Emperor Jinmu神武天皇

Emperor Kan'yamato Iwarebiko (神日本磐余彦天皇) had the personal name Hikohohodemi. He was the fourth son of Hikonagisatake Ugayafukiaezu no Mikoto, and his mother was Tamayorihime, the youngest daughter of the god of the sea.

The emperor was bright and understanding from his birth, and his will was firm. At fifteen he was made crown prince. When he was grown he married Ahiratsuhime (吾平津媛) of the village of Ata in the land of Himuka and made her his consort, and she bore Tagishimimi no Mikoto (手研耳命).

When he reached the age of forty-five he spoke to his elder brothers and his children.

"Of old our heavenly gods Takamimusubi no Mikoto and Ohohirume no Mikoto raised up this land of Toyoashihara no Mizuho and gave it to our heavenly ancestor Hikoho no Ninigi no Mikoto. Then Hono Ninigi no Mikoto opened the gate of heaven, parted the road of the clouds, drove his way before him, and came and stayed. At that time the age was of a vast wildness, and the season was dark and untaught. Therefore in that darkness he nurtured what was right and ruled this western corner.

Our imperial ancestors and our imperial fathers were divine and sagely, and they heaped up blessings and doubled their brightness through many years. From the time our heavenly ancestor came down and left his traces until now, one million seven hundred and ninety-two thousand four hundred and seventy years and more have passed.

Yet the far and distant lands have still not been moistened by the grace of a king. In the end every district has its lord and every village its elder, and each divides his own borders and tramples upon the others.

I have heard from Shiotsuchi no Oji that there is a fair land in the east, with green mountains ringing it on four sides, and that within it there is one who came flying down on the rock boat of heaven. I think that land must surely be wide enough to spread out our great work and to dwell in brightness over all under heaven. Is it not the center of the six quarters? And the one who came flying down, does this not mean Nigihayahi (饒速日)? Why should we not go there and make our capital?"

The imperial princes answered, "The reason is truly clear. We too have always thought so. You should do it soon."

In this year the year sign was gabin.

In the winter of that year, in the tenth month, whose first day was jeongsa, on the day sinyu, the emperor himself led the imperial princes and the ships of the army and went east to attack. They came to the strait of Hayasui (速吸).

At that time a fisherman came in a small boat. The emperor called him over and asked him, "Who are you?"

He answered, "I am a god of this land. My name is Uzuhiko (珍彦). I was angling for fish in the bent inlet, and I heard that the son of the heavenly gods was coming, so I have come at once to meet him and serve him."

He asked him again, "Can you be my guide?" He answered, "I will lead the way."

The emperor commanded that the end of a pole be given to the fisherman to hold, and he was drawn into the imperial ship and made the guide of the sea road. Then a name was granted to him, and he was called Shiinetsuhiko (椎根津彦). He is the founder of the Yamato no Ataibe (倭直部).

They went on and came to Usa (菟狹) in the land of Tsukushi. At that time there were the ancestors of the Usa no Kuni no Miyatsuko, and their names were Usatsuhiko and Usatsuhime. They built the Ashihitotsuagari no Miya (一柱騰宮) on the upper reaches of the Usa river and served a feast there. At this time the emperor commanded that Usatsuhime be given as a wife to his attendant Amenotaneko no Mikoto (天種子命). Amenotaneko no Mikoto is the distant ancestor of the Nakatomi clan.

In the eleventh month, whose first day was byeongsul, on the day gabo, the emperor came to the strait of Oka (崗) in the land of Tsukushi.

In the twelfth month, whose first day was byeongjin, on the day imo, he came to the land of Aki and stayed at the Enomiya (埃宮).

In the year eulmyo, in spring, in the third month, whose first day was gabin, on the day gimi, he moved on and entered the land of Kibi, and he raised a temporary palace and stayed there. It is called the Takashima no Miya (高嶋宮). For three years he put boats and oars in order and stored up soldiers and provisions, meaning to settle all under heaven at a single stroke.

In the year muo, in spring, in the second month, whose first day was jeongyu, on the day jeongmi, the imperial army went east at last. The prow of one ship touched the stern of another. Just as they came to the cape of Naniwa (難波), a rushing tide was running very swift. For this reason the place was named the land of Namihaya (浪速國), and it is also called Namihana (浪花). The name Naniwa that is said now is a corruption.

In the third month, whose first day was jeongmyo, on the day byeongja, they went up against the stream and came straight to the harbor of Aokumo Shirakata in the village of Kusaka in the land of Kawachi.

In summer, in the fourth month, whose first day was byeongsin, on the day gabjin, the imperial army put its soldiers in order and went on foot toward Tatsuta. But the road was narrow and steep, and men could not walk abreast. So they turned back and meant to cross Mount Ikoma eastward and enter Nakatsukuni.

At that time Nagasunehiko (長髄彦) heard of it and said, "The reason the sons of the heavenly gods are coming must be to take my land." He raised all the soldiers under him, blocked them at the slope of Kusae (孔舍衞坂), and joined battle with them.

A stray arrow struck Itsuse no Mikoto in the elbow and the shin. The imperial army could not press forward and fight.

The emperor was troubled by this, and he turned a divine plan over in his heart and said, "I am a descendant of the god of the sun. Yet I face the sun as I strike these rebels, and this goes against the way of heaven. It would be better to draw back, to show weakness, to worship the gods of heaven and earth with proper rites, to carry the might of the god of the sun on my back, and to bear down upon them following my shadow. If we do so, our blades will never be bloodied, and the rebels will surely be broken of themselves."

All of them said, "It is so." Then he ordered the army, "Halt for now, and do not go forward again." So he led the army back, and the rebels too did not dare press them.

They drew back and came to the harbor of Kusaka, and there they set up their shields and gave a great war cry. For this reason the name of that harbor was changed to Tatetsu (盾津). The name Tadetsu that is said now is a corruption.

At the beginning, in the battle of Kusae, a man hid in a great tree and escaped harm. He pointed at the tree and said, "Its kindness is like a mother's." The people of that time therefore named the place the village of Omoki (母木邑). The name Omonnoki that is said now is a corruption.

In the fifth month, whose first day was byeongin, on the day gyeyu, the army came to the strait of Yamaki in Chinu (茅渟). At that time the arrow wound of Itsuse no Mikoto pained him greatly. He stroked his sword and gave a great war cry, saying, "How bitter. A great man is wounded by the hand of rebels, and is he to die without requital?"

The people of that time therefore named that place Onominato (雄水門). They went on and came to Kamayama (竃山) in the land of Kii, and there Itsuse no Mikoto died in the camp. He was buried at Kamayama.

In the sixth month, whose first day was eulmi, on the day jeongsa, the army came to the village of Nakusa. There they cut down the one called Nakusatobe (名草戸畔). At last they crossed Sano and came to the village of Kumano. They climbed Amanoiwatate (天磐盾) as well. Then they led the army on and went forward little by little.

In the midst of the sea they met a fierce wind of a sudden, and the imperial ship was tossed about. Then Inai no Mikoto lamented and said, "Alas. My ancestor is a god of heaven and my mother is a god of the sea. Why do they bring me to grief on land and bring me to grief again upon the sea?" When he had finished speaking he drew his sword, went into the sea, and became Saimochi no Kami (鋤持神).

Mikeirino no Mikoto also took it bitterly and said, "My mother and my aunt are both gods of the sea. Why then do they raise the waves and drown us?" Thereupon he trod upon the crests of the waves and went to the land of Tokoyo.

The emperor went on alone with his son Tagishimimi no Mikoto, leading the army, and came to the harbor of Arasaka in Kumano. There he cut down the one called Nishikitobe (丹敷戸畔). At that time a god breathed out a poisonous air, and men and beasts alike grew weak. Because of this the imperial army could not rouse itself again.

At that time there was a man of that place whose name was Kumano no Takakuraji (熊野高倉下). Of a sudden, in a dream at night, Amaterasu Omikami said to Takemikazuchi no Kami, "The sound of tumult is still heard in Ashihara no Nakatsukuni. You should go down once more and strike them."

Takemikazuchi no Kami answered, "Even if I do not go myself, if I send down the sword with which I settled the land, the land will be settled of itself."

Amaterasu Omikami said, "Good."

Then Takemikazuchi no Kami said to Takakuraji, "My sword is called Futsunomitama (韴靈). I will now set it inside your storehouse.

Take it and offer it to the heavenly grandson." Takakuraji said, "Yes, yes," and he awoke.

The next morning he opened the storehouse and looked, as the teaching in the dream had said, and indeed there was a sword that had fallen and stood upside down on the boards of the storehouse floor. He took it at once and presented it.

At that time the emperor happened to be asleep, and he awoke of a sudden and said, "Why have I slept so long?" Then the soldiers who had been struck by the poison all woke and rose again.

After this the imperial army meant to go on to Nakatsukuni, but the mountains were steep and cut off, and there was no road left by which to go. So they wandered about and did not know where to make their way.

Then, in a dream at night, Amaterasu Omikami taught the emperor and said, "I now send the Yatagarasu (頭八咫烏). You should make it your guide."

Indeed a Yatagarasu came flying down out of the sky. The emperor said, "The coming of this crow agrees of itself with my auspicious dream. How great, how shining. Does our imperial ancestor Amaterasu Omikami mean to help us complete the work of our foundation?"

At this time Hi no Omi no Mikoto (日臣命), the distant ancestor of the Otomo clan, led the Okume and had charge of the great host. He trod the mountains and opened a road. He sought out the way the crow was going, looked up after it and followed it, and at last reached Shimotsuagata in Uda. For this reason the place they reached was named the village of Uda no Ukachi (菟田穿邑).

Then the emperor praised Hi no Omi no Mikoto and commanded, "You are loyal and brave, and you have besides the merit of having led the way. Therefore I change your name to Michi no Omi (道臣)."

In autumn, in the eighth month, whose first day was gabo, on the day eulmi, the emperor sent to summon Eukashi and Otoukashi. These two men were the chiefs of the district of Uda.

At that time Eukashi did not come, and Otoukashi came forward at once. He bowed at the gate of the camp and said, "My elder brother Eukashi has done a rebellious thing. He heard that the heavenly grandson was about to arrive, and he raised troops at once and meant to fall upon him. When he saw the might of the imperial army from afar he was afraid and did not dare to face it. So he has hidden his troops away, and he has built a new hall for the moment and set a trap inside the chamber. He means to ask you to a feast and to raise his revolt there. I beg you to know this deceit and to make good provision against it."

The emperor at once sent Michi no Omi no Mikoto to look into his rebellious doing. Then Michi no Omi no Mikoto learned in full that there was a mind to do harm, and in great anger he rebuked him and said, "Rebel, go into the house you have built yourself."

He gripped his sword, drew his bow, and pressed him and urged him to go in. Eukashi had drawn guilt upon himself before heaven, and there was nothing he could plead. So he trod upon his own trap and was crushed to death. Then they laid out his corpse and cut it, and the blood that flowed sank their ankles in it. Therefore that place was named Uda no Chihara (菟田血原).

After this Otoukashi set out oxen and wine in plenty and feasted the imperial army in reward. The emperor shared out the wine and the meat among the soldiers, and then he sang.

"Unotakakini shigiwanaharu wagamatsuya shigiwasayarazu isukuhashi kujirasayari konamiga nakowasaba tachisobanomino nakekuo (于能多伽機珥 辭藝和奈陂蘆 和餓末菟夜 辭藝破佐夜羅孺 伊殊區波辭 區旎羅佐夜離 固奈瀰餓 那居波佐麼 多智曾麼能未廼 那鶏句塢)"

"Kokishihiene uwanariga nakowasaba ichisakakinomino ohokekuo kokidahiene (居氣辭被惠禰 宇破奈利餓 那居波佐磨 伊智佐介幾未迺 於朋鶏句塢 居氣塢被惠禰)" — This sets down sounds only, and is not turned into meaning.

This is called the Kume song (來目歌). When this song is performed in the music office now, there is still a greater and a lesser measure of the hand and a thicker and a thinner sound. This is a form left over from the days of old.

After this the emperor wished to look over the land of Yoshino, and so he went out from the village of Uda no Ukachi and made a progress, leading light troops himself.

When he came to Yoshino, a man came out from inside a well, shining and with a tail. The emperor asked him, "What man are you?" He answered, "I am a god of this land. My name is Ihika (井光)." He is the founder of the Yoshino no Obitobe.

Going on a little further, there was another who had a tail and came out parting the rocks. The emperor asked him, "What man are you?" He answered, "I am the son of Iwaoshiwaku (磐排別)." He is the founder of the Yoshino no Kunisube.

Going west along the water, there was another who had made a fish weir and was taking fish. The emperor asked him. He answered, "I am the son of Niemotsu (苞苴擔)." He is the founder of the Ata no Ukaibe.

In the ninth month, whose first day was gabja, on the day mujin, the emperor climbed to the top of Mount Takakura in Uda and looked out over the country.

At that time there were the Yasotakeru (八十梟帥) on the hill of Kunimi. They had also set women soldiers at Mesaka (女坂), men soldiers at Osaka (男坂), and charcoal at Sumisaka (墨坂). The names Mesaka and Osaka and Sumisaka arose from this.

There were also the troops of Eshiki, and they filled the village of Iware. The places the rebels held were all strong and difficult ground, and so the roads were cut and blocked, and there was nowhere to pass.

The emperor hated this, and that night he prayed of himself and lay down. In his dream a god of heaven taught him and said, "Take the earth from inside the shrine of Amenokaguyama and make eighty Amenohiraka (天平瓮), and make the Itsuhe (嚴瓮) as well. Then worship the gods of heaven and the gods of earth with reverence, and make the Itsunokashiri (嚴咒詛) too. If you do this, the rebels will bow down of themselves."

The emperor reverently received the teaching of the dream and meant to do accordingly.

Then Otoukashi spoke again and said, "In the village of Shiki in the land of Yamato there are the Yasotakeru of Shiki, and in the village of Takaohari there are the Yasotakeru of Akagane. All these bands mean to stand against you and fight. I am quietly troubled for you. You should now take the clay of Amenokaguyama and make the Amenohiraka, and worship the gods of the heavenly shrines and of the shrines of the land. If you strike the rebels after that, they will be easy to sweep away."

The emperor had already taken the words of the dream for a lucky sign, and when he heard what Otoukashi said,

he was the more glad at heart. Then he had Shiinetsuhiko put on worn clothes and a straw cloak and a straw hat, so that he took the look of an old man, and he had Otoukashi put a winnowing basket over himself, so that he took the look of an old woman.

Then he commanded them, "You two shall go to Amenokaguyama, take the earth of its summit in secret, and come back. Whether the work of our foundation will be accomplished or not, I will divine by you. Strive, and be careful."

At this time the soldiers of the rebels filled the roads, and it was hard to go and return. Then Shiinetsuhiko prayed and said, "If our sovereign is able to settle this land, let the road open of itself. If he is not able, the rebels will surely block us." When he had finished speaking he went straight on.

Then the whole band of rebels saw the two of them and laughed aloud and said, "How ugly they are, this old man and this old woman." They opened the road together and let them pass. The two reached the mountain, took the earth and came back.

At this the emperor was greatly pleased. With this clay he made eighty Yasohiraka, eighty Amenotakujiri (天手抉) and the Itsuhe, and he went up to the upper reaches of the Nyu river and worshiped the gods of heaven and the gods of earth. Then at Asahara on the Uda river he laid a curse upon them, as it were upon the foam of the water.

The emperor prayed again and said, "I will now make candy with the eighty Hiraka and without water. If the candy is made, then I shall surely settle all under heaven sitting still, and I shall not borrow the might of the blade." So he made candy, and the candy was made of itself.

He prayed again and said, "I will now sink the Itsuhe in the river of Nyu. If the fish, great and small alike, are all made drunk and float down the stream as the leaves of the maki tree float clean upon it, then I shall surely be able to settle this land.

If it is not so, then in the end nothing will be accomplished." So he sank it in the river, and its mouth turned downward. In a little while the fish all floated up and gaped at the surface as they went with the water.

Then Shiinetsuhiko saw it and reported it. The emperor was greatly pleased, and he pulled up five hundred sakaki trees from the upper reaches of the Nyu river and worshiped the many gods with them. From this time the setting up of the Itsu (嚴) began.

Then he commanded Michi no Omi no Mikoto, "I will now serve Takamimusubi no Mikoto myself as the Utsushiiwai (顯齋). I make you the master of the rite, and I give you the name of Itsuhime (嚴媛)."

And he named the clay jars that were set out the Itsuhe, and he named the fire Itsu no Kagutsuchi, the water Itsu no Mitsuhanome, the grain Itsu no Ukanome, the firewood Itsu no Yamatsuchi, and the grass Itsu no Nozuchi.

In winter, in the tenth month, on the first day gyesa, the emperor tasted the food of the Itsuhe, put his soldiers in order and went out. First he struck the Yasotakeru at the hill of Kunimi, broke them and cut them down. In this battle the emperor was set upon certain victory, and so he sang.

"Kamukazeno isenoumino ohiishiniya ihahimotoheru shitamino shitamino agoyo shitadamino ihahimotoheri uchiteshiyamamu uchiteshiyamamu (伽牟伽筮能 伊齊能于瀰能 於費異之珥夜 異波臂茂等倍屡 之多瀰能 之多瀰能 阿誤豫 之多太瀰能 異波比茂等倍離 于智弖之夜莽務 于智弖之夜莽務)"

The meaning of the song is that the great stone stands for the hill of Kunimi.

After this the rest of their band was still many, and their hearts were hard to fathom. So he looked back and commanded Michi no Omi no Mikoto, "You shall lead the Okumebe, build a great hall in the village of Osaka, set out a rich feast, lure the rebels in and take them."

Michi no Omi no Mikoto received the secret order, dug the ground at Osaka, chose out the fiercest of the imperial soldiers and had them sit mingled with the rebels. He set a secret sign with them and said, "When the wine has gone to their heads, I shall rise and sing. When you hear the sound of my song, strike the rebels all at once."

After this the seats were settled and the wine went round. The rebels did not know that the imperial side had a hidden plan, and they gave way and were soon drunk. Then Michi no Omi no Mikoto rose and sang.

"Osakano omuroyani hitosawani irioritomo hitosawani kiirioritomo mitsumitsushi kumenokoraga kubutsutsui ishitsutsuimochi uchiteshiyamamu (於佐箇廼於朋務露夜珥 比苔瑳破而 異離烏利苔毛 比苔瑳破而 枳伊離烏利苔毛 瀰都瀰都志 倶梅能固邏餓 勾鶩都都伊 異志都都伊毛智 于智弖之夜莽務)"

Then the imperial soldiers heard the song, and together they drew their kabutsuchi swords.

They killed the rebels all at once, and of the rebels not one was left to chew his food. The imperial army was greatly pleased, looked up at heaven and laughed. Then they sang.

"Imawayo imawayo aashiyao imadanimo agoyo imadanimo agoyo (伊莽波豫 伊莽波豫 阿阿時夜塢 伊莽儾而毛阿誤豫 伊莽儾而毛阿誤豫)"

That the Kumebe laugh aloud now after they have sung is for this reason. They sang again.

"Emishiohiri momonahito hitowaiedomo tamukahimosezu (愛濔詩烏毘利 毛毛那比苔 比苔破易陪廼毛 多牟伽毘毛勢儒)"

— All these songs are written for their sound, and they are not rendered by meaning.

All of this was sung in obedience to the secret order, and none of it was done at their own will.

Then the emperor said, "To win a battle and not grow proud is the conduct of a good general. The chief rebels are destroyed now, but those who share their evil are ten bands and more, and they are in an uproar. Their hearts cannot be known. How can I stay long in one place and take no measure against a turn of events?" So he moved the camp to another place.

In the eleventh month, whose first day was gyehae, on the day gisa, the imperial army rose in full strength and meant to attack Shikihiko. First a messenger was sent to summon Eshiki, but Eshiki did not obey the order. Then the Yatagarasu was sent to call him.

At that time the crow came to his camp and cried, "The son of the heavenly gods calls you. Izawa, izawa."

Eshiki grew angry and said, "I heard that the god who presses down from heaven had come, and I was in a rage over it. Why then does this crow cry so ill?" He drew his bow and shot at it, and the crow at once turned aside and went away.

Next it came to the house of Otoshiki and cried, "The son of the heavenly gods calls you. Izawa, izawa."

Then Otoshiki changed his face and said, "I heard that the god who presses down from heaven had come, and I have feared it morning and evening. Good crow, is it thus that you cry?"

He made eight hirade (葉盤) at once, filled them with food and served the crow. Then he followed the crow, came forward and said, "My elder brother Eshiki has heard that the son of the heavenly gods is coming, and he has gathered the Yasotakeru and made ready arms and armor to fight it out. You should plan against this early."

The emperor then gathered his generals and asked them, "Eshiki has indeed the mind of a rebel, and he does not come when he is summoned. What is to be done?"

The generals said, "Eshiki is a crafty rebel. You should first send Otoshiki to reason with him, and persuade Ekuraji and Otokuraji as well. If in the end they will not come over and submit, it will not be too late to raise the army against them after that."

So Otoshiki was sent to set out the gain and the harm before them. But Eshiki and the others still held to their foolish plan and would not bow and submit.

Then Shiinetsuhiko laid a plan and said, "You should first send out our women soldiers by the road of Osaka. When the rebels see them, they will surely send all their best troops and come running. Then we shall drive our strong soldiers straight against Sumisaka, take the water of the Uda river and pour it on their charcoal fires, and come upon them unlooked for in a moment. Then the breaking of them is certain."

The emperor thought his plan good, and he sent out the women soldiers to face them. The rebels thought a great army had already come, and they waited for them with all their strength.

Before this the imperial army had taken whatever it attacked and won whatever it fought, but the men in armor were not without weariness. Therefore he sang, to comfort the hearts of his generals and his soldiers. He sang.

"Tatanamete inasanoyamano konomayumo iyukimamorai tatakaeba warewayaenu shimatsutori ukaigatomo imasukenikone (哆哆奈梅弖 伊那瑳能椰摩能 虚能莽由毛 易喩耆摩毛羅毘 多多介陪麼 和例破椰隈怒 之摩途等利 宇介譬餓等茂 伊莽輸開珥虚禰)"

Then indeed the men soldiers crossed Sumisaka, struck them from behind on both sides and broke them, and they cut down Eshiki and the rest of their Takeru.

In the twelfth month, whose first day was gyesa, on the day byeongsin, the imperial army struck Nagasunehiko at last. They fought battle after battle and could not win.

Then of a sudden the sky darkened and hail fell. A shining kite of golden color came flying and settled on the tip of the emperor's bow. The kite shone and flashed like running lightning. Because of this the soldiers of Nagasunehiko were all dazzled and could not fight with strength again.

Nagasune was the old name of this district, and it was made a man's name as well. When the imperial army had the good omen of the kite, the people of that time named the place the village of Tobi (鵄邑). The name Tomi (鳥見) that is said now is a corruption.

Of old, in the battle of Kusae, Itsuse no Mikoto was struck by an arrow and died. The emperor held this in his heart and always bore his anger. When this battle came, his mind was to punish them to the end. So he sang.

"Mitsumitsushi kumenokoraga kakimotoni awafuniwa kamirahitomoto sonegamoto sonemetsunagite uchiteshiyamamu (瀰都瀰都志 倶梅能故邏餓 介耆茂等珥 阿波赴珥破 介瀰羅毘苔茂苔 曾迺餓毛苔 曾禰梅屠那藝弖 于笞弖之夜莽務)"

He sang again.

"Mitsumitsushi kumenokoraga kakimotoni ueshihajikami kuchibihiku warewawasurezu uchiteshiyamamu (瀰都瀰都志 倶梅能故邏餓 介耆茂等珥 宇惠志破餌介瀰 勾致弭比倶 和例破涴輸例儒 于智弖之夜莽務)"

Then he loosed the troops again and attacked of a sudden. All these songs are called Kume songs. They are named straight from those who sang them.

Then Nagasunehiko sent a man to speak to the emperor and say, "There was once a son of the heavenly gods who came down from heaven on the rock boat of heaven and stayed here. His name is Kushitama Nigihayahi no Mikoto (櫛玉饒速日命). He married my younger sister Mikashikiyahime (三炊屋媛),

and at last they had a child, whose name is Umashimade no Mikoto (可美眞手命). Therefore I hold Nigihayahi no Mikoto for my lord and serve him. How should there be two kinds of sons of the heavenly gods? How is it that you call yourself a son of the heavenly gods as well and mean to take another man's land? I have weighed it in my mind, and I do not find it worthy of belief."

The emperor said, "The sons of the heavenly gods are many too. If the one you hold for your lord is truly a son of the heavenly gods, he must surely have a token. Let us show them to each other."

Nagasunehiko took one Amenohahaya arrow of Nigihayahi no Mikoto and his kachiyuki (歩靭) and showed them to the emperor with reverence. The emperor looked at them and said, "The matter is not false."

In return he showed Nagasunehiko one Amenohahaya arrow that he carried and his kachiyuki. Nagasunehiko saw the token of heaven and was the more careful and afraid at heart. But the weapons of evil were already joined, and the course of it could not be halted midway, and he held to his deluded plan and did not change his mind again.

Nigihayahi no Mikoto knew from the first that the heavenly gods had given their care to the heavenly grandson alone. He saw too that Nagasunehiko was stubborn by nature and could not be taught what lies between heaven and man. So he killed him, led his people, and came over and submitted.

The emperor had heard from the first that Nigihayahi no Mikoto was one who had come down from heaven, and now that he had indeed shown loyal service, he praised him and held him dear. He is the distant ancestor of the Mononobe clan.

In the year gimi, in spring, in the second month, whose first day was imjin, on the day sinhae, he ordered the generals to train the soldiers.

At this time there was one called Niikitobe (新城戸畔) at the cape of Hata hill in the district of Soho, one called Kose no Hafuri (居勢祝) at the foot of the slope of Wani, and one called I no Hafuri (猪祝) at the cape of Nagara hill in Hosomi. The Tsuchigumo (土蜘蛛) of these three places all trusted in their own courage and strength and would not come to court. The emperor sent out troops in separate bodies and cut them all down.

There were Tsuchigumo in the village of Takaohari as well. Their bodies were short and their hands and feet long, and they were like dwarfs. The imperial army wove nets of arrowroot vine, threw them over the Tsuchigumo and killed them. For this reason the name of that village was changed to Kazuraki (葛城).

Now the land of Iware had the old name of Katai (片居), and it was also called Katatachi (片立). When the imperial army broke the rebels, the great host gathered and filled that land. For this reason the name was changed to Iware.

Some say this. In a former day the emperor tasted the food of the Itsuhe, sent out the army and went to attack. At that time the Yasotakeru of Shiki were gathered and settled in that place, and they indeed fought a great battle with the emperor and were destroyed in the end by the imperial army. Therefore it was named the village of Iware.

Again, the place where the imperial army stood and put its questions is called Takeda (猛田), and the place where they made a fort is named Kida (城田). And the place where the bands of rebels fell dead in battle and the corpses lay pillowed on their arms is called Tsuramakita (頬枕田).

In the ninth month of the autumn of the year before, the emperor secretly took the clay of Amenokaguyama, made the Yasohiraka, kept the fast himself and worshiped the many gods, and so he was able at last to settle the realm. Therefore the place where the earth was taken was named Haniyasu (埴安).

In the third month, whose first day was sinyu, on the day jeongmyo, he issued a command.

"It is six years now since I went east to attack. By the might of august heaven the evil bands have been cut down. The border lands are not yet clear and what is left of the baneful ones still stands in the way, but in the land of Nakatsukuni there is no more wind and dust.

It is truly right to widen the imperial capital and to lay out a great plan. Yet the age now belongs to this hard and dark time, the hearts of the people are plain and simple, they nest in trees and dwell in caves, and the customs they have learned are always so. When a great man sets up an institution, what is right must always follow the time. If there is truly a gain for the people, what harm is there in the work of a sage?

I shall also part and open the mountains and the woods, lay out palaces and halls, take my place upon the precious seat with reverence, and give peace to the common people. Above, I shall answer the virtue of the heavenly spirits who gave me the land. Below, I shall spread the heart of the imperial grandson who nurtured what is right. After that, to join the six quarters and open the capital, and to cover the eight quarters (八紘) and make them my house, is this not right as well?

When I look at the land of Kashihara southeast of Mount Unebi, is it not the inmost place of the country? It may be governed from there."

In this month he ordered the officials to begin the building of the imperial dwelling.

In the year gyeongsin, in autumn, in the eighth month, whose first day was gyechuk, on the day mujin, the emperor was about to set up his principal consort, and he sought widely again among the noble houses.

Then a man reported and said, "Kotoshironushi no Kami had a child by Tamakushihime, the daughter of Mishima no Mizokuimimi no Kami, and her name is Himetataraisuzuhime no Mikoto. She is the fairest in the land."

The emperor was pleased.

In the ninth month, whose first day was imo, on the day eulsa, he took in Himetataraisuzuhime no Mikoto and made her his principal consort.

In the year sinyu, in spring, in the first month, on the first day gyeongjin, the emperor ascended the throne at the Kashihara palace. This year was made the first year of the emperor. He raised his principal consort to be empress. She bore the princes Kan'yai no Mikoto (神八井命) and Kannunakawamimi no Mikoto (神渟名川耳尊).

Therefore the words of old say this. At Kashihara in Unebi he set the pillars of the palace thick upon the roots of the rock below, and he raised the chigi (搏風) high into Takamanohara, and he was the first emperor to rule all under heaven. His name is Emperor Kan'yamato Iwarebiko Hohodemi.

At the beginning, on the day when the emperor first opened the foundation of heaven, Michi no Omi no Mikoto, the distant ancestor of the Otomo clan, led the Okumebe and received the secret plan, and he was able to sweep the baneful air away with songs of hidden meaning and with reversed speech (倒語). The use of reversed speech began here.

In the second year of his reign, in spring, in the second month, whose first day was gabjin, on the day eulsa, the emperor fixed the merits and gave rewards. He gave Michi no Omi no Mikoto a house site and had him live in the village of Tsukisaka, and he held him dear above the rest. He also had the Okume live in the land by the river west of Mount Unebi. That it is called the village of Kume now is for this reason.

He made Uzuhiko the Yamato no Kuni no Miyatsuko. He gave the village of Takeda to Otoukashi and made him the Takeda no Agatanushi. He is the distant ancestor of the Uda no Mohitoribe. Otoshiki, whose name was Kurohaya, was made the Shiki no Agatanushi. He also made the one called Tsurugine (釼根) the Kazuraki no Kuni no Miyatsuko.

The Yatagarasu too was included in the giving of rewards. Its descendants are the Kadono no Tonomori no Agatanushibe.

In the fourth year of his reign, in spring, in the second month, whose first day was imsul, on the day gabsin, he proclaimed, "The spirits of our imperial ancestors came down from heaven, looked upon us, and helped my person with their light. Now the many rebels are settled and there is no trouble within the seas. I should worship the heavenly gods in the suburbs and so set forth my great filial duty."

Then he set up an altar ground (靈畤) in the midst of Mount Tomi. He named that land Kamitsuono no Haribara and Shimotsuono no Haribara, and there he worshiped the imperial ancestors and the heavenly gods.

In the thirty-first year of his reign, in summer, in the fourth month, on the first day eulyu, the imperial carriage went out on a progress. He climbed the hill of Hohoma at Wakigami, looked around at the shape of the land and said, "How fair. We have gained a country. It is a land truly narrow, like the utsuyufu (內木錦), and yet it is like a dragonfly with its tail bent round to meet its head." From this the name Akitsushima (秋津洲) first came to be.

Of old Izanagi no Mikoto spoke of this land and said, "Yamato is the land of Urayasu (浦安國). It is the land of Hosohokochidaru (細戈千足國). It is the land of Shiwakami no Hotsuma (磯輪上秀眞國)."

Onamuchi no Okami also spoke of it and said, "It is Tamakaki no Uchitsukuni (玉牆内國)."

And when Nigihayahi no Mikoto rode the rock boat of heaven and flew about the great void, he looked down upon this region and came down to it. Therefore he spoke of it and called it Soramitsu Yamato no Kuni (虚空見日本國).

In the thirty-second year of his reign, in spring, in the first month, whose first day was imja, on the day gabin, the prince Kannunakawamimi no Mikoto was set up as crown prince.

In the seventy-sixth year of his reign, in spring, in the third month, whose first day was gabo, on the day gabjin, the emperor died at the Kashihara palace. He was then a hundred and twenty-seven years old. In the ninth month of the autumn of the next year, whose first day was eulmyo, on the day byeongin, he was buried in the tomb northeast of Mount Unebi.