Emperor Ingyō允恭天皇

Emperor Oasazuma Wakugo no Sukune (雄朝津間稚子宿禰天皇) was the younger brother of Emperor Mizuhawake by the same mother. From his childhood until he wore the hair of a boy the emperor was kind and generous, and sparing toward those below him. When he was grown his illness was heavy, and his bearing was not at ease.

In the fifth year, in spring, the first month, Emperor Mizuhawake died. Then the great ministers took counsel. "Now among the sons of Emperor Ōsazaki there are Prince Oasazuma Wakugo no Sukune and Prince Ōkusaka. But Prince Oasazuma Wakugo no Sukune is the elder, and he is kind and dutiful."

Then they chose a good day, knelt, and offered up the seal of the emperor.

Prince Oasazuma Wakugo no Sukune refused.

"I have not the help of heaven. Long have I been bound by a heavy illness, and I cannot walk. Moreover, wishing to be rid of the illness, I did not speak of it to anyone, but secretly hurt my body in treating it, and still it did not mend. For this the former emperor rebuked me. 'Though you suffer illness, you have hurt your body at your own will. What unfilial act is worse than this? Though you live long, in the end you will not carry on the work.' And that my two elder brothers, the emperors, thought me foolish and made light of me is known to all the great ministers.

Now all under heaven is a great vessel, and the throne is a great work. And to be father and mother to the people is the office of the sage and the wise. How should it be laid on one below who is foolish? It is right to choose out a worthy king again and set him up. I dare not take it on."

The ministers bowed twice and spoke. "The throne may not stand empty long, and the command of heaven may not be put off with humility. Now the great king holds back the time and goes against the many, and does not set right his name and his place. Your servants fear that the hope of the people will be cut off. We pray the great king, though it be a labour, still to ascend the throne of emperor."

Prince Oasazuma Wakugo no Sukune said. "To uphold the ancestral shrine and the altars of the land is a heavy thing. My illness is deep, and I am not enough to be named for it." Still he refused and would not listen.

Then the ministers all pressed him firmly. "Your servants humbly consider that for the great king to uphold the ancestral shrine of the imperial house is what most fittingly may be named. Even all the myriad people under heaven hold it fit. We pray the great king to listen."

In the first year, in winter, the twelfth month, the consort Oshisaka no Ōnakatsuhime no Mikoto was grieved that the ministers sighed with care. She took up the water for washing the hands with her own hands and came before the prince. Then she said to him.

"The great king has refused and has not ascended the throne, and the throne stands empty. Years and months have already passed. The ministers and all the officials are troubled and do not know what to do. We pray the great king to follow the hope of the many and take the throne even against his own will."

But the prince would not listen. He turned his back and sat and did not speak. Then Ōnakatsuhime no Mikoto was afraid, and she could not withdraw but waited on him. Four or five watches passed.

At that time it was the last month of winter, and the wind too was bitter and cold. The water in the bowl that Ōnakatsuhime held overflowed, and her arms froze. She could not bear the cold and was near death.

The prince looked back and was startled. He raised her up and said to her. "To take up the succession is a heavy thing, and one may not go to it lightly. For this I have not followed until now. But now the request of the ministers is clear in its reason. How should I refuse to the end?"

Then Ōnakatsuhime no Mikoto looked up and rejoiced, and said to the great ministers. "The prince will listen to the request of the ministers. Now the seal of the emperor should be offered up."

At this the ministers greatly rejoiced. That same day they held up the seal of the emperor, bowed twice, and offered it.

The prince said. "The great ministers together ask me for the sake of all under heaven. How should I dare to refuse to the end?"

So he ascended the throne. In this year the year sign was imja.

In the second year, in spring, the second month, the first day being a byeongsin day, on the giyu day, Oshisaka no Ōnakatsuhime was set up as empress. On this day the Osakabe were appointed for the empress.

The empress bore Prince Kinashi no Karu, Princess Nagata no Ōiratsume, Prince Sakai no Kurohiko, Emperor Anaho, Princess Karu no Ōiratsume, Prince Yatsuri no Shirohiko, Emperor Ōhatsuse Wakatake, Princess Tajima no Tachibana no Ōiratsume, and Princess Sakami.

In the beginning the empress was at home with her mother, and she was playing alone in the garden. At that time the kuni no miyatsuko of Tsuge passed by on a side road. He rode up to the hedge on his horse and mocked the empress, saying. "You make a fine garden, you." And he said. "Here, goodwife, give me one stalk of that orchid."

The empress then dug up one root of orchid and gave it to the man on the horse. Then she asked. "What will you use the orchid for?"

The man on the horse answered. "I go about the hills, and I drive off the horseflies with it."

Then the empress bound it up in her heart. 'The words of the man on the horse are rude.' And she said. "You there, I shall not forget."

After this, in the year the empress came to her place, she looked for the man who had ridden and begged the orchid, counted up his crime of long ago, and would have killed him.

Then the man who had begged the orchid threw himself on the ground, knocked his head, and said. "Your servant's crime is truly worth ten thousand deaths. But on that day I did not know that you were a noble person."

At this the empress let him go from the penalty of death, and she lowered his family name and called it Inaki.

In the third year, in spring, the first month, on the sinyu day that was the first of the month, an envoy was sent to seek a good physician in Silla.

In autumn, the eighth month, the physician came from Silla. He was set to treat the emperor's illness. Not much time had passed before the illness was healed. The emperor rejoiced, gave the physician rich rewards, and sent him back to his own land.

In the fourth year, in autumn, the ninth month, the first day being a sinsa day, on the gichuk day, he gave a command.

"In the rule of high antiquity the people had their places, and the family names were not confused. Now I have been on the throne four years. High and low strive with one another, and the people are not at peace. Some have lost their own family name by error, and some lay claim to a high clan on purpose. That the rule does not reach its end is likely for this reason. Though I am not worthy, how should I not set right this confusion? Let the ministers take counsel, settle it, and report."

The ministers all said. "If your majesty takes up what is lost and makes straight what is bent, and so settles the clans and the family names, your servants will brave death and report that it is right."

On the musin day he gave a command.

"The ministers and all the officials and the kuni no miyatsuko of the many lands each say this. Some say they are the offspring of the emperors, and some say they came down from heaven. But since heaven and earth and man, the three, were parted and made plain, ten thousand years have passed. Therefore one clan has multiplied and become ten thousand family names, and the truth of it is hard to know. Let all who hold clans and family names bathe and purify themselves, and let each of them undergo the kugatachi (盟神探湯)."

Then the kugatachi jars were set at Koto no Magatsuhi on the hill of Umakashi, and the people were led forward. He said. "He who has the truth will be whole, and he who is false will surely be hurt."

Then the people each bound on cotton shoulder cords, went to the cauldrons, and groped in the boiling water. Those who had the truth were whole of themselves, and those who had not the truth were all hurt. Therefore those who had lied on purpose were struck with fear, and they drew back beforehand and did not come forward. From this time on the clans and the family names settled of themselves, and there were no more men who lied.

In the fifth year, in autumn, the seventh month, the first day being a byeongja day, on the gichuk day, the earth shook.

Before this, Tamata no Sukune, the grandson of Katsuragi no Sotsuhiko, had been ordered to take charge of the mourning hall of Emperor Mizuhawake. On the evening when the earth shook, Aso of the Owari no Muraji was sent to look into how things stood at the mourning palace. At that time all the people were gathered and none were missing, but only Tamata no Sukune was not there.

Aso reported. "Tamata no Sukune, the great officer of the mourning palace, is not to be seen at the mourning hall."

Then Aso was sent again to Katsuragi to look for Tamata no Sukune. On this day Tamata no Sukune had gathered men and women and was holding a wine feast. Aso laid out the matter and told Tamata no Sukune the whole of it.

The sukune then feared that the thing would come out. He gave Aso one horse as a gift. Then he waylaid Aso in secret and killed him on the road. Because of this he fled and hid within the bounds of the tomb of Takeuchi no Sukune.

The emperor heard of it and summoned Tamata no Sukune. Tamata no Sukune was in doubt, and he came wearing armour under his coat. The edge of the armour came out from within his clothes.

The emperor wished to know his state clearly, so he had a uneme of Oharida give wine to Tamata no Sukune. Then the uneme saw clearly that there was armour under his clothes, and she reported the whole of it to the emperor.

The emperor set soldiers to kill Tamata no Sukune. Then he fled out in secret and hid in his house. The emperor sent out soldiers again, surrounded the house of Tamata, took him, and put him to death.

In winter, the eleventh month, the first day being a gapsul day, on the gapsin day, Emperor Mizuhawake was buried in the tomb of Mimihara.

In the seventh year, in winter, the twelfth month, on the imsul day that was the first of the month, there was a feast in the new hall. The emperor played the zither himself, and the empress rose and danced. When the dance was done she did not say the words of courtesy.

In the custom of that time, at a feast the one who danced would say of herself, when the dance was done, to the elder seated opposite, "I offer you a maiden."

Then the emperor said to the empress. "Why do you leave out the courtesy that is always kept?"

The empress was afraid, and she rose and danced again. When the dance was done she said. "I offer you a maiden."

The emperor then asked the empress. "Who is the maiden you offer? I would know her family and her name."

The empress could not help herself, and she reported. "She is my younger sister, and her name is Otohime."

Otohime's face and form were beyond compare, and her fair light shone through her clothes. For this reason the people of that time called her Sotōshi no Iratsume (衣通郎姫).

The emperor's heart was set on Sotōshi no Iratsume. Therefore he pressed the empress and had her offer the maiden. The empress knew this, and that is why she had not said the words of courtesy.

At this the emperor rejoiced, and the next day he sent a messenger to call Otohime. At that time Otohime was with her mother at Sakata in Ōmi. Otohime feared the heart of the empress and would not come. Seven times more she was called, and still she firmly refused and did not come.

At this the emperor was not pleased, and he gave a command again to one of his toneri, Nakatomi no Ikatsu no Omi. "The maiden Otohime whom the empress offered has been called and does not come. Go yourself, call Otohime, and bring her here. I will surely reward you richly."

Then Ikatsu no Omi received the command and withdrew. He put dried rice in the breast of his coat, came to Sakata, lay low in Otohime's courtyard, and said. "I have come to call you by the command of the emperor."

Otohime answered. "How should I not fear the command of the emperor? Only I do not wish to wound the heart of the empress. Though my body die, I will not go."

Then Ikatsu no Omi answered. "Your servant has already received the command of the emperor, and I will surely call you and bring you. If I do not bring you I will surely be punished. Rather than go back and take the utmost penalty, I will lie in this courtyard and die."

So for seven days he lay in the middle of the courtyard. Drink and food were given him, and he did not eat them, but secretly ate the dried rice in the breast of his coat.

Then Otohime thought within herself. 'Because of the empress's jealousy I have already gone against the command of the emperor, and if I kill my lord's loyal servant as well, this too is my sin.'

So she came following Ikatsu no Omi. They came to Kasuga in Yamato and ate beside the stream of Ichii. Otohime herself gave wine to Ikatsu no Omi and comforted his heart.

That same day Ikatsu no Omi reached the capital. He left Otohime at the house of Agoko of the Yamato no Atai and reported back to the emperor.

The emperor greatly rejoiced. He thought well of Ikatsu no Omi and loved him richly.

But the face of the empress was not at ease. For this reason Otohime was not kept near within the palace, but a hall was built for her apart at Fujiwara, and there she dwelt.

It happened that on the evening when Emperor Ōhatsuse was born the emperor went for the first time to the palace of Fujiwara. The empress heard of it and said in bitterness. "From the time I first bound up my hair I have waited in the inner palace, and many years have now passed. How hard you are, emperor. Now that I give birth, death and life stand half and half. For what reason must you go to Fujiwara on this very evening?"

Then she came out herself and would have burned the birth hall and died.

The emperor heard of it and was greatly startled, and he said. "The fault is mine." Then he comforted and reasoned with the heart of the empress.

In the eighth year, in spring, the second month, he went to Fujiwara and looked in secret into how things stood with Sotōshi no Iratsume.

On that evening Sotōshi no Iratsume was alone and longing for the emperor. She did not know that the emperor had come, and she sang.

"wagasekoga kubekiyohinari sasaganeno kumonookonahi koyohishirushimo (和餓勢故餓。勾倍枳豫臂奈利。佐瑳餓泥能。區茂能於虚奈比。虚豫比辭流辭毛)"

The emperor heard this song, and his heart was moved, and he sang.

"sasaragata nishikinohimoo tokisakete amatawanezuni tadahitoyonomi (佐瑳羅餓多。迩之枳能臂毛弘。等枳舎氣帝。阿麻多絆泥受邇。多比等用能未)"

The next morning the emperor saw the cherry blossoms beside the well and sang.

"hanaguhashi sakuranomede kotomedeba hayakuwamedezu wagamezurukora (波那具波辭。佐區羅能梅涅。許等梅涅麼。波椰區波梅涅孺。和我梅豆留古羅)"

— the three songs are written for their sound, and they are not rendered by meaning.

The empress heard of it and again was greatly bitter.

Then Sotōshi no Iratsume said. "I would always be near the royal palace and see your majesty's bearing by night and by day without break. But the empress is my elder sister. Because of me she is always bitter against your majesty, and she suffers for my sake as well. For this reason I pray to leave the place where the king dwells and to live far off. Then perhaps the jealous heart of the empress may rest a little."

So the emperor built palace halls again at Chinu in Kawachi and had Sotōshi no Iratsume live there. Because of this he often went hunting and roving at Hineno.

In the ninth year, in spring, the second month, he went to the palace of Chinu.

In autumn, the eighth month, he went to Chinu.

In winter, the tenth month, he went to Chinu.

In the tenth year, in spring, the first month, he went to Chinu.

Then the empress said. "I am not jealous of Otohime by so much as a hair. But I fear that your majesty's going so often to Chinu may be a hardship to the people. I look up and pray that the number of the royal journeys be cut down."

After this his goings were rare.

In the eleventh year, in spring, the third month, the first day being a gyemyo day, on the byeongo day, he went to the palace of Chinu. Sotōshi no Iratsume sang.

"tokoshiheni kimimoaheyamo isanatori uminohamamono yorutokitokio (等虚辭陪迩。枳彌母阿閇椰毛。異舎儺等利。宇彌能波摩毛能。余留等枳等枳弘)"

— it is written for its sound, and it is not rendered by meaning.

Then the emperor said to Sotōshi no Iratsume. "Do not let another hear this song. If the empress hears it she will surely be greatly bitter."

Therefore the people of that time called the sea grass nanorisomo.

Before this, when Sotōshi no Iratsume was at the palace of Fujiwara, the emperor gave a command to Ōtomo no Muroya no Muraji. "Of late I have got a beautiful maiden. She is the younger sister of the empress by the same mother. In my heart I love her beyond others. I would have her name handed down to later ages. How may this be done?"

Muroya no Muraji followed the royal command and reported that it was right. Then the kuni no miyatsuko of the many lands were charged, and the Fujiwarabe were appointed for Sotōshi no Iratsume.

In the fourteenth year, in autumn, the ninth month, the first day being a gyechuk day, on the gapja day, the emperor hunted on the island of Awaji. At that time deer and monkeys and boars were thick and in disorder and filled the hills and the valleys. They rose like flame and scattered like flies. Yet all day long not one beast was taken.

So the hunt was stopped and the lots were cast again. The god of the island laid his curse on it and said. "That you take no beast is my own will. There is a pearl at the bottom of the sea of Akashi. If you offer that pearl to me, then you shall take beasts in plenty."

So the fishermen of every place were gathered again and set to grope the bottom of the sea of Akashi. The sea was deep and they could not reach the bottom.

There was only one fisherman, and he was called Osashi. He was a fisherman of the village of Naga in the land of Awa. He was better than all the other fishermen, and he was good at groping deep. He tied a rope about his waist and went down to the bottom of the sea. After a little while he came up and said. "There is a great abalone at the bottom of the sea, and that place shines."

All the people said. "The pearl the god of the island asked for is likely in the belly of this abalone."

He went down again and groped. Then Osashi came floating up holding the great abalone. His breath was cut off, and he died upon the waves.

Before long a rope was let down to measure the depth of the sea, and it was sixty fathoms. Then the abalone was cut open, and truly there was a pearl within its belly. It was as large as a peach.

So offering was made to the god of the island, and they hunted and took many beasts.

Only for Osashi, who went into the sea and died, they grieved, and they made a tomb and buried him richly. That tomb stands to this day.

In the twenty-third year, in spring, the third month, the first day being a gabo day, on the gyeongja day, Prince Kinashi no Karu was set up as crown prince. His face and form were fair, and those who saw him were moved of themselves. Princess Karu no Ōiratsume, his younger sister by the same mother, was also fair and lovely.

The crown prince always thought of joining with Princess Ōiratsume, but he feared it would be a crime and kept silent. Yet his feeling was already strong, and he came near to death. Then he thought within himself. 'If I die in vain, then though it be a crime, how should I bear it?'

At last he lay with her in secret. At this the heaviness in his heart eased a little. Because of this he sang.

"ashihikino yamadaotsukuri yamadakami shitabiowashise shitanakini waganakutsuma katanakini waganakutsuma kozokoso yasukuhadafure (阿資臂紀能。椰麻娜烏菟勾利。椰麻娜箇彌。斯■媚烏和之勢。志■那企貳。和餓儺勾菟摩。箇■儺企貳。和餓儺勾兎摩。去樽去曾。椰主區■娜布例)"

— it is written for its sound, and it is not rendered by meaning.

In the twenty-fourth year, in summer, the sixth month, the soup set before the emperor congealed and became ice. The emperor thought it strange and cast lots for the reason. The diviner said. "There is disorder within. It is likely that kin have lain with kin."

Then a man said. "The crown prince Kinashi no Karu is so with Princess Karu no Ōiratsume, his younger sister by the same mother."

On this the matter was pressed and asked out, and the words were found true. The crown prince was the heir to the throne, so he could not be punished. Then Princess Karu no Ōiratsume was banished to Iyo.

At this the crown prince sang.

"ohokimio shimanihaburi funaamari igaherikomuzo wagatatamiyume kotookoso tatamitoihame wagatsumaoyume (於褒企彌烏。志摩珥波夫利。布儺阿摩利。異餓幣利去牟鋤。和餓■■瀰由梅。去等烏許曾。■多瀰等異絆梅。和餓菟摩烏由梅)"

He sang again.

"amatamu karunootome itanakeba hitoshirinubemi hasanoyamano hatonoshitanakininaku (阿■摩霧。箇留■等賣。異■儺介縻。臂等資利奴陪瀰。幡舎能夜摩能。波刀能資■儺企迩奈勾)"

— the two songs are written for their sound, and they are not rendered by meaning.

In the forty-second year, in spring, the first month, the first day being an eulhae day, on the muja day, the emperor died. His age at that time is not known.

Then the king of Silla heard that the emperor had died, and he was startled and grieved. He sent up eighty ships loaded with the jo (調) and eighty musicians of every kind. These put in at Tsushima and wept aloud, and came to Tsukushi and wept aloud again, and when they put in at the harbour of Naniwa they all put on white clothing. They offered up all the jo and set out instruments of music of every kind. From Naniwa to the capital some wept and some danced and sang, and at last they came together at the mourning palace.

In winter, the eleventh month, the envoys of Silla who had come to mourn finished the rites of mourning and went back.

Now the men of Silla had always loved Mount Miminashi and Mount Unebi beside the capital. When they came to the pass of Kotobiki they looked back and said. "Uneme haya, mimi haya."

This was because they were not yet used to the speech of that land. So they said Unebi wrongly as uneme, and said Miminashi wrongly as mimi.

At that time the Umakaibe of Yamato were following the men of Silla, and they heard these words and doubted them and thought, 'The men of Silla have lain with the uneme.' So they went back and reported it to Prince Ōhatsuse.

The prince then shut up all the envoys of Silla and pressed them with questions.

Then the envoys of Silla said. "We have not touched the uneme. We only loved the two mountains beside the capital and spoke of them."

So it was known to be an empty word, and they were all let go.

At this the men of Silla were greatly bitter, and they cut down again the kinds of goods they offered and the number of their ships.

In winter, the tenth month, the first day being a gyeongo day, on the gimyo day, the emperor was buried in the tomb of Nagano-hara in Kawachi.