Emperor Buretsu武烈天皇

Emperor Ohatsuse no Wakasazaki (小泊瀬稚鷦鷯天皇) was the crown prince of Emperor Oke. His mother was called Empress Kasuga no Ōiratsume. In the seventh year of Emperor Oke he was set up as crown prince.

When he was grown he was fond of punishment and rule, and his laws and orders were clear. He sat in court until the sun was low, and what was hidden and crooked was surely brought to light, and in deciding lawsuits he got at the truth.

He also did every kind of evil again and again, and he did not work a single good deed. Of all the harsh punishments there was none that he did not look upon himself. The people living within the land all trembled and were afraid.

In the eleventh year, in the eighth month, Emperor Oke died. The great minister Heguri no Matori no Omi took the government of the land wholly into his own hands and wished to be king over Japan. He made a show of building a palace for the crown prince, and when it was finished he dwelt in it himself. In everything he was proud, and he had no bearing of a subject at all.

Then the crown prince wished to take to wife Kagehime, the daughter of Mononobe no Arakahi no Ōmuraji, and he sent a go-between to the house of Kagehime to fix a day for their meeting.

Kagehime was at that time secretly keeping company with Shibi, the son of Matori the great minister. — 鮪 is read Shibi. — She feared to break what had been fixed with the crown prince, and she answered, "I would wait upon you at the street of Tsubakichi."

Because of this the crown prince meant to go to the place that was fixed. He sent a toneri of his near attendance to the house of Heguri the great minister, to bear the crown prince's command and ask for a horse of the government.

The great minister spoke in mockery and made a show of granting it. "For whom are the horses of the government fed and reared? It shall be as you command." Yet for a long time he did not send one.

The crown prince held his grudge, but he bore it and did not let it show in his face.

He came, as had been fixed, and stood among the crowd of the singing place. — 歌場 is read utagaki. — He took Kagehime's sleeve and lingered there quietly.

Presently Shibi no Omi came and pushed in between the crown prince and Kagehime and stood there. Because of this the crown prince let go Kagehime's sleeve, moved round to the front, stood straight facing Shibi, and sang.

"Shihoseno Naoriomireba Asobikuru Shibigahatadeni Tsumadaterimiyu (之裒世能、儺鳴理鳴彌黎麼、阿蘇寐倶屢、思寐我簸多泥儞、都摩陀氐理彌喩)"

— This sets down sounds only, and is not turned into meaning. In one book "Shihose" is changed to "Minato."

Shibi answered with a song.

"Ominokono Yaheyakarakaki Yurusetoyamiko (飫瀰能古能、耶陛耶哿羅哿枳、瑜屢世登耶瀰古)"

— This sets down sounds only, and is not turned into meaning.

The crown prince sang.

"Ohotachio Darehakitachite Nukazutomo Suehatashitemo Ahamutozoomofu (飫裒陀㨖鳴、多黎播枳多㨖氐、農哿儒登慕、須衞婆陀志氐謀、阿波夢登茹於謀賦)"

— This sets down sounds only, and is not turned into meaning.

Shibi no Omi answered with a song.

"Ohokimino Yahenokumikaki Kakamedomo Naoamashimimi Kakanukumikaki (飫裒枳瀰能、耶陛能矩瀰哿枳、哿々梅騰謀、儺嗚阿摩之耳彌、哿々農倶彌柯枳)"

— This sets down sounds only, and is not turned into meaning.

The crown prince sang.

"Ominokono Yafunoshimakaki Shitadoyomi Nawigayorikoba Yaremushimakaki (於彌能姑能、耶賦能之魔柯枳、始陀騰余瀰、那爲我與釐據魔、耶黎夢之魔柯枳)"

— This sets down sounds only, and is not turned into meaning. In one book "Yafunoshimakaki" is changed to "Yahekarakaki."

The crown prince sent a song to Kagehime.

"Kotogamini Kiwirukagehime Tamanaraba Agahorutamano Ahabishiratama (舉騰我瀰儞、枳謂屢箇皚比謎、拕摩儺羅磨、婀我裒屢柁摩能、婀波寐之羅陀魔)"

— This sets down sounds only, and is not turned into meaning.

Shibi no Omi answered with a song for Kagehime.

"Ohokimino Miobinoshizuhata Musubitare Dareyashihitomo Ahiomohanakuni (於裒枳瀰能、瀰於寐能之都波拕、夢須寐陀黎、陀黎耶始比登謀、阿避於謀婆儺倶儞)"

— This sets down sounds only, and is not turned into meaning.

Only then did the crown prince know that Shibi had already won Kagehime. He saw the whole manner of the father's and the son's want of respect, and he flushed with great anger.

That night he went in haste to the house of Ōtomo no Kanamura no Muraji, gathered soldiers, and laid his plan. Ōtomo no Muraji led several thousand soldiers, barred the road, and slew Shibi no Omi on Mount Nara. — One book says that Shibi was sleeping in Kagehime's house and was slain that very night.

At this time Kagehime followed to the place of the killing and saw that it was already done. She was startled and afraid and at a loss, and her eyes were full of sorrowful tears. At last she made a song.

"Isonokami Furuosugite Komomakura Takahashisugi Monosawani Ohoyakesugi Haruhi Kasugaosugi Tsumagomoru Osahoosugi Tamakeniwa Ihisahemori Tamamohini Mizusahemori Nakisobochiyukumo Kagehimeahare (伊須能箇瀰、賦屢嗚須擬底、舉慕摩矩羅、柁箇播志須擬、慕能娑幡儞、於裒野該須擬、播屢比、箇須我嗚須擬、逗摩御暮屢、嗚佐裒嗚須擬、拕摩該儞播、伊比佐倍母理、拕摩暮比儞、瀰逗佐倍母理、儺岐曾裒遲喩倶謀、柯㝵比謎阿婆例)"

— This sets down sounds only, and is not turned into meaning.

Then, when Kagehime had finished gathering and burying him and was about to go home, she choked with grief and said, "Bitter is this. Today I have lost the husband I loved."

At once she scattered her tears, and her heart was in pain, and she sang.

"Aoniyoshi Naranohasamani Shishijimono Mizukuhegomori Minasosoku Shibinowakugoo Asarizunawinoko (婀嗚儞與志、乃樂能婆娑摩儞、斯々貳暮能、瀰逗矩陛御暮梨、瀰儺曾々矩、思寐能和倶吾嗚、阿娑理逗那偉能古)"

— This sets down sounds only, and is not turned into meaning.

In winter, the eleventh month, the first day being a muin day, on the muja day, Ōtomo no Kanamura no Muraji said to the crown prince, "Matori the rebel may be struck. I beg leave to attack him."

The crown prince said, "All under heaven is about to fall into disorder. None but a hero such as the age seldom sees can save it. He who can bring it to peace is surely you." So they settled the plan together.

Then Ōtomo no Ōmuraji took soldiers, led them himself, and surrounded the great minister's house. He set fire to it and burned it, and wherever he pointed they fell like clouds.

Matori the great minister was bitter that the thing had not succeeded, and he knew that his body could hardly escape. His schemes were spent and his hope was cut off, and he pointed at the salt far and wide and cursed it. In the end he was killed, and it reached his sons and his younger brothers as well.

When he cursed, he forgot only the sea salt of Tsunuga and did not curse it. Because of this the salt of Tsunuga became what the emperor ate, and the salt of the other seas became what the emperor shunned.

In the twelfth month, Ōtomo no Kanamura no Muraji, having put down the rebel, gave back the government to the crown prince. He asked leave to offer him an honoured title, and said,

"Now of the sons of Emperor Oke your majesty alone remains. The people in their thousands and their millions turn to you in gladness, and there has never been a second. You have leaned besides on the help of august heaven and swept the wicked band away clean. With fine counsel and bold decision you have made the majesty of heaven and the blessing of heaven abundant.

"Japan must have a master. Who but your majesty shall be the master of Japan? I pray with bowed head that your majesty look up and answer the gods, spread the great command wide, dwell in Japan in glory, and receive greatly the land of silver."

Then the crown prince commanded the offices in charge to set up an altar ground at Namiki in Hatsuse, and he ascended the throne. So he fixed his capital. On this day Ōtomo no Kanamura no Muraji was made Ōmuraji.

In the first year, in spring, the third month, the first day being a jeongchuk day, on the muin day, Kasuga no Iratsume was set up as empress. — The father of the Iratsume is not clearly known. — In this year the year sign was gimyo.

In the second year, in autumn, the ninth month, he cut open the belly of a woman with child and looked at the womb.

In the third year, in winter, the tenth month, he tore out men's nails and made them dig yams.

In the eleventh month, he gave command to Ōtomo no Muroya no Ōmuraji to call up the able-bodied men of the land of Shinano and to build the likeness of a castle at the village of Mimata. It was then called Kinohe.

In this month Uidarang (意多郎) of Baekje died. He was buried on the hill of Takata.

In the fourth year, in summer, the fourth month, he pulled out men's hair and made them climb to the top of a tree. Then he cut through the foot of the tree and felled it, and he took pleasure in seeing the climbers fall to their death.

In this year King Malda (末多王) of Baekje was without the way, and he was harsh and cruel to the people. The men of that country put him away at last and set up King Do (嶋王). This is King Muryeong (武寧王).

— The Baekje sinchan (百濟新撰) says that King Malda was without the way and was harsh and cruel to the people, and that the men of that country put him away together. King Muryeong came to the throne, and his name was King Sama (斯麻王). He was the son of a son of King Gonji (混支王), and so the elder brother of King Malda by a different mother. When Gonji went toward Wa, he came to the island of Tsukushi, and King Sama was born. He was sent back from the island and did not reach the capital, and because he was born on an island he was named from this. Now in the sea of Kakara there is Judo (主嶋), the island where the king was born, and so the men of Baekje call it Judo.

— Now upon examination, King Do was the son of King Gaero, and King Malda was the son of King Gonji. That it is said here that he was the elder brother by a different mother is not clear.

In the fifth year, in summer, the sixth month, he made men lie down and enter the sluice of a pond, and when they flowed out beyond it he took a three-bladed spear and stabbed them to death for pleasure.

In the sixth year, in autumn, the ninth month, the first day being an eulsa day, he gave command. "The pivot of handing on a country is that it is held noble to set up a son. I have no heir to follow me. By what shall my name be handed on? Let the Ohatsuse toneri be appointed, after the old example of the emperors, and be made a name in my stead, and then it will be hard to forget through ten thousand ages."

In winter, the tenth month, the country of Baekje sent Managun (麻那君) to present tribute. The emperor held that Baekje had not kept up its duty of tribute for years, and he kept him and did not let him go.

In the seventh year, in spring, the second month, he made men climb trees and shot them down with a bow and laughed.

In summer, the fourth month, the king of Baekje sent Saagun (斯我君) to present tribute. He sent up a separate memorial and said, "Mana, the envoy who went before to present tribute, is not of the bone kindred of the lord of the country of Baekje. Therefore I respectfully send Saa to serve at the court."

In the end he had a son, who was called Beopsagun (法師君). He is the ancestor of the Yamato no Kimi.

In the eighth year, in spring, the third month, he stripped women bare, seated them on a flat board, and led horses forward to couple with them. He looked at the women's unclean parts, and those that were wet he killed, and those that were not wet he took away as slaves of the government. In this he found his pleasure.

By this time he had dug ponds and raised gardens and filled them with birds and beasts. He was fond of the hunt, running his dogs and trying his horses, and he went out and came in without season. He did not avoid the great wind or the heavy rain. When his clothes were warm he forgot the cold of the people, and when his food was good he forgot the hunger of all under heaven.

He brought out dwarfs and players in numbers, held revels without restraint, set up strange and wonderful shows, and let loose lewd music. Day and night he drowned himself in wine with the palace women, and he made brocade his mat. Many wore clothes of fine figured silk.

In winter, the twelfth month, the first day being an imjin day, on the gihae day, the emperor died in the palace of Namiki.