born the child Waka-nu-ke-futamata no Miko. (One child)
Again, he took as wife Ito-wi-hime, the daughter of Shima-tari-ne, the ancestor of the Muraji of the Ta-be of Sakurawi, and there was born the child Haya-busa-wake no Mikoto. (One child)
Again, he took as wife Naga-hime of Izumi in Himuka and there was born the child Oho-haye no Miko; next, Wo-haye no Miko; next, Hatabi no Waki-iratume. (Three children)
Again, he took as wife Kaguro-hime, and there was born the child Kahara-da no Iratume; next, Tama no Iratume; next, Ohosaka no Oho-nakatsu-hime; next, Tohoshi no Iratume; next, Katadi no Miko. (Five children)
Again, he took as wife Kadtsuraki no Nono no Iratume, and there was born the child Iza no Ma- waka no Miko. (One child)
This emperor had altogether twenty-six children. (Eleven princes and fifteen princesses) Among them, Oho-sazaki no Mikoto ruled the kingdom.
At this time, the emperor asked Oho-yama-mori no Mikoto and Oho-sazaki no Mikoto this question: "Which do you think is more loveable, an older brother or a younger brother?"
The emperor asked this question because he had a mind to have Udi no Waki-iratsuko rule the kingdom.
At this, Oho-yama-mori no Mikoto said: "An older brother is more loveable."
Next, Oho-sazaki no Mikoto, realizing the intention with which the emperor had asked his question, said: "An older brother is already grown up and has nothing to worry about, but a younger brother has not yet grown up and is the more loveable."
Hereupon the emperor said: "Your words, Sazaki my lad, are like my thoughts."
Then he spoke, assigning them their tasks: "Oho-yama-mori no Mikoto is to be in charge of the government of the mountains and seas. Oho-sazaki no Mikoto is to take charge of the government of the kingdom and report thereon. Udi no Waki-iratsuko is to assume the heavenly sun-lineage."
Oho-sazaki no Mikoto did not disobey the emperor's command.
When I view
The plain Kaduno
Of the myriad leaves,
The flourishing villages are visible; The highest part of the land is visible.
As he came to the village of Kohata, he met a beautiful maiden at a fork in the road. Hereupon the emperor asked the maiden: "Whose daughter are you?"
She replied: "I am the daughter of the Ohomi Hiure of Wani; my name is Miya-nushi-ya-gaha-ye- hime."
The emperor then said to the maiden: "On my return tomorrow, I will stop at your house."
Ya-gaha-ye-hime told all this to her father. At this her father replied: "This was indeed the emperor! How awesome a thing! My child, serve him!"
Thus saying, he decorated his house magnificently and waited; the next day the emperor stopped there.
When he entertained him with a grand feast, he had his daughter Ya-gaha-ye-hime no Mikoto take the great wine-cup and present it to him.
At this time, the emperor, taking the great wine-cup, sang this song: This crab
Where is he from?
He is a crab
From far-away Tsuruga. Moving along sideways. Where is he going?
Arriving at Ichijishima. Arriving at Mishima, Like the Nihodori birds,
Diving into the water, panting, As I went ahead
With rapid strides,
Along the way to Sasanami Of the many terraces,
I met a maiden
On the Kohata road.
Viewed from the back,
Her form was straight as a shield; Her teeth were white
Like shii acorns, like water-chestnuts. Her eyebrows were painted,
Painted down thickly With clay from Ichihijiwi
-- In the vicinity of Wani -- Not with the top-clay, Which was too reddish,
Nor with the lower layers of clay,
Which were too black,
But with the very best clay,
The clay from the middle layers, Which was prepared
Without exposing it to the scorching fire. This was the young woman I met!
And the girl whom I saw And wished this about, The girl whom I saw And wished that about
Is now, much to my delight, Here opposite me,
Is here close by my side.
Thus they were conjugally united, and there was born the child Udi no Waki-iratsuko.
At that time, Prince Oho-sazaki no Mikoto saw the maiden as her boat came to shore at the port of Naniha, and was struck by her beauty.
Then he requested of the Oho-omi Takeshi-uchi no Sukune: "Kami-naga-hime, who has been summoned from Himuka—intercede for me with the emperor so that she will be given to me!"
Then, when the Oho-omi Takeshi-uchi no Sukune sought the emperor's will, the emperor gave Kami-naga-hime to his son.
The manner of his giving her was this: On the day when the emperor was celebrating a state banquet, he had Kami-naga-hime take the oak-leaf cup containing the great wine and give it to the crown prince. Then he sang this song:
Come, my lads,
To pick wild hiru plants, To pick hiru plants;
As we go along the road, There is a fragrant Flowering tachibana tree. Its upper branches
Are withered by the birds' nesting; Its lower branches
Are withered by the people's plucking. But the three-chest,
Middle branches—
Like these best branches Is the ruddy maiden
Ah come now And take her!
Again he sang this song:
Not knowing that the one Who stakes out dam-posts
Had set out a post in the pond of Yosami Where the waters had gathered;
Not knowing that the nunaha
Had extended its sterns thus far— Ah my heart,
How foolish it has been; Now I am filled with regret!
Thus singing, he gave her to him.
After having been given the maiden, the crown prince sang this song:
The maiden of Kohada Of the faraway country, Whose fame rumbled afar Like the thunder—
Now lies by my side.
Again he sang this song:
I think lovingly
Of the maiden of Kohada Of the faraway country Who slept with me Unresisting.
Once again, the Kuzu of Yoshino, seeing the sword worn by Oho-sazaki no Mikoto, sang this song:
The sun prince, Of Homuda, Oho-sazaki, Oho-sazaki—
The sword which you wear At the hilt is a sharp saber, But the tip is wondrous,
Like a small shrub by the straight trunk Of a winter tree—
-- Saya saya! --
Again, they made a long, slender mortar from the oak trees in Yoshino and brewed the great wine; when they presented this great wine, they made clacking noises and sang this song while performing certain movements:
Where the oak trees are growing, We made a long slender mortar, And in this long slender mortar We brewed this great wine; Partake of it
With pleasure,
O my father!
This song is sung even today whenever the Kuzu present their local produce.
During this reign, the Ama-be, the Yama-be, the Yama-mori-be, and the Ise-be were established. Also, the pond Tsurugi no Ike was made.
Also there came immigrants from Shiragi.
Therefore Takeshi-uchi no Sukune no Mikoto took command of them and conscripted them to make embankments and ponds, thus making the pond Kudara no Ike.
Also the king of the land of Kudara, King Seuko, presented one stallion and one mare, which he sent accompanied by Achi-kishi.
This Achi-kishi is the ancestor of the Fumibito of Achi. Also, he presented a sword and a large mirror.
Again the emperor commanded the land of Kudara: "If there be a wise man, present him!" Therefore, in response to this command, he presented a man named Wani-kishi.
The Confucian Analects, ten volumes, and the Thousand Character Classic, one volume, altogether eleven volumes, he presented along with this man.
This Wani-kishi is the ancestor of the Obito of Fumi.
Again he presented two artisans: a smith of Kara named Takuso and Saiso, a weaver of Kure.
Again there immigrated the ancestor of the Miyatsuko of the Hata, the ancestor of the Atahe of the Aya, and a man who knew how to brew wine, whose name was Nihobu; he was also named Susukori.
This Susukori brewed the great wine and presented it to this emperor, who greatly rejoiced in the great wine which he had presented and sang this song:
I have become drunk On the wine brewed By Susukori;
I have become drunk On this wine of peace, On this wine of smiles.
As he walked along singing this, he struck with his staff a large rock in the middle of the Oho-saka road, upon which the rock ran away.
Thus the saying goes: "Even a solid rock avoids a drunkard."
After the death of the emperor, Oho-sazaki no Mikoto, following the command of the emperor, ceded the kingdom to Udi no Wake-iratsuko.
At this time, Oho-yama-mori no Mikoto, still wishing to gain the kingdom for himself, defied the command of the emperor and, with the intention of killing his younger brother, secretly gathered weapons and prepared to attack.
Then Oho-sazaki no Mikoto, hearing that his elder brother had procured weapons, immediately dispatched a messenger and had Udi no Waki-iratsuko informed.
Astonished at this news, he concealed troops by the river, and stretched curtains of rough silk and raised a tent on top of the mountain.
Taking an attendant, he had him masquerade as the prince and sit in full view on a dais.
The manner in which the officials respectfully went in and out was exactly as if they were in the presence of a prince.
Again, in preparation for when his elder brother would come across the river, he made ready and decorated the boat and oars; grinding roots of the sana-kadzura, he took their slime and rubbed it on the slatwork inside the boat, fixing it so that anyone would fall when he stepped there.
The prince himself dressed in clothes of cloth and, assuming the exact appearance of a lowly person, stood in the boat holding the oar.
At this time, the elder brother, having concealed his soldiers, and wearing armor under his clothing, came to the river.
As he was about to board the boat, he looked up and saw the magnificently decorated place and assumed that it was his younger brother sitting on the dais there.
Little did he know that he was standing in the boat holding the oar.
Then he inquired of the one holding the oar: "I hear that on this mountain there is a huge enraged boar. I want to take this boar; will I perhaps be able to take the boar?"
Then the one holding the oar replied: "You will not be able to." Again he inquired: "Why is this?"
He replied: "At various times and occasions attempts have been made to take him, but with no success. That is why I say you will not be able to."
When they had reached the middle of the river, he tilted the boat and plunged him into the river.
Then he floated to the surface and was swept down by the current. As he floated down, he sang this song:
At the ford
Of the river Udi
Of the raging billows,
Someone quick to take the rudder -- O come to my aid!
At this time, the waiting troops concealed by the river all at once sprang up in this place and that and, fixing their arrows, let him be swept down.
Then reaching the point of Kawara, he sank.
Using hooks, they searched the place where he had sunk; as they hooked the armor under his clothes, there was a clanking noise.
For this reason, the name of the place is Kawara Point.
When they fished out his corpse, the younger brother sang this song:
The adusa tree, the mayumi tree Standing by the shallow ford, The ford of Udi
Of the raging men:
Although I wish in my heart To cut them down, Although I wish in my heart To take them,
At the lower part of the trees I recall my lord;
At the tips of the branches I recall my beloved; Impatiently
I think of this, Lovingly,
I think of that --
And come back without cutting down The adusa tree, the mayumi tree.
He buried Oho-yama-mori no Mikoto at Nara Mountain.
This Oho-yama-mori no Mikoto is the ancestor of the Kimi of Hidihata, the Kimi of Heki, and the Kimi of Harihara.
At this time, Oho-sazaki no Mikoto and Udi no Wake-iratsuko ceded the kingdom to each other. During this period, the Ama presented their local produce.
The elder brother refused the produce and had them present it to the younger brother, and the younger brother refused it and had them present it to the elder brother.
Many days passed while they thus deferred to each other; as their mutual cedings continued for more than a few times, the Ama finally wearied of going back and forth and burst into tears.
This is why the saying goes: "The Ama weep because of their own things."
However, Udi no Wake-iratsuko died soon. Then Oho-sazaki no Mikoto ruled the kingdom.
In ancient times, there was a son of the king of the land of Shiragi, whose name was Ame-no- hihoko. This man came to Japan. The reason why he came was this:
In the land of Shiragi, there was a swamp named Agu-numa. By this swamp a woman of lowly station was taking a noonday nap.
Then the rays of the sun shone upon her genitals like a rainbow.
There was also a man of lowly station, who thought this a strange matter; he constantly observed the behavior of this woman.
This woman became pregnant from the time of her noonday nap, and she gave birth to a red jewel.
Then the lowly man who had been watching her asked for and received this jewel, which he wrapped up and wore constantly about his waist.
Since this man had rice paddies in the mountain valleys, he loaded a cow with food and drink for the workers in the paddies and went into the mountain valleys.
Then he met the son of the king, Ame-no-hihoko, who asked the man, saying: "Why are you going into the mountain valleys with a cow laden with food and drink? You must surely be going to kill the cow and eat it!"
Then he arrested the man and was about to put him in prison, when the man answered, saying: "I am not going to kill the cow. I am simply taking food to the workers in the paddies."
But he still did not release him.
Then he untied the jewel from his waist and offered it to the king's son.
Then he released the lowly man, took the jewel away, and placed it by his bed.
Immediately it was transformed into a beautiful maiden. He married her and made her his chief wife.
This maiden always prepared various kinds of delicious foods and presented them to her husband. The king's son became arrogant at heart and reviled his wife.
The woman said: "I am not the kind of woman you deserve for a wife. I will go to my ancestral land."
Then she secretly boarded a small boat and escaped to Japan, arriving at Naniha. This is the deity called Akaru-hime, enshrined at the shrine of Hime-goso at Naniha.
At this time, Ame-no-hihoko, hearing of his wife's flight, came in pursuit of her.
As he was about to reach Naniha, the deity of the crossing blocked the way and prevented his entry.
Then he went back again and landed in the land of Tajima. Then he remained in that land and took as wife Mabetsu-mi, the daughter of Mata-wo of Tajima, and there was born the child Tajima-moro- suku.
The latter's child was Tajima-hine.
The latter's child was Tajima-hinara-ki.
The latter's children were Tajima-mori; next, Tajima-hi-taka; and next, Kiyo-hiko. (Three children)
This Kiyo-hiko took as wife Tagima no Mehiri, and there was born the child Suga no Moro-wo; next, Suga-kama-yura-domi.
The above-mentioned Tajima-hi-taka took as wife his niece Yura-domi, and there was born the child Katsuragi no Taka-nuka-hime no Mikoto.
This is the ancestor of Okinaga-tarashi-hime no Mikoto.
This Ame-no-hihoko brought across with him these things: the so-called jewel-treasures, two strings of beads; as well as the wave-raising scarf, the wave-cutting scarf, the wind-raising scarf, the wind- cutting scarf; as well as the mirror of the offing and the mirror of the shore; altogether there were eight articles.
These are the eight great deities of Idushi.
These deities had a daughter whose name was Idushi-wotome no Kami.
Although the myriad deities desired to gain this Idushi-wotome, none of them was able to marry her.
At this time, there were two deities; the elder brother was named Aki-yama-no-shitabi-wotoko; the younger brother was named Haru-yama-no-kasumi-wotoko.
The elder brother said to the younger brother: "Although I have pursued Idushi-wotome, I have been unable to marry her. Would you be able to win this maiden?"
He answered, saying: "I can win her easily."
Then the elder brother said: "I will make a wager with you: if you ever win this maiden, I will give you my upper and lower garments; I will brew wine in vessels as tall as you are; and also I will provide and prepare all of the products of the mountains and rivers and give them to you."
Then the younger brother told his mother everything, exactly as his elder brother had said.
His mother took wisteria vines and, in one night, wove them into stockings and shoes as well as a jacket and trousers. She also made a bow and arrows.
Dressing him in this jacket and trousers, she had him take the bow and arrows and go to the maiden's house.
Whereupon the clothes and the bow and arrows turned into wisteria blossoms.
At this time, Haru-yama-no-kasumi-wotoko hung up his bow and arrows in the maiden's privy. Then Idushi-wotome, thinking these blossoms strange, took them with her.
Then he followed the maiden into the house and immediately they had conjugal relations. A child was born.
Then he said to his elder brother: "I have won Idushi-wotome."
At this his elder brother, incensed that his younger brother had married, did not pay him the wager.
Then when he was disturbed by this and told his mother, his ancestor replied: "In this world, our actions should conform to the divine pattern; but is it because he has conformed to the world of mortal men that he does not pay what he owes?" She was bitter about her elder son.
Thus she took bamboo knots from an island in the Idushi River and made a coarse basket with many openings; taking stones from the river and mixing them with salt, she wrapped them in the bamboo leaves and cursed him with the words:
"As these bamboo leaves are green, "As these bamboo leaves wither, "Be green and wither!
"Also, as this salt flows and ebbs, "Flow and ebb!
"And as these stones sink, "Sink down and be!"
Thus she cursed him and put the magic articles above the hearth.
Because of this, the elder brother became dried up and withered and was ravaged with sickness for eight years.
Then when the elder brother wept in anguish and pleaded with his ancestor, she had the magic articles removed.
At this time, his body became as before, and he was well and at ease. This is the origin of the expression, "A divine wager."
Also the son of this Emperor Homuda, Waka-nu-ke-futa-mata no Miko, took as wife the younger sister of his mother, Momo-shiki-irobe, also named Oto-hime-ma-waka-hime no Mikoto, and there was born the child Oho-iratsuko, also named Oho-hodo no Miko; next, Ohosaka no Oho-nakatsu-
hime no Mikoto; next, Tahi no Nakatsu-hime; next, Tamiya no Nakatsu-hime; next, Hudihara no Koto-hushi no Iratume; next, Tori-me no Miko; next, Sane no Miko. (Seven children)
Oho-hodo no Miko is the ancestor of the Kimi of Mikuni, the Kimi of Hata, the Kimi of Okinaga, the Kimi of the Saka-bito of Sakata, the Kimi of Yamadi, the Kimi of Meda in Tsukushi, and the Kimi of Huse.
Also, Ne-tori no Miko took as wife his half-sister Mihara no Iratume, and there was born the child Nakatsu-hiko no Miko; next, Iwa-shima no Miko. (Two children)
Also, Kunu no Miko was the child of Katashiba no Miko.
Altogether, the years of this Emperor Homuda were one hundred and thirty. He died on the ninth day of the ninth month of the first year of the Horse.
His grave is on Mofushi Hill at Wega in Kawachi.
This emperor took as wife Iha no Hime no Mikoto the empress, the daughter of Kadtsuraki no Sotuhiko, and there was born the child Oho-ye no Iza-ho-wake; next, Sumi no ye Nakatsu-miko; next, Tadihi no Midu-ha-wake no Mikoto; next, Wo-asadume-wakugo no Sukune no Mikoto. (Four children)
Again he took as wife the above-mentioned Kami-naga-hime, the daughter of Ushimoro, the Kimi of Muragata in Himuka, and there was born the child Hatabi no Oho-iratsuko, also named Oho- kusaka no Miko; next, Hatabi no Waki-iratume, also named Naga-hi-hime no Mikoto, also named Waka-kusaka-be no Mikoto. (Two children)
Again he took as wife his half-sister Yata no Waki-iratume. Again he took as wife his half-sister Udi no Waki-iratume. Both of these wives were childless.
Emperor Oho-sazaki had, altogether, six children. (Five princes and one princess) Iza-ho-wake no Mikoto ruled the kingdom.
Next, Tadihi no Midu-ha-wake no Mikoto also ruled the kingdom.
Next, Wo-asaduma-wakugo no Sukune no Mikoto also ruled the kingdom.
During the reign of this emperor, the Kadtsuraki-be was established as a Mi-nashiro for the Empress Iha no Hime no Mikoto.
Also the Mibu-be was established as a Mi-nashiro for the crown prince Iza-ho-wake no Mikoto. Also the Tadihi-be was established as a Mi-nashiro for Midu-ha-wake no Mikoto.
Also the Oho-kusaka-be was established as a Mi-nashiro for Oho-kusaka no Miko, and the Waka- kusaka-be as a Mi-nashiro for Waka-kusaka-be no Miko.
Also the Hata people were conscripted to build the Mamuta embankment and the Miyake of Mamuta.
Also the Wani pond and the Yosami pond were built, and the Naniha canal was dug to connect with the sea.
Also the Wobashi canal was dug, and the port of Sumi no ye was established.
At this time the emperor climbed up a high mountain and, viewing the lands of the four quarters, said: "There is no smoke rising in the land. The entire land is impoverished. For a period of three years the people are released from all taxes and conscription."
For this reason, the palace became dilapidated; although the rain leaked in everywhere, no repairs were made. The dripping rain was caught in vessels and the inhabitants moved around to places where it did not leak.
Later, when he viewed the land again, the entire land was filled with smoke.
Therefore, realizing that the people were now rich, he reinstated taxes and conscription. For this reason, the common people flourished and did not suffer from his conscription. Thus his reign is praised as being the reign of a saintly river.
The Empress Iha no Hime no Mikoto was extremely jealous.
Thus the ladies employed by the emperor could not be present in the palace. Should they act in any way out of the ordinary, she would rage with jealousy.
Then the emperor, hearing of the beauty of Kuro-hime, the daughter of the Atahe of the Ama-be of Kibi, summoned her and employed her.
However, fearing the jealousy of the empress, she fled back to her native land.
The emperor looked out from a high tower as Kuro-hime's boat set out from shore and sang this song:
In the offing
The small boats are stretched out in a row; In one of them,
Masazuki my beloved
Goes down to her native land.
Then the empress, hearing this song, was greatly enraged, and sent people down to the bay and had them chase her out of the boat and make her proceed on foot.
At this time, the emperor, longing for this Kuro-hime, deceived the empress, saying: "I wish to see the island of Ahadi."
Thus, when he came to the island of Ahadi, he looked out far in the distance and sang this song: Setting out
From the point of Naniha Of the glittering waves,
I view the land And behold
The island of Aha,
The island of Onogoro, The island of Ahimasa, And of Saketsushima.
Then from this island he moved on and proceeded to the land of Kibi.
Here Kuro-hime took him to the mountain foothills of that land and presented him with food.
At this time, she was picking greens in that place to make a soup for him, when the emperor came to where the maiden was picking the greens and sang this song:
What a delight To pick together
With the girl of Kibi The greens growing In the mountain fields.
When the emperor started toward the palace, Kuro-hime presented him with a song: Up towards Yamato
Blows the west wind, Scattering the clouds;
Though parted like those clouds, Shall I ever forget?
Again she sang this song:
Whose spouse is this
Who goes toward Yamato? Whose spouse is this
Who goes, like a hidden stream, Stealthily, silently?
On another occasion, the empress, who was planning to hold a state banquet, went to the land of Ki to gather mi-tsunagashiha leaves.
Meanwhile, the emperor wedded Yata no Waki-iratume.
Then the empress, her boat loaded full of mi-tsunagashiha leaves, journeyed home. At this time, a laborer conscripted from Kozima county in the land of Kibi who had been employed by the Mori- tori no Tsukasa, was on his way home to his country; at the great crossing of Naniha he encountered the boat of a lady of the stores who had gotten behind the rest.
He told her: "The emperor has of late wedded Yata no Waki-iratume and day and night disports himself. Is it perhaps because the empress has not heard this news that she so calmly takes pleasure trips?"
Then the lady of the stores, when she had heard these words, immediately hastened to overtake the empress's boat and repeated there exactly what the young laborer had said.
Thereupon the empress, greatly embittered and enraged, threw into the sea all of the mi- tsunagashiha leaves she had in her boat.
This is why that place is called the point of Mitsu.
Then she did not go to the palace, but passing by it in her boat, she went up the canal and followed the river to Yamashiro.
At this time she sang this song:
As I ascend,
As I ascend the river, The Yamashiro River
Of the connected mountain peaks, On the bank of the river
There is growing A sashibu,
A sashibu tree. Underneath it There is growing A wide-leaved
Sacred camellia tree. Like its flowers, Shining brilliantly, Like its leaves
Wide and calm
Are you, my great lord.
Then passing around from Yamashiro, she arrived at the entrance to Nara Mountain, and sang this song:
As I ascend,
As I ascend toward the palace, Up the Yamashiro River
Of the connected mountain peaks,
I pass by Nara Of the blue clay;
I pass by Yamato, Of the little shields;
The country which I long to see Is Takamiya in Kaduraki, Where my home is.
Singing thus she returned, and stopped for a while in the house of Nurinomu, a man of Kara, in Tsuzuki.
The emperor, hearing that the empress had gone up through Yamashiro, sent an attendant called Tori-yama with a song which said:
To Yamashiro
Catch up with her, Tori-yama, Catch up, catch up with her! With my beloved wife,
You shall catch up and meet her!
Again shortly after that he dispatched Kuchi-ko, the Omi of Wani, and sang this song: On the high place
Of Mimoro,
The Plain of the Great Boar -- In the belly
Of the great boar,
Next to the liver, the heart -- In our hearts, at least,
Can we help thinking of each other? Also he sang this song:
The maiden of Yamashiro
Of the connected mountain peaks Digs up oho-ne roots
With a wooden hoe; White like these roots Are your white arms --
If I had not embraced these arms, Then you might say you know me not.
At the time the Omi Kuchi-ko was pronouncing this song, it was raining heavily.
But undeterred by the rain, he went and prostrated himself at the front entrance of the hall.
Then the empress went around to the back, and he went and prostrated himself at the rear entrance of the hall.
Then she went around to the front.
Then he came crawling on his hands and knees and knelt in the yard. By this time the water had come up to his waist.
The Omi was wearing dyed blue garments to which a red cord was attached; when the water soaked the red cord, the blue turned to red.
Kuchi-hime, the younger sister of the Omi Kuchi-ko, was attending the empress. This Kuchi-hime sang this song:
I am moved to tears
At the sight of my brother Speaking his message
At the palace of Tsuzuki Of Yamashiro.
When the empress asked the reason for this, she replied: "My elder brother is the Omi Kuchi-ko."
At this time, the Omi Kuchi-ko, his younger sister Kuchi-hime, and Nurinomu conferred, the three of them together, and had this told to the emperor: "The reason the empress has gone to Yamashiro is this: Among the insects raised by Nurinomu, there is a strange variety of insect that changes three ways; first it becomes a crawling worm, then again it becomes a cocoon, then once again it becomes a flying bird. She has gone merely to see this insect. She has no other intentions."
When this was told to the emperor, he said: "In that case, since I too find this most strange, I wish to go and see it."
From the great palace he went up and entered the house of Nurinomu; then Nurinomu presented to the empress these three-fold insects which he had raised.
The emperor stood at the door of the hall where the empress was, and sang this song:
The maiden of Yamashiro Of the connected mountain peaks Digs up oho-ne roots With a wooden hoe With a noisy sound-- Since you have spoken so noisily, Like luxuriantly flourishing trees Viewed from afar, We have entered, we have come!
These six songs sung by the emperor and empress are Shizu-uta no utahikaheshi.
The lone sedge Of Yata Has no offspring; Must it wither as it stands? Alas, poor sedge- grove! Although I speak Of sedge-groves, I really mean: Alas, pure maiden!
At that, Yata-no-waki-iratume replied with this song:
The lone sedge Of Yata cares not Though she be alone. If her lord Think it good, she cares not Though she be alone.
Therefore the Yata-be was established as a Mi-nashiro for Yata-no-waki-iratume.
Again, the emperor, using his younger brother Haya-busa-wake no Miko as intermediary, asked for his half-sister Me-dori no Miko.
At this, Me-dori no Miko spoke to Haya-busa-wake no Miko, saying: "Because he fears the arrogance of the empress, he does not even favor Yata-no-waki-iratume. Therefore I do not intend to serve him. I will become your wife."
Then they became man and wife.
For this reason, Haya-busa-wake no Miko did not report back to the emperor.
Then the emperor went directly to the place where Me-dori no Miko was and stood on the doorsill of the hall; at this time Me-dori no Miko was sitting at the loom weaving a garment.
Then the emperor sang this song:
For whom is intended The garment being woven By my lady Me-dori
Me-dori no Miko sang this song in reply:
It is cloth for a coat For the high-flying falcon, Haya-busa-wake!
Then the emperor understood her heart and returned to the palace.
About this time, when her husband Haya-busa-wake no Miko arrived, Me-dori no Miko sang this song:
The lark Soars through the sky: O high-flying falcon, Haya-busa-wake, Seize the wagtail!
The emperor, hearing this song, immediately raised an army and sought to kill them.
Then Haya-busa-wake no Miko and Me-dori no Miko fled together and climbed up Mount Kurahashi.
At this time Haya-busa-wake no Miko sang this song:
The slopes of ladder-steep Mount Kurahashi Being rugged, Losing hold of the rocks, Ah, she takes my hand!
Again, he sang this song:
Though ladder-steep Mount Kurahashi Be rugged, Now that I climb it with my beloved, It seems not steep at all.
Then they fled from there, and when they arrived at Soni in Uda, the army overtook and killed them.
The general Oho-tate, the Muraji of the Yama-be, took the jeweled bracelet which Me-dori no Miko was wearing on her arm and gave it to his own wife.
On a later occasion, when there was to be a state banquet, the women of the various families came to the court.
The wife of the Muraji Oho-tate came wearing the dead princess's jeweled bracelet on her arm.
At this time, the empress Iha no Hime no Mikoto herself took the leaf cups of the great wine and gave them to the women of the various families.
Then the empress saw and recognized the jeweled bracelet; she refused to give her the leaf cup of wine and walked out.
Summoning the husband, the Muraji Oho-tate, she said: "Those nobles were driven out because of their lack of proper respect. There is nothing at all strange in this. But you, scoundrel, took the jeweled bracelet worn on the arm of your own superior while her flesh was still warm, and brought it and gave it to your own wife!"
Then he was condemned to death.
Once again, the emperor proceeded to the island of Hime-zima in order to hold a state banquet. At the time, a wild goose laid an egg on that island.
At that, he summoned Takeshi-uchi-no-sukune-no-mikoto and, by means of a song, asked him about the manner in which the wild goose had laid the egg. The song said:
O lord of Uchi
Of the jewel cutting--
You are the most venerable man Of this age.
Have you ever heard
Of a wild goose laying an egg In the sky-filled
land of Yamato?
At this, Takeshi-uchi-no-sukune spoke by means of a song, saying: O high-shining
Sun-prince- Well it is
That you have inquired of me; Right it is
That you have inquired of me, I am the most venerable man Of this age.
I have never heard
Of a wild goose laying an egg In the sky-filled
Land of Yamato.
After saying this, he was presented with a cither and sang this song: As a sign that my lord
Should rule with long life--
The wild goose, it seems, has laid an egg.
This is Hoki-uta no kata-uta.
During this reign, there was a tall tree on the west bank of the Uki River.
The shade of this tree, when the morning sun shone on it, reached the island of Ahadi; when the evening sun shone on it, it crossed Takayasu mountain.
This tree was cut down and made into a ship, a ship which moved with great speed. At the time the ship was named Karano.
This ship was used morning and evening to bring water drawn from the cold springs of the island of Ahadi for the imperial table.
When this boat became dilapidated, it was burnt for salt.
The parts left over from the burning were taken and made into a cither, the sound of which reverberated for seven leagues. At the time there was a song which said:
Karano was Burnt for salt,
And the remaining wood Made into a cither.
When its strings were plucked-
It was like the brine-soaked plants Growing on the underwater rocks In the Yura Channel
Which sway slowly-
-- Saya saya --
This is a Shizu-uta no utahikaheshi.
The years of this emperor were eighty-three.
He died on the fifteenth day of the eighth month of the fourth year of the Hare. His tomb is at Mimihara in Mozu.
His son, Iza-ho-wake no Mikoto, dwelt in the palace of Wakasakura in Ihare and ruled the kingdom.
This emperor took as wife Kuro-hime no Mikoto, the daughter of Ashida no Sukune, son of Kadtsuraki no Sotuhiko, and there was born the child Ichi-no-be no Oshi-ha no Miko; next, Mima no Miko; next, a younger daughter Ahomi no Iratume, also named Ihi-toyo no Iratume. (Three children)
When he was first dwelling in the palace of Naniha, he celebrated the festival of the first-fruits and held a state banquet.
At the time, he rejoiced greatly in the great wine and went to sleep.
Then his younger brother Sumi-no-ye-no-nakatsu-miko, seeking to kill the emperor, set fire to the great hall.
At this time, the ancestor of the Atahe of the Aya of Yamato, the Atahe Achi, spirited him out, put him on horseback, and took him to Yamato.
When they had arrived at the plain of Tadihi, he awoke and said: "What place is this?"
Then the Atahe Achi said: "Sumi-no-ye-no-nakatsu-miko set fire to the great hall, and I am helping you escape to Yamato."
Then the emperor sang this song:
If I had known that I would sleep On the plain of Tadihi,
I would have brought A matting windbreak-
If I had known that I would sleep.
When they reached the pass of Hanifu, he looked out toward the palace of Naniha, and the flames were still bright.
Then the emperor again sang this song:
On the pass of Hanifu When I stood and looked,
The group of houses was burning In shimmering flames-
Where my wife’s house stood.
When they had reached the entrance of Mount Oho-saka, they met a woman.
This woman said: "Many men carrying weapons are blocking this mountain. You ought to go around by the Tagima road to cross over."
Then the emperor sang this song:
On Mount Oho-saka I met a maiden;
When I asked her the way,
She said not to go straight ahead, But to take the Tagima road.
Thus he went up and dwelt at the shrine of Isonokami.
At this time, his younger brother Midu-ha-wake no Mikoto came and requested an audience.
Then the emperor sent word: "I suspect that you may be in sympathy with Sumi-no-ye-no-nakatsu- miko and will not speak with you."
He answered, saying: "I have no unclean intuitions, and I am not in league with Sumi-no-ye-no- nakatsu-miko."
Again, he sent word: "If this is so, go down and kill Sumi-no-ye-no-nakatsu-miko; then come back. At that time I will certainly speak with you."
Then he went back to Naniha and deceived a haya-bito named Sobakari, a close servant of Sumi- no-ye-no-nakatsu-miko, saying: "If you obey my words, I shall make you the Oho-omi when I become emperor, and we shall rule the kingdom. How would this be?"
Sobakari replied, saying: "Whatever you command."
Then he rewarded the haya-bito richly and said: "In that case, kill your prince!"
At this time, Sobakari waited concealed until his prince went into the privy, then killed him with a spear.
Then when he was accompanying Sobakari up to Yamato, as they arrived at the entrance to Mount Oho-saka, he thought: "Although Sobakari has performed services of great merit on my behalf, he has killed his own master—an unrighteous act. If I fail to reward his meritorious service, my failure will be counted as a breach of faith. If I carry out my obligation to him, then I must fear his mentality. Thus, while rewarding him for his merits, I will destroy his mortal body."
For this reason, he said to Sobakari: "Today we will stop here and give you the rank of Oho-omi; then tomorrow we will go up."
They stopped at the mountain entrance and immediately built a temporary palace and hurriedly held a state banquet.
Thus he gave the rank of Oho-omi to this haya-bito and had the various officials give him obeisance.
The haya-bito rejoiced, thinking that he had achieved his desires.
Then he said to the haya-bito: "Today I will drink wine with the Oho-omi from the same cup."
As they drank together, he poured the wine he was to offer him into a bowl so large that it hid the drinker's face.
At this time, the prince drank first, and the haya-bito drank afterwards. When the haya-bito drank, the large bowl concealed his face, and the prince took out a sword he had put under his mat and stabbed the haya-bito in the neck.
Thus he went up on the next day.
Because of this, the name of this place is Chikatsu-asuka.
Arriving in Yamato, he said: "Today we will stop here and perform exorcism and purification. Tomorrow we will go and worship at the shrine."
Because of this, the name of this place is Tohotsu-asuka.
Then he went to the shrine of Isonokami and sent word to the emperor: "The mission of pacification has been completed, and I have come up to wait upon you."
Then the emperor summoned him and spoke with him.
The emperor at this time appointed the Atahe Achi head of the treasury and also gave him lands.
Also during this reign, the Omi of the Wakasakura-be were given the name of Wakasakura-be; also the Kimi of the Himeda were given the name of Kimi of the Himeda; also the Ihare-be was established.
The years of the emperor were sixty-four. He died on the third day of the first month of the ninth year of the Monkey.
His tomb is in Mozu.
Midu-ha-wake no Mikoto dwelt in the palace of Shibakaki at Tadihi and ruled the kingdom. The height of this emperor was nine feet, two and one-half inches.
His teeth were one inch long and two parts wide; his upper and lower teeth were all alike and were exactly like beads strung on a cord.
The emperor took as wife Tsuno-iratume, the daughter of Kogoto, the Omi of Wani, and there was born the child Kahi no iratume; next, Tsubura no iratume.
Again, he took as wife Oto-hime, the daughter of the same Omi, and there was born the child Takara no Miko; next, Takabe no iratume.
Altogether there were four children.
The years of the emperor were sixty. He died in the seventh month of the fourth year of the Ox. His tomb is in the plain of Mozu.
Wo-asaduma-wakugo no Sukune no Mikoto dwelt in the palace of Tohotsu-asuka and ruled the kingdom.
This emperor took as wife Oska no Oho-nakatsu-hime no Mikoto, the younger sister of Oho-hodo no Miko, and there was born the child Ki-nashi no Karu no Miko; next, Nagata no Oho-iratume; next, Sakahi no Kuro-hiko no Miko; next, Anaho no Mikoto; next, Karu no Oho-iratume, also named So-tohosi no iratume. She was named So-tohosi no Miko because the radiance of her body shone through her garments; next, Yatsuri no Shiro-hiko no Miko; next, Oho-hatsuse no Mikoto; next, Tachibana no Oho-iratume; next, Sakami no iratume. (Nine children)
The Emperor had nine children in all. (Five princes and four princesses)
Among these nine children, Anaho no Mikoto ruled the kingdom. Next, Oho-hatsuse no Mikoto ruled the kingdom.
When the emperor was about to assume the heavenly sun-lineage, he declined, saying: "I have long had a certain illness and am unable to assume the sun-lineage."
However, since the empress as well as all the courtiers insisted, he ruled the kingdom. At this time, the king of the land of Shiragi presented eighty-one ships of tribute.
The chief envoy who presented the tribute was named Komu Hatsimukamuki-mu; this man was deeply versed in medical lore, and cured the emperor’s illness.
At this time the emperor, deploring that the families and titles of the various families, and names of the people of the kingdom had become confused, placed kukabe before the deity Koto-yaso- magatsu-hi of Ama-kasi, and established the families and ranks of the myriad corporation-heads of the kingdom.
Also the Karu-be was established as a Mi-nashiro for the crown prince Ki-nashi no Karu. The Oosaka-be was established as a Mi-nashiro for the empress.
The Kahabe was established as a Mi-nashiro for Tahi no Nakatsu-hime, the younger sister of the empress.
The years of the emperor were seventy-eight. He died on the fifteenth day of the first month of the first year of the Horse.
His tomb is at Nagaye in Wega in Kawachi.
After the death of the emperor, the crown prince Ki-nashi no Karu was to have assumed the sun- lineage; but before he ascended the throne, he seduced his younger sister Karu no Oho-iratume, singing this song:
Making a mountain paddy, Because the mountain is high, An irrigation pipe is run
Underneath the ground, secretly— My beloved, whom I have visited With secret visits;
My spouse, for whom I have wept With a secret weeping—
Tonight at last
I caress her body with ease. This is Shirage-uta.
Also he sang these songs:
The hail beats down On the bamboo grass Sounding tashi-dashi—
After sleeping with her to the full, Then, even if she leaves me… With each other as beloved,
If only we sleep together, Then, even if we are separated
Like threshed reeds, let us be separated— If only we sleep together.
These are Hina-buri no age-uta.
For this reason, the various officials as well as all the people in the kingdom turned against Prince Karu and adhered to Anaho no Miko.
Then Prince Karu took fright and fled into the house of the Oho-omi Oho-mahe-wo-mahe no Sukune, where he armed himself.
The arrows made at that time had copper arrowheads; therefore these arrows were called karu- arrows.
Anaho no Miko also armed himself.
The arrows made by this prince were the arrows of today. They are called anaho-arrows.
At this time, Anaho no Miko raised an army and surrounded the house of Oho-mahe-wo-mahe no Sukune.
When he arrived at the gate, there was a violent hail storm, and he sang this song: Come thus under the shelter
Of the gate
Of Oho-mahe-wo-mahe-sukune And wait for the rain to cease.
Then Oho-mahe-wo-mahe no Sukune, lifting up his arms and hitting his thighs, came out dancing and singing. His song said:
Because the little bell
On the garter of the noble Has fallen off,
The nobles are all astir.
You commoners also, take care! This song is Miyabito-buri.
Thus singing, he came near and said: "O my prince the emperor, do not take arms against your elder brother. If you do take up arms, people will surely laugh. I will capture him and present him to you."
Then he disbanded his troops and went off.
Hereupon Oho-mahe-wo-mahe no Sukune captured Prince Karu, led him out, and presented him. When he was captured, the crown prince sang this song:
O sky-flying Karu maiden--
Should I cry loudly, People would know. Like the pigeons On Hasa Mountain, I cry secretly.
Again he sang:
O sky-flying Karu maiden:
Come hither secretly,
Sleep here and then go your way, O Karu maiden!
Prince Karu was exiled to the hot springs of Iyo. When about to go into exile he sang this song: The sky-flying
Birds are also messengers:
When you hear
The cry of the crane, Ask in name of it.
These three songs are Amada-buri. Again he sang this song:
If the great lord
Is exiled to an island, There are ships
By which I may return. Leave my sitting-mat alone! Although I speak
Of sitting-mats, I really mean:
Leave my wife alone!
This song is Hina-buri no kata-oroshi.
So-tohosi no Miko presented a song; the song said:
Oh, do not go, lest you tread On the oyster shells
On the beach of Ahine Of the summer grass-
Spend the night and return in the morning!
Then later, overwhelmed by her feeling, she went after him. At the time she sang this song:
Since you have set out, Many days have passed. Like the yama-tadu tree, I will go in search of you; I can no longer wait.
The yama-tadu mentioned here is what is now called the Miyatuko-gi.
When she caught up with him, he had been waiting and yearning for her, and he sang this song: On Mount Hatsuse
Of the hidden country, On the large ridges Are erected banners, On the small ridges Are erected banners. As upon a large ridge,
Do you rely upon our troth, Ah, my beloved spouse.
Like a tsuki bow Reclining,
Like an adusa bow Standing up-
Later, I shall hold you close, Ah, my beloved spouse!
Again he sang this song:
On the river of Hatsuse Of the hidden country, In the upper shallows
A sacred post was staked, In the lower shallows
A true post was staked. On the sacred post Was hung a mirror,
On the true post Was hung a jewel. My beloved,
Who is to me as a mirror, My spouse,
Who is to me as a jewel-- Only if I hear
That she is there,
Do I wish to go home,
Do I yearn for my country.
Thus singing, they committed suicide together. These two songs are Yomi-uta.
His son Anaho no Miko dwelt in the palace of Anaho at Isonokami and ruled the kingdom.
The emperor, on behalf of his younger brother Oho-hatsuse no Miko, dispatched Ne no Omi, the ancestor of the Omi of Sakamoto, to Oho-kusaka no Miko and had him say: "I wish to have your younger sister, Waka-kusaka no Miko, marry Oho-hatsuse no Miko; therefore, present her!"
Then Oho-kusaka no Miko did obeisance four times and said: "Since I had suspected that there might be such a command, I have kept her and not sent her elsewhere as a bride. With fearful reverence, I will present her in accordance with your command."
However, thinking it would be discourteous to acquiesce to the emperor’s command merely with words, he sent, on behalf of his younger sister, a jeweled crown of pressed wood to be presented as a token of reverence.
Ne no Omi then stole the jeweled crown, meant as a token of reverence, and slandered Oho-kusaka no Miko, saying: "Oho-kusaka no Miko would not receive the imperial command and said: 'Is my younger sister to be the sleeping mat for one of an equally ranking clan?'"
"[Thus speaking], he grasped the sword-guard of his sword and was angry."
Then the emperor was greatly enraged and killed Oho-kusaka-no-miko; taking the chief wife of this prince, Nagata-no-oho-iratume, he made her his empress.
Sometime after this, the emperor was upon the divine bed taking a noontime nap. Then he spoke to his empress and said: "Do you have any worries?"
She replied, saying: "Since I am enveloped in the profound favors of my lord the emperor, what worries should I have?"
At this time, the empress’ previous child, Mayowa-no-miko, who was seven years of age, was playing underneath the hall.
The emperor, unaware that the young prince was playing underneath the hall, said to the empress: "I have something which worries me constantly. That is: when your son Mayowa-no-miko grows up, should he learn that I killed the prince his father, will he not have an evil heart towards me?"
At this time, Mayowa-no-miko, who had been playing underneath the hall, overheard these words.
Thereupon, waiting concealed until the emperor slept, he took the sword at his side and cut the emperor’s throat, then fled into the house of Tsubura-ohomi.
The years of the emperor were fifty-six.
His tomb is on the hill of Hushimi at Sugahara.
Then Oho-hatsuse-no-miko, who was then still a youth, heard of the murder and was embittered and enraged.
Going to his elder brother Kuro-hiko-no-miko, he said: "Someone has killed the emperor. What is to be done?"
However, Kuro-hiko-no-miko was not alarmed and was of an indifferent mind.
At this time, Oho-hatsuse-no-miko scolded his elder brother, saying: "How can you be so lazy that on hearing that the emperor, your own brother as well, has been killed, you remain unconcerned and are not even surprised?"
Then grasping his collar, he pulled him out and, unsheathing his sword, killed him.
Again, he went to his elder brother Shiro-hiko-no-miko, and told him the situation as before. He was as unconcerned as Kuro-hiko-no-miko.
Then he grasped his collar and pulled him out to Oharida, where he dug a hole and buried him as he stood; when he was buried up to the waist, both his eyes burst out and he died.
Again, he raised an army and surrounded the house of Tsubura-omi.
He also had raised an army and fought back; the arrows he shot forth were like the falling of reed blossoms.
At this time, Oho-hatsuse-no-miko, using a spear as a staff, looked inside and said: "Is the maiden with whom I have spoken in this house?"
Then hearing this command, Tsubura-omi came out himself, took off the weapons he was wearing at his side, and bowing eight times, said: "My daughter Kara-hime, of whom you inquired recently, will serve you. I will also present with her five miyake.
Those five miyake are today the Sono-bito of the five villages of Katsuragi.
"However, the reason she herself does not come out is this: Although, from antiquity, it has been known that an Omi or Muraji might hide in the palace of a prince, a prince’s hiding in the house of a vassal is unheard of.
"For this reason I think that even though I, a lowly ohomi, fight with all my strength, I can never possibly win. Nevertheless, even in death I will not abandon the prince who has, trusting me, come into my humble house."
Thus saying, he took up his weapons again, went back in, and continued to fight.
Finally, his strength failing and his supply of arrows exhausted, he said to the prince: "I am wounded everywhere, and the supply of arrows is exhausted. The fight cannot be continued any longer. What is to be done?"
The prince replied, saying: "In that case, there is nothing else to be done. Now, kill me!" Thus, he stabbed the prince to death with a sword and cut his own throat and died.
At this time, he took Ichi-no-be no Oshi-ha no Miko and went to Omi.
When they arrived at the plain, each of them made a separate temporary palace and lodged there.
The following morning before sunrise, Oshi-ha no Miko, with a tranquil mind, came on horseback and stood by Oho-hatsuse no Miko's temporary palace and said to the attendants of Oho-hatsuse no Miko: "Has he not yet awakened? Tell him quickly. It is already morning. He ought to come out to the hunt."
Then, urging his horse on, he went off.
Then he put on armor under his clothes, took his bow and arrows, and went out on horseback.
For a moment their horses came side by side, and he took an arrow and shot down Oshi-ha no Miko.
Then he cut up his body, put it in the horses’ feed-pails, and buried it on a level with the ground.
At this, Ichi-no-be no Miko's sons, Oke no Miko and Woke no Miko—two children—heard of this upheaval and fled.
When they arrived at Kariba-wi in Yamashiro, as they were eating their provisions, an old man with a tattooed face came along and seized their provisions.
The two princes said: "We do not regret the provisions, but who are you?" He answered, saying: "I am Wi-kahi of Yamashiro."
Then they fled across the Kusuba River and came to the land of Harima.
Entering the house of a man of that land named Shijimu, they hid themselves and were employed as keepers of the horses and cattle.
Oho-hatsuse-no-waka-take no Mikoto dwelt in the palace of Asakura at Hatsuse and ruled the kingdom.
The emperor took as wife Waka-kusaka-be no Miko, the younger sister of Oho-kusaka no Miko. (There were no children)
Again, he took as wife Kara-hime, the daughter of Tsubura Ohomi, and there was born the child Shira-ga no Mikoto; and next, a younger daughter Waka-tarashi-hime no Mikoto. (Two children)
The Shira-ga-be was established as a Mi-nashiro for the crown prince Shira-ga.
Also the Toneri of the Hatsuse-be were established, and the Toneri of Kahase were established.
At this time, there immigrated people of Kure. These people of Kure were settled at Kure-hara. For this reason, the name of that place is Kure-hara.
At the first, when the empress dwelt in Kusaka, the emperor was proceeding to Kawachi over the Tada-goye Road of Kusaka.
As he climbed to the top of the mountain and surveyed the land, he saw a house built with raised logs on its roof.
The emperor had inquiries made about the house, saying: "Whose house is this, built with raised logs?"
They replied, saying: "It is the house of the Oho-agata-nushi of Shiki."
Then the emperor said: "The scoundrel! He has built his own house like the palace of the emperor!" Hereupon he dispatched people to burn the house.
Then the Oho-agata-nushi, stricken with fear and awe, bowed to the ground and said: "Being a subordinate, I built it by mistake, not realizing my insubordination. I am overwhelmed with dread."
Then he presented an offering of entreaty, a white dog tied up with a cloth and with a bell attached. He had one of his own relations, named Koshi-haki, hold the dog’s leash and present it.
Hereupon he abandoned the idea of setting fire to the house.
Then he went on to Waka-kusaka-be no Miko and gave her the dog, sending word: "This is something unusual, which I gained on the road today."
Therefore, calling it a betrothal gift, he presented it to her.
At this time, Waka-kusaka-be no Miko sent word to the emperor: "It is an awesome thing that you should deign to come with the sun at your back. Rather let me go up directly to the capital and serve you."
For this reason, he went back to the palace.
On the way, he stood at the top of the pass over the mountain and sang this song: In the valleys
Here and there
Between the mountains this side Of Kusaka-be
And the Heguri mountains (Of the rush matting) There stand flourishing
Wide-leaved great oak trees. At their foot
Grows entwined bamboo; At their tips
Grows luxuriant bamboo. Entwined bamboo:
We did not sleep entwined; Luxuriant bamboo:
We did not sleep luxuriantly.
But later we will sleep entwined- Ah, that beloved spouse of mine!
Then he sent a messenger back with this song.
The emperor asked the maiden: "Whose child are you?"
She replied, saying: "My name is Aka-wi-ko of the Hiketa-be." Then he commanded: "Do not marry; I will soon summon you." Thus saying, he returned to his palace.
Thus this Aka-wi-ko waited respectfully for the command of the emperor until eighty years had passed.
At this time, Aka-wi-ko thought: "Many years have passed while I looked forward to his command. Now my body has become decrepit and withered, and there is no longer any hope. However, unless I reveal the faithfulness with which I waited, I will be unable to overcome my melancholy."
Thus thinking, she had hundreds of tables laden with gifts brought, and she came forth and presented them.
At this, the emperor, who had completely forgotten what he had previously commanded her, asked this Aka-wi-ko, saying: "What old woman are you? Why have you come?"
Then Aka-wi-ko replied, saying: "In such a year and in such a month I received the emperor’s command, and ever since for a period of eighty years I have been waiting respectfully. Now my appearance has become old, and there is no longer any hope. Nevertheless, I have come forth to declare my constancy."
At this, the emperor was greatly surprised and said: "I had quite forgotten that incident of long ago. But you, remaining constant in heart, have waited for my command and wasted away the prime of your life. This is most pitiable."
In his heart he wished to wed her but, out of consideration for her extreme age, he was not able to consummate marriage with her, and gave her a song. The song said:
Under the oaks, The sacred oaks Of Mimoro:
How awesome--
O oak-forest maiden!
Again he sang this song:
The field of Hiketa
Where young chestnut trees grow:
When she was young
Would that I had slept with her-- But now she is old.
Then Aka-wi-ko cried, and her tears soaked the sleeves of the red-dyed garment she was wearing. In reply to the emperor’s song, she sang this song:
At Mimoro
They built a jeweled fence, But left part unfinished:
On whom will you rely, Courtier of the deity?
Again she sang this song:
In the bay of Kusaka Grow lotuses of the bay, Flowering lotuses:
Ah those in their prime-- How I envy them!
Then he rewarded the old woman richly and sent her back to her home. These four songs are Shizu-uta.
At a time when the emperor was making a royal visit to the palace of Yeshino, there was a beautiful maiden on the bank of the Yeshino River. He wedded this maiden and then returned to the palace.
Once again later, when he made another royal visit to Yeshino, he stopped at the spot where he had met the maiden.
At this place he set up his royal dais and, sitting on this dais, he played the cither and had the girl dance.
Then, because the girl danced so well, he made a song, which said: The divine hands
Of the one seated on the dais Pluck the cither
To which dances the maiden:
Would that this were Toko-yo!
Then he proceeded to the plain of Akidu, and as he was hunting there, the emperor was seated on his dais. Then a horsefly bit his arm.
Immediately a dragonfly came and devoured the horsefly, then flew away. At this time he made a song, which said:
Someone reported To the emperor
The news that game were lying On the peak of Womuro
Of Mi-yeshino:
As our great lord Ruling in peace Awaited the game Seated upon his dais, A horsefly landed On his forearm,
Clad in a sleeve
Of white Tahi cloth.
This horsefly
A dragonfly quickly devoured. Thus, in order to perpetuate The memory of this event,
Is the sky-filled
Land of Yamato called The Dragonfly Island.
Thus from that time forward, that plain has been called the plain of Akidu.
Immediately the emperor shot the boar with a humming arrow; then the boar became enraged and came charging with a snorting noise.
Thus the emperor, fearing its snorting, climbed up a black alder tree, then sang this song: Fearing the snorting
Of the beast,
The wounded beast Shot by our great lord Ruling in peace,
I ran away and climbed up
A branch of the black alder tree On this hill!
On another occasion, when the emperor was ascending Mount Kadtsuraki, all of his many attendants were dressed in dyed blue garments to which red cords were attached.
At the time, people who were exactly like the emperor’s entourage were climbing the mountain from the opposite side.
Both the appearance of their garments and the people themselves were so much alike as to be indistinguishable.
Then the emperor, seeing this, inquired, saying: "There is no other king in this land of Yamato. Who is this who comes in this manner?"
The style of the reply was also the same as the emperor’s own words.
At this time, the emperor was greatly enraged and fixed his arrow. His many attendants also all fixed their arrows.
Then the other people also all fixed their arrows.
Hereupon the emperor again inquired, saying: "In that case, say your names. We will all say our names and then shoot our arrows."
This time, the reply was: "Since I have been asked first, I will say my name first: good fortune with one word, bad fortune with one word, the word deciding deity Hito-koto-nushi no Oho-kami of Kadtsuraki am I!"
At this, the emperor was afraid and said: "I am struck with awe, O my great deity! I did not know that you had a corporeal form."
Thus saying, beginning with his own great sword and bow and arrows, he had his many attendants take off the garments they were wearing and reverentially presented them.
Then this Hito-koto-nushi no Oho-kami, clapping his hands, accepted these offerings.
Thus, on the emperor’s return, from the mountain top to the entrance of Mount Hatsuse, this great deity escorted him back.
It was at this time that this Hito-koto-nushi no Oho-kami was first revealed.
Again, the emperor journeyed to Kasuga in order to wed Wodo-hime, the daughter of the Omi Satsuki of Wani.
At the time, the maiden met him on the road.
Then, seeing his approach, she fled and hid on the hill. For this reason he made a song: The hill
Where the maiden is hiding-
Oh for five hundred Metal hoes:
How I would dig it up!
Thus that hill is called Kana-suki Hill.
Again, when the emperor was celebrating a state banquet under a luxuriant tsuki tree at Hatsuse, an uneme from Mihe of the land of Ise had lifted up the great wine-cup to present it.
Then a leaf fell from the luxuriant tsuki tree and floated in the great wine-cup.
The uneme, unaware that a leaf was floating in the wine-cup, presented the great wine.
The emperor, noticing the leaf floating in the wine-cup, held the uneme down and pressed a sword against her neck.
As he was about to cut her throat, the uneme addressed the emperor, saying: "Do not kill me! I have something to say."
Then she sang this song:
The palace of Hishiro At Makimuku
Is a palace where shines The morning sun,
A palace where gleams The evening sun,
Is a palace where the roots Of the bamboo are plentiful, A palace where the roots
Of the trees are long and extended, Is a palace built
On firmly pounded soil.
A hall of wood
Of excellent hi trees
Is the Hall of the First Fruits, By which is growing
A luxuriant Tsuki tree:
Its upper branches
Spread out over the heavens; Its middle branches
Spread out over the eastern lands; Its lower branches
Spread out over the rural regions. The leaves at the tip
Of the upper branches Touch down
On the middle branches;
The leaves at the tip
Of the middle branches Touch down
On the lower branches; The leaves at the tip Of the lower branches Drop, as floating oil,
Into the beautiful jeweled cup Presented
By the girl of Mihe
Of the silken garments-- And falling into the liquid, The waters churning, Churning around:
This, too-
How awesome, O high-shining Sun-prince!
These are The words,
The words handed down.
Thus, when she presented this song, he forgave her crime. Then the empress sang a song, which said:
In this high place Of Yamato,
In the gently elevated Meeting place,
By the Hall of the First Fruits There is growing
A wide-leaved Sacred camellia tree. Like its leaves, Wide and calm,
Like its flowers, Shining brilliantly
Are you, O high-shining Sun-prince!
Partake, O my lord, Of the abundant wine! These are
The words,
The words handed down.
Then the emperor sang this song: The courtiers
Of the great palace Like quails,
Donning their scarves, Like wagtails,
Their tails criss-crossing, Like garden-sparrows,
Bowing low, Today too appear
To be steeped in wine-- The high-shining
Sun-palace courtiers.
These are
The words,
The words handed down.
These three songs are Ama-gatari-uta.
Thus, at this state banquet the uneme of Mihe was eulogized and richly rewarded.
On the day of this state banquet, when Wodo-hime of Kasuga presented the great wine, the emperor sang this song:
The water-spraying Omi maiden
Holds the soaring flagon. Holding the soaring flagon, O hold it firmly!
Firmly from the bottom, Ever more firmly hold it,
O girl holding the soaring flagon! This is Uki-uta.
Then Wodo-hime presented a song, which said:
Our great lord Ruling in peace Each morning Leans upon, Each evening Leans upon
His arm-rest--would that I Were even its bottom board!
--O my brother!-- This is Shizu-uta.
The years of this emperor were one hundred and twenty-four. He died on the ninth day of the eighth month of the sixth year of the Snake.
His tomb is at Takawashi of Tadihi in Kawachi.
Shira-ga-no-oho-yamato-neko no Mikoto dwelt in the palace of Mikakuri at Ihare and ruled the kingdom. This emperor had no empress and no children.
Thus the Shira-ga-be was established as his Mi-nashiro.
Thus after the death of this emperor, there was no suitable prince to rule the kingdom. At this time, they sought a prince to assume the sun-lineage.
The younger sister of Ichi-no-be no Oshi-ha-waye no Miko, Oshinumi no Iratume, also named Ihi- toyo no Miko, dwelt in the palace of Tsunosashi of Taka-ki at Oshinumi in Katsuragi.
Wo-date, the Muraji of the Yama-be, was appointed governor of the land of Harima.
At that time he came to the feast celebrating a new pit-dwelling owned by a subject of that land named Shijimu.
At this time, when the celebration was at its height and the drinking was well under way, everyone took turns dancing.
There were two fire-tending boys seated by the hearth. When they made these young boys dance, one of the boys said: "You dance first, elder brother!"
But the elder brother in his turn said: "You dance first, younger brother!"
As they thus deferred to each other, the assembled people laughed at the spectacle of their deferring to each other.
Then at long last the elder brother danced, and when he had finished, the younger brother, as he was about to dance, intoned a chant, saying:
My beloved Warrior lad
Wears at his side a sword, On the hilt of which
Is daubed red clay,
And on the cord of which Is attached a red banner.
When the red banner is erected It is seen to conceal
The mountain ridges Where the bamboo Are cut down
And their tips spread out in even rows-- In this manner,
And in the manner of an eight-stringed cither When in perfect tune--
Did he rule the kingdom,
The son of Emperor Iza-ho-wake, Ichi-no-be no Oshi-ha no Miko-- Whose offspring am I!
The Muraji Wo-date heard this and was astonished; falling off his seat, he dismissed the other people in the room.
Setting the two princes on his left and right knees, he wept and sorrowed; assembling people, he built a temporary palace, accommodated them in this temporary palace, and sent out messengers.
At this time their aunt Ihi-toyo no Miko heard and rejoiced, and had them come up to the palace.
As he was about to rule the kingdom, the Omi Shibi, the ancestor of the Omi of Heguri, was present at an uta-gaki and grasped the hand of the maiden whom Woke no Mikoto was going to marry.
The girl was the daughter of the Obito of Uda and her name was Ohuwo. Woke no Mikoto was also present at the uta-gaki.
At this time the Omi Shibi sang this song:
The farther sides Of the great palace
Are falling in at the corners.
Thus singing, he asked for a completion of the song. Then Woke no Mikoto sang this song:
Because the carpenter Was unskillful,
It is falling in at the corners.
Then the Omi Shibi sang this song:
Because the heart
Of the great lord is slack, He does not enter
The many-layered twig fence Of the Omi lad.
Thereupon the prince again sang this song: As I watch the breakers
In the briny rapids, By the fin
Of the leisurely moving tuna fish I see my spouse standing.
Then the Omi Shibi, more and more enraged, sang this song: Our great lord
The prince’s twig fence-
Though it be tied in eight sections, Though it be tied clear round,
Is a twig fence which can be pierced,
Is a twig fence which can be burnt. Then the prince again sang this song:
O fisherman harpooning The great fish, the tuna fish:
If she gets away from you, Then won’t you miss her!-
O Shibi harpooning the tuna fish!
Thus singing, they contested until dawn and then each took his leave.
On the following morning, Oke no Mikoto and Woke no Mikoto consulted together and said: "All the court people come to the court in the morning and gather at Shibi’s house in the afternoon. Shibi must surely be sleeping now, and there will be no one in his house. Therefore, if not now, it will be difficult to strike."
Then they raised an army, surrounded the house of the Omi Shibi, and killed him. At this time, the two princes ceded the kingdom to each other.
Oke no Mikoto deferred to his younger brother Woke no Mikoto, saying: "If you had not revealed our names when we were living in the house of Shijimu in Harima, we would not have become the rulers of the kingdom. This is all your doing. Therefore, even though I am the elder brother, you must rule the kingdom first."
Thus saying, he steadfastly yielded his claim to the throne. Therefore, unable to refuse, Woke no Mikoto ruled the kingdom first.
Woke-no-iha-su-wake no Mikoto dwelt in the palace of Chikatsu-asuka and ruled the kingdom for eight years.
The emperor took as his wife Naniha no Miko, the daughter of Iha-ki no Miko. There were no children.
As this emperor was searching for the remains of his father, Ichi-no-be no Miko, a lowly old woman of the land of Omi came forth and said: "The place where the prince’s remains are buried is known to me alone. The teeth will identify the remains."
His teeth were multiple teeth like the sakikusa.
Then, conscripting labor, they dug up the ground in search of his remains.
Then when they had obtained his remains, they built a tomb on the mountain to the east of the plain of Kaya-no and buried them there.
They charged the children of Kara-bukuro with the care of the tomb. But later they brought his remains up.
Then returning to his palace, he summoned the old woman and gave her the name "old woman Okime," to reward her for having unfailingly observed and remembered the place where his father was buried.
Thus, receiving her within the palace, he praised her with warm and profound tenderness.
Thus a house for the old woman was built close by the palace, and he summoned her every day without fail.
Thus, he hung a large bell by the door of the great hall, and whenever he wished to summon the old woman, he pulled and rang this bell.
Then he made a song, which said:
Across the reed plains, Across the valleys Sounding far,
Peals the bell:
Okime is sure to come.
At this time the old woman Okime said: "I have become extremely old and wish to return to my native land."
Then as he dismissed her in accordance with her words, the emperor, seeing her off into the distance, sang this song:
O Okime, Okime of Omi, From tomorrow,
Hidden behind the mountains, You will be seen no longer!
A search was made for the old man Wi-kahi, who took away their provisions when the emperor had met with misfortune and was fleeing.
He was found and summoned, and executed in the riverbed of the Asuka River. They severed the knee-tendons of all his relatives.
For this reason, to this very day his descendants begin naturally to limp whenever they come up to Yamato.
Because the old man was found, that place is called Shimesu.
The emperor was filled with bitterness toward Emperor Oho-hatsuse, who had killed the prince his father.
In order to be revenged upon his spirit, he conceived the plan to break down the tomb of Emperor Oho-hatsuse.
When he dispatched people for that purpose, his elder brother Oke no Mikoto said: "It is not proper to dispatch others to destroy this tomb. I will go myself and, in accordance with your majesty’s will, will destroy it and then return."
Then the emperor commanded: "In that case, go and do as you say."
At this, Oke no Mikoto went down himself and returned after digging merely a small hole at the side of the tomb.
On his return he reported, saying: "It has been dug up and demolished."
Then the emperor, wondering at his quick return, said: "In what manner has it been destroyed?" He replied, saying: "I dug up a small amount of earth at the side of the tomb."
The emperor said: "Our intention was to avenge the prince our father, and it was quite necessary to destroy the tomb entirely. What is this about digging a little?"
He replied, saying: "The reason why I did so is this: The desire to avenge upon his spirit the wrong done to the prince our father is truly a just one. Nevertheless, Emperor Oho-hatsuse, besides being our father’s enemy, was also our uncle. Furthermore, he was an emperor who ruled the kingdom.
"If, swayed solely by the desire to avenge our father, we were now to demolish the tomb of an emperor who had ruled the kingdom, then surely the people of the future would condemn us.
"But it was absolutely necessary to be revenged upon our father’s enemy. Thus I dug a little by the tomb. In so doing, this dishonor will suffice to show to future generations."
When he had spoken thus, the emperor replied, saying: "This is also most just. Let it be as you say." When the emperor died, Oke no Mikoto ruled the heavenly sun-lineage.
The years of the emperor were thirty-eight; he ruled the kingdom for eight years. His tomb is on the hill of Ihatsuki at Katawoka.
Oke no Mikoto dwelt in the palace of Hirotaka at Isonokami and ruled the kingdom.
The emperor took as wife Kasuga no Oho-iratume, the daughter of Emperor Oho-hatsuse-no-waka- take, and there was born the child Taka-ki no iratume; next, Takara no iratume; next, Kusubi no iratume; next, Ta-shiraga no iratume; next, Wo-hatsuse no Waka-sazaki no Mikoto; and next, Ma- waka no Miko.
Again he took as wife Nuka no Wakugo no Iratume, the daughter of Hituma, the Omi of Wani, and there was born the child Kasuga no Woda no iratume.
The children of this emperor were altogether seven children.
Among them, Wo-hatsuse-no-waka-sazaki no Mikoto ruled the kingdom.
Wo-hatsuse-no-waka-sazaki no Mikoto dwelt in the palace of Nami-ki at Hatsuse and ruled the kingdom for eight years.
Because this emperor had no children, the Wo-hatsuse-be was established as his Mi-ko-shiro. His tomb is on the hill of Ihatsuki at Katawoka.
After the death of the emperor, there was no prince to assume the sun-lineage.
Thereupon a descendant in the fifth generation of Emperor Homuda, Wo-hodo no Mikoto, was brought up from the land of Chikatsu-Omi, and being united with Ta-shiraga no Mikoto, was given rule over the kingdom.
Wo-hodo no Mikoto dwelt in the palace of Tamaho at Ihare and ruled the kingdom.
The emperor took as wife Waka-hime, the ancestress of the Kimi of Miwo, and there was born the child Oho-iratuko; next, Idumo no iratume. (Two children)
Again, he took as wife Meko no Iratume, the younger sister of the Muraji Ohoshi, the ancestor of the Muraji of Wopari, and there was born the child Hiro-kuni-oshi-take-kana-hi no Mikoto; next, Take-wo-hiro-kuni-oshi-tate no Mikoto. (Two children)
Next he took as wife Ta-shiraga no Mikoto, the daughter of Emperor Oke--this was the empress-- and there was born the child Ame-kuni-oshi-haruki-hiro-nihwa no Mikoto. (One child)
Again, he took as wife Wo-kumi no iratume, the daughter of Okinaga no Mate no Miko, and there was born the child Sasage no iratume. (One child)
Again he took as wife Kuro-hime, the daughter of Sakata no Oho-mata no Miko, and there was born the child Kamu-zaki no iratume; next, Ta no iratume; next, Shira-saka no Iku-hiko no iratume; next, No no iratume, also named Nagame-hime. (Four children)
Again he took as wife Yamato-hime, the younger sister of Katabu, the Kimi of Miwo, and there was born the child Oho-iratume; next, Maroko no Miko; next, Mimi no Miko; next, Aka-hime no iratume. (Four children)
Again he took as wife Abe no Haye-hime, and there was born the child Wakaya no iratume; next, Tsubura no iratume; next, Adu no Miko. (Three children)
This emperor had altogether nineteen children. (Seven princes and twelve princesses) Among them, Ame-kuni-oshi-haruki-hiro-nihwa no Mikoto ruled the kingdom.
Next, Hiro-kuni-oshi-take-kana-hi no Mikoto ruled the kingdom. Next, Take-wo-hiro-kuni-oshi-tate no Mikoto ruled the kingdom. Next, Sasage no Miko worshipped at the shrine of Ise.
During this reign, Iha-wi, the Kimi of Tsukushi, disobeyed the emperor’s commands and committed many indignities.
Therefore, both Arakahi, the Oho-muraji of the Mono no be, and Kanamura, the Muraji of the Oho- tomo, were dispatched to kill Iha-wi.
The years of the emperor were forty-three. He died on the ninth day of the fourth month of the fourth year of the Sheep.
His tomb is the tomb of Ahi at Mishima.
Hiro-kuni-oshi-take-kana-hi no Mikoto dwelt in the palace of Kanahashi at Magari and ruled the kingdom.
This emperor had no children. He died on the thirteenth day of the third month of the second year of the Hare.
His tomb is in the village of Takaya at Furuchi in Kawachi.
Take-wo-hiro-kuni-oshi-tate no Mikoto dwelt in the palace of Ihorino at Hinokuma and ruled the kingdom.
The emperor took as wife Tachibana no Nakatsu-hime, the daughter of Emperor Oke, and there was born the child Ishi-hime no Mikoto; next, Wo-ishi-hime no Mikoto; next, Kura no Waka-ye no Miko.
Again he took as wife Kawachi no Wakugo-hime and there was born the child Ho no ho no Miko; next, Weha no Miko.
This emperor had altogether five children. (Three princes and two princesses) Ho no ho no Miko is the ancestor of the Kimi of Shibida.
Weha no Miko is the ancestor of the Kimi of Wina and the Kimi of Tadihi.
The Emperor Ame-kuni-oshi-haruki-hiro-nihwa dwelt in the great palace of Shikishima and ruled the kingdom.
The emperor took as wife Ishi-hime no Mikoto, the daughter of the emperor of Hinokuma, and there was born the child Yata no Miko; next, Nuna-kura-huto-tama-shiki no Mikoto; next, Kasanuhi no Miko. (Three children)
Again he took as wife her younger sister Wo-ishi-hime no Mikoto and there was born a child Kami no Miko. (One child)
Again he took as wife Nuka-ko no iratume, the daughter of Hituma, the Omi of Kasuga, and there was born the child Kasuga no Yamada no iratume; next, Maroko no Miko; next, Soga no Kura no Miko. (Three children)
Again he took as wife Kitashi-hime, the daughter of the Oho-omi, Soga no Iramo no Sukune, and there was born the child Tachibana no Toyo-hi no Mikoto; next, a younger sister Ihakuma no Miko;
next, Atori no Miko; next, Toyo-mike-kashigihya-hime no Mikoto; next, another Maroko no Miko; next, Oho-yake no Miko; next, Imigako no Miko; next, Yamashiro no Miko; next, a younger sister Oho-tomo no Miko; next, Sakurawi no Yumi-hari no Miko; next, Mano no Miko; next, Tachibana- moto no Wakugo no Miko; and next, Nedo no Miko. (Thirteen children)
Again he took as wife Wo-ye-hime, the aunt of Kitashi-hime no Mikoto, and there was born the child Uma-ki no Miko; next, Kadtsuraki no Miko; next, Hashihito no Anaho-be no Miko; next, Sakikusa-be no Anaho-be no Miko, also named Sume-irodo; and next, Hatsu-be no Waka-sazaki no Mikoto. (Five children)
This emperor had altogether twenty-five children.
Among them, Nuna-kura-huto-tama-shiki no Mikoto ruled the kingdom. Next, Tachibana no Toyo-hi no Mikoto ruled the kingdom.
Next, Toyo-mike-kashigihya-hime no Mikoto ruled the kingdom. Next, Hatsuse-be no Waka-sazaki no Mikoto ruled the kingdom. Altogether four of his children ruled the kingdom.
Nuna-kura-huto-tama-shiki no Mikoto dwelt in the palace of Osada and ruled the kingdom for fourteen years.
This Emperor took as wife his half-sister Toyo-mike-kasagihya-hime no Mikoto and there was born the child Shizu-kahi no Miko, also named Kahi-dako no Miko; next, Takeda no Miko, also named Wo-kahi no Miko; next, Woharida no Miko; next, Kadtsuraki no Miko; next, Umori no Miko; next, Whari no Miko; next, Tame no Miko; next, Sakurawi no Yumi-hari no Miko. (Eight children)
Again, he took as wife Wo-kuma-ko no iratume, the daughter of the Obito of Oho-ka in Ise, and there was born the child Huto-hime no Mikoto; next, Takara no Miko, also named Nukade-hime no Miko. (Two children)
Again he took as wife Hiro-hime no Mikoto, the daughter of Okinaga no Hiko-hito, also named Maroko no Miko; next, Saka-nobori no Miko; next, Udi no Miko. (Three children)
Again he took as wife Omina-ko no iratume, the daughter of Kasuga no Nakatsu-wakugo, and there was born the child Naniha no Miko; next, Kuhata no Miko; next, Kasuga no Miko; next, Oho-mata no Miko. (Four children)
This emperor had altogether seventeen children.
Of them, the crown prince Hiko-hito took as wife his half-sister Tamura no Miko, also named Nukade-hime no Mikoto, and there were born these children: the emperor who ruled the kingdom in the palace of Wokamoto; next, Nakatsu-miko; next, Tara no Miko. (Three children)
Again, he took as wife Oho-mata no Miko, the younger sister of Aya no Miko, and there was born the child Chinu no Miko; next, a younger daughter Kuhata no Miko. (Two children)
Again, he took as wife his half-sister Yumi-hari no Miko; and there was born the child Yamashiro no Miko; next, Kasanuhi no Miko. (Two children)
There were altogether seven children. He died on the sixth day of the fourth month of the first year of the Dragon. His tomb is at Shinaga in Kawachi.
Tachibana no Toyo-hi no Mikoto dwelt in the palace of Ike no be and ruled the kingdom for three years.
This emperor took as wife Oho-gitashi-hime, the daughter of the Oho-omi, Iname no Sukune, and there was born a child Tame no Miko. (One child)
Again he took as wife his half-sister Hashihito no Anaho-be no Miko and there was born the child Uhe no Miya no Umayado no Toyo-to-mimi no Mikoto; next, Kume no Miko; next, Wekuri no Miko; next, Mamuta no Miko. (Four children)
Next he took as his wife Ihi no ko, the daughter of Hiro, the Kura no Obito of Tagima, and there was born the child Tagima no Miko; next, a younger daughter Sugashiroko no iratume.
He died on the fifteenth day of the fourth month of the fourth year of the Sheep. The tomb of this emperor was above the pond at Ihare, but was later moved to the middle tomb at Shinaga.
Emperor Hatsuse-be-no-waka-sazaki dwelt in the palace of Shiba-kaki at Kurahashi and ruled the kingdom for four years. He died on the thirteenth day of the eleventh month of the ninth year of Rat.
His tomb is on the hill at Kurahashi.
Toyo-mike-kashigihya-hime no Mikoto dwelt in the palace of Wharida and ruled the kingdom for thirty-seven years. She died on the fifteenth day of the third month of the fifth year of the Rat.
Her tomb was on the hill at Oho-no, but was later moved to the large tomb of Shinaga.