Emperor Kinmei欽明天皇

Emperor Amekuni Oshiharaki Hironiwa (天國排開廣庭天皇) was the legitimate son of Emperor Ōdo. His mother was called Empress Tashiraka. The emperor loved him and always kept him at his side.

When the emperor was a child, someone spoke to him in a dream. "If the emperor loves and cherishes Hata no Ōtsuchi, then when he is grown he will surely hold all under heaven."

He woke in wonder and sent messengers to seek far and wide, and found him in Fukakusa village, Kii district, Yamashiro province. The surname and the name were indeed as in the dream. At this joy spread through his whole body, and he marveled at that dream.

Then he said to him, "What has happened to you?"

He answered, "Nothing. Only, I was coming back from trading at Ise, and in the mountains I met two wolves fighting and shedding blood. So I got down from my horse, washed my mouth and my hands, and prayed. 'You are honored gods, yet you take pleasure in rough deeds. If you meet hunters, you will be caught all the sooner.' Then I stopped their fighting, wiped and washed the blood from their fur, and let them go at last, so that both might keep their lives."

The emperor said, "This is surely the repayment of that."

So he had him serve close by, and his love for him was new each day, and the man came to great plenty and wealth. When he ascended the throne, he put him in charge of the Treasury.

In the fourth year, in the tenth month of winter, Emperor Takeo Hirokuni Oshitate died.

The prince Amekuni Oshiharaki Hironiwa gave an order to the many ministers. "I am young in years and shallow in knowledge, and I am not yet practiced in government. Empress Yamada is clear and practiced in all matters. I ask that she take them up and decide them."

Empress Yamada was afraid and declined. "The favor and love I have received are like the mountains and the sea. In the hardness of the ten thousand affairs of state, how should a woman meddle? Now the prince honors the old and is kind to the young, and humbles himself before worthy men. He does not eat at midday, and so waits upon men of learning. Moreover from childhood he stood out, and early won a fair name. His nature is generous and mild, and he works at pity and pardon. I ask that the ministers have him ascend the throne early, and come to shine upon all under heaven."

In the twelfth month of winter, the first day being a gyeongjin day, on the gapsin day, the prince Amekuni Oshiharaki Hironiwa ascended the throne as emperor. How old he was then is not known. He raised the empress in title and called her the empress dowager. He made Ōtomo no Kanamura no Ōmuraji and Mononobe no Okoshi no Ōmuraji ōmuraji, and Soga no Iname no Sukune no Ōomi great minister. All were as before.

In the first year, in spring, the first month, the first day being a gyeongsul day, on the gapja day, the officials in charge asked that an empress be set up.

He gave a decree. "Set up the chief consort Ishihime, daughter of Emperor Takeo Hirokuni Oshitate, as empress."

She bore two sons and one daughter. The eldest was called Prince Yata no Tamakatsu no Ōe, the middle one Osada no Nunakura no Futotamashiki no Mikoto, and the youngest Princess Kasanui.

In the second month a man of Baekje, Gijibu (己知部), came over and submitted. He was placed at Yamamura in Sofunokami district, Yamato province. He is the ancestor of the Gijibu of Yamamura today.

In the third month the Emishi and the Hayato both led their people and came over and submitted.

In autumn, the seventh month, the first day being a byeongja day, on the gichuk day, he moved the capital to Shikishima in Shiki district, Yamato province. So it was called the palace of Kanasashi at Shikishima.

In the eighth month Goryeo, Baekje, Silla and Imna all sent envoys and offered gifts, and all fulfilled their duty of tribute.

He called together the Hata people and the Aya people and the others from the many lands who had come over and submitted, and placed them in the provinces and districts and entered them in the household registers. The households of the Hata people were seven thousand and fifty-three in all. He made an officer of the Treasury the Hata no Tomo no Miyatsuko.

In the ninth month, the first day being an eulhae day, on the gimyo day, he went to the palace of Hafuritsu at Naniwa. Ōtomo no Ōmuraji Kanamura, Kose no Omi Inamochi and Mononobe no Ōmuraji Okoshi and the rest went with him.

The emperor asked the many ministers, "With how many soldiers could Silla be struck and taken?"

Mononobe no Ōmuraji Okoshi and the rest said, "With few soldiers it cannot easily be struck. In the sixth year of Emperor Ōdo, Baekje sent an envoy with a memorial asking for the four districts of Imna — Sangdari, Hadari, Sata and Moru. Ōtomo no Ōmuraji Kanamura at once followed the memorial and gave what was asked. From this the resentment of Silla has piled up for years, and they cannot be struck lightly."

At this Ōtomo no Ōmuraji Kanamura stayed at his house in Suminoe, said he was ill, and did not come to court.

The emperor sent Aomi no Otoji to comfort him with warm care. The ōmuraji was afraid and excused himself. "What ails me is nothing else. The many ministers now say that I destroyed Imna, and so in fear I do not come to court, that is all."

Then he gave a saddle and a horse to the messenger and treated her generously. Aomi no Otoji laid it all out as it was and reported it.

A decree was given. "You have long given your full loyalty. Do not grieve over the mouths of the crowd." In the end he was not punished, and the love shown him grew deeper still.

In this year the year sign was gyeongsin.

In the second year, in spring, the third month, he took five consorts.

The chief consort was the empress's younger sister, called Princess Wakaayahime. She bore Prince Isonokami.

Next there was another younger sister of the empress, called Princess Hikage. She bore Prince Kura.

Next, the daughter of the great minister Soga no Iname no Sukune was called Kitashihime, and she bore seven sons and six daughters. The first was Prince Ōe, who is Tachibana no Toyohi no Mikoto. The second was Princess Iwakuma, who at first served the great god of Ise in the rites, and afterward was caught in an affair with Prince Ibaraki and gave it up. The third was Prince Atori. The fourth was Toyomikekashikiyahime no Mikoto. The fifth was Prince Maroko. The sixth was Princess Ōyake. The seventh was Prince Isonokamibe. The eighth was Prince Yamashiro. The ninth was Princess Ōtomo. The tenth was Prince Sakurai. The eleventh was Princess Katano. The twelfth was Prince Tachibana no Moto no Waka. The thirteenth was Princess Toneri.

Next, the younger sister of Kitashihime by the same mother was called Oanenokimi, and she bore four sons and one daughter. The first was Prince Ibaraki. The second was Prince Kazuraki. The third was Princess Hashiudo no Anahobe. The fourth was Prince Hashiudo no Anahobe. The fifth was Prince Hatsusebe.

Next, the daughter of Kasuga no Hitsume no Omi was called Nukako, and she bore Princess Kasuga no Yamada and Prince Tachibana no Maro.

In summer, the fourth month, Itanhae (夷呑奚), Daebulson and Guchwiyuri, of the rank of chahanki (次旱岐) of Alla (安羅); Gojeonhae (古殿奚), the sangsuwi (上首位) of Gara (加羅); the hanki of Jolma; the son of the hanki of Sanbanhae (散半奚); Ita (夷他), the hahanki (下旱岐) of Dara (多羅); the son of the hanki of Saigi (斯二岐); the hanki of Jata (子他) and the rest went with Kibi no Omi of the Japanese office in Imna (任那日本府) to Baekje, and together they heard the decree.

King Seongmyeong (聖明王) of Baekje spoke to the hanki of Imna. "What the emperor of Japan has laid down in his decree is wholly that Imna be raised up again. Now by what plan shall Imna be raised and set up? Should we not each give our full loyalty and carry out the holy will?"

The hanki of Imna answered. "We took counsel with Silla two and three times before, but they gave no answer to what we proposed. We told Silla again, and still there is no answer. Now we should send envoys together and report to the emperor. The raising of Imna rests upon the will of the great king. If we take up your teaching with respect, who would dare put a word between? Yet the border of Imna touches Silla, and we fear it may bring on the ruin of Taksun and the others."

King Seongmyeong said, "In old days, in the time of our ancestors King Sokgo (速古王) and King Gwisu (貴首王), the hanki of Alla and Gara and Taksun first sent envoys and opened their dealings with us, and bound themselves in close and warm friendship, and became as sons and younger brothers. We hoped it would prosper forever.

But now we have been deceived by Silla, so that the emperor is angry and Imna is full of resentment. It is my own fault. I repented of it deeply, and sent Maro (麻鹵), the jungjwapyeong of the lower division, and Maeno (昧奴), the gapbae of the seongbang, and others, to go to Gara and meet the Japanese office in Imna and swear an oath together. From then on I have kept it in mind"

"and gone on planning to raise Imna, and morning and evening I have not forgotten it. Now the emperor's decree says, 'Raise Imna quickly.' For this I wish to plan together with you and set up the country of Imna. Plan it well.

Also, at the border of Imna, summon Silla and ask whether they will listen or not. Then send envoys together and report to the emperor, and take up his teaching with respect.

If, before the envoys return, Silla should watch for a gap and press in upon Imna, I will go and save you. That is not worth worrying over. But guard yourselves well, keep careful watch, and do not forget.

As for what you said apart, that you fear it may bring on the ruin of Taksun and the others — this was not what Silla could do by its own strength.

That Takgitan lay between the borders of Gara and Silla, and was attacked and broken year after year, and Imna could not save it. For this it fell.

That Namgara had land narrow and small, could not make ready for what came suddenly, and did not know where to lean. For this it fell.

That Taksun had high and low holding two hearts, and its lord wished to attach himself, and answered Silla from within. For this it fell.

Seen in this way, there was indeed a reason for the breaking of the three countries.

In old days Silla asked Goryeo for help and struck at Imna and Baekje, and still could not win. How should Silla destroy Imna alone?

Now if I join my strength and unite my heart with yours, and we lean upon the emperor, Imna will surely rise."

Then he gave them goods, each according to his rank. They went back rejoicing.

In autumn, the seventh month, Baekje heard that the Japanese office in Alla was dealing and planning with Silla, and sent Birimakgo (鼻利莫古), the nasol of the front division, the nasol Seonmun (宣文), Mokjumaesun (木州昧淳), the nasol of the middle division, and Mimasa (彌麻沙), the Ki no Omi nasol, and the rest as envoys to Alla. They called in the stewards of Imna who had gone to Silla, and planned the raising of Imna.

Apart from this they deeply rebuked and reproached Kawachi no Atai of the Japanese office in Alla for dealing and planning with Silla.

Then they said to Imna:

"In old days our ancestors King Sokgo and King Gwisu first swore peace and friendship with the former hanki, and became elder and younger brothers. At this we made you sons and younger brothers, and you made us father and elder brother, and together we served the emperor and together we held off strong enemies, and so kept the country at peace and our houses whole until this day.

When we think of the words of peace and friendship of our ancestors and the old hanki, they are like the bright sun. From then on we have worked hard at good relations with our neighbors, and at last made warm the country we stand with. Our kindness went beyond flesh and bone. To begin well and to hold to the end is what I have always wished.

I do not understand for what reason light and empty words were used, so that in a few years the will was lost and everything came to nothing. The men of old said, 'To chase after repentance is not to overtake it.' This is what they meant.

Reaching up to the edge of the clouds and down into the springs below, swear now to the gods, mend the faults that are past, and bring out what you have done with nothing hidden. Ask that your sincerity reach the spirits, and blame yourselves deeply. This too is what should be taken up.

Now I have heard that one who becomes the heir of another"

"holds it dear to take up the traces that went before, to make the frame of the house shine, and so to complete his merit and his work.

Therefore I will now follow and honor the good friendship of the former age, take up with respect the words of the emperor's decree, win back the countries that Silla broke off and took — Namgara and Takgitan and the rest — return them to where they belong, move them over and fill Imna with them, and be father and elder brother forever, so that they come always to court in Japan. This is what makes my food taste sweet no longer and my mat uneasy in sleep, what I repent of in the past and guard against now, and think on with all my labor.

That Silla deceives with sweet words, all under heaven knows. You believed them rashly and have already fallen into another's hand.

Now the border of Imna touches Silla, and you should always keep your guard set. How can the watchman's clapper be slackened? I fear you may fall into the net and the pit of Silla's deceit, lose the country and ruin your houses, and be taken captive by others. When I think of this, think as hard as I may, I cannot be at ease.

I have heard quietly that when Imna and Silla were laying plans at their mat, the strange sign of bees and snakes appeared. This too is known to many.

Moreover, uncanny signs are what warn men of their conduct, and disasters and strange things are what wake men up. This is the bright heaven telling and warning, and the mark that the spirits of those who went before set forth. To repent after ruin has come, and to think of rising after you have fallen — who would say that overtakes anything?

Now if you follow me and heed the emperor's command, Imna can be set up. Why fear that it will not be done? If you wish to hold your own land long and rule your old people forever, the plan for it is here. Can you be anything but careful?"

King Seongmyeong spoke again to the Japanese office in Imna.

"The emperor's decree says, 'If Imna falls, then you have nothing to stand on. If Imna rises, then you have support. Now raise Imna up and set it as it was in the old days, and make it your help, and soothe and nourish the people.'

Taking up the decree with respect, my breast is full of awe. I swear to give my red sincerity"

"and hope that Imna will prosper and serve the emperor forever as it did in days gone by. Only after one has weighed what has not yet come to pass is there peace and joy.

If the Japanese office now follows the decree again and saves and helps Imna, this is what the emperor will surely praise and support, and what will bring reward and stipend to you yourself.

Also, the lords of Japan have lived long in the land of Imna and lie close to the border of Silla, so the state of Silla is known to you as well. That they have plotted to harm Imna and to shut Japan out goes back a long way. It is not this year only. Yet they have not dared to move, because near at hand they are ashamed before Baekje and far off they fear the emperor, and so they have coaxed the court and served it, and made a false peace with Imna.

What so moves the Japanese office in Imna is this: while they have not yet taken Imna captive, they show a false face of submission. I ask that you now watch for a gap, take them where they are unready, and raise your soldiers and take them at one stroke.

It is not merely a few tens of years since the emperor's decree urged that Namgara and Takgitan be set up, and that Silla has not once heeded the command is also known to you, my lords. And if they truly trusted and honored the emperor and wished Imna set up, would it be like this?

I fear that you, my lords, will suddenly believe sweet words and be taken in lightly by lying talk, and so destroy the country of Imna and bring shame upon the emperor. My lords, be on your guard. Do not be deceived by others."

In autumn, the seventh month, Baekje sent Mimasa, the Ki no Omi nasol, and Giryeon (己連), the nasol of the middle division, who came and reported on the government of Hahan (下韓) and Imna, and along with this sent up a memorial.

In the fourth year, in summer, the fourth month, Mimasa, the Ki no Omi nasol of Baekje, and the rest went back.

In autumn, the ninth month, King Seongmyeong of Baekje sent Jinmogwimun (眞牟貴文), the nasol of the front division, Gijugiru (己州己婁) of the hodeok rank, and Mononobe no Setoku Makimu and the rest, who came and offered goods of Funan (扶南) and two slaves.

In winter, the eleventh month, the first day being a jeonghae day, on the gabo day, he sent Tsumori no Muraji and gave a decree to Baekje. "The district governors (郡令) and castle lords (城主) of Baekje who are in Hahan of Imna should be attached to the Japanese office."

He also carried a written decree and made it known. "You have sent up memorials many times, saying you would set up Imna, and it is more than ten years. Your memorials say this, and still it is not done. Moreover Imna is the ridgepole and the beam of your country. If ridgepole and beam break, who will make the roof? My thought is on this, and you must set it up early. If you set up Imna early, Kawachi no Atai and the rest will draw back of themselves. What is there to speak of?"

On this day King Seongmyeong, when he had heard the command made known, asked all round of the three jwapyeong and the naedu and the many ministers. "The decree is like this. What should be done now?"

The three jwapyeong answered, "Our district governors and castle lords who are in Hahan cannot be sent out. As for setting up the country, we should heed the holy decree early."

In the twelfth month King Seongmyeong of Baekje showed the earlier decree again to the many ministers and said, "The emperor's decree is like this. What should be done now?"

Sataek Giru (沙宅己婁), the sangjwapyeong, Mokju Mana (木州麻那), the jungjwapyeong, Mogyungwi (木尹貴), the hajwapyeong, the deoksol Birimakgo, the deoksol Dongseong Docheon (東城道天), the deoksol Mokjumaesun, the deoksol Guksuda (國雖多), and the nasol Yeonbiseonna (燕比善那) and the rest took counsel together and said:

"We are foolish and dark by nature, and have no wisdom or plan at all. He has decreed that Imna be set up, and we should take up the command early. Now we should call the stewards of Imna and the hanki of every country, plan together and lay our counsel side by side, and send up a memorial setting out our will.

Also, Kawachi no Atai Inasa (移那斯) and Mado (麻都) and the rest are still staying in Alla, and we fear Imna will be hard to set up. So along with this we should send up a memorial and beg that they be moved back to the place they came from."

King Seongmyeong said, "What the many ministers have counseled fits my heart very well."

In this month he sent Gobun (高分) of the sideok rank to call the stewards of Imna and the stewards of the Japanese office. They answered together, "We will go and hear when the new year's day has passed."

In the fifth year, in spring, the first month, the country of Baekje sent envoys to call the stewards of Imna and the stewards of the Japanese office. They answered together, "The time has come to sacrifice to the gods. We will go when the sacrifice is done."

In this month Baekje sent envoys again to call the stewards of Imna and the stewards of the Japanese office. The Japanese office and Imna both failed to send their stewards, and sent men of low rank. Because of this Baekje could not plan together the setting up of the country of Imna.

In the second month Baekje sent Mamu (馬武) of the sideok rank, Gobunok (高分屋) of the sideok rank, and Sananochaju (斯那奴次酒) of the sideok rank and the rest as envoys to Imna, and they said to the Japanese office and the hanki of Imna:

"We sent Mimasa, the Ki no Omi nasol, the nasol Giryeon, and Mononobe no Muraji Yokata, the nasol, to attend court and be received by the emperor. Mimasa and the rest came back from Japan and made known a written decree: 'You should join with the Japanese office there and set up a good plan early, and meet what I hope for. Be on your guard, and do not be deceived by others.'

Also Tsumori no Muraji came from Japan, made known the decree, and asked about the government of Imna. So we wished to take counsel with the Japanese office and the stewards of Imna, settle the government of Imna, and report it to the emperor. We sent to call you three times, and still you did not come. Because of this we could not discuss and plan the government of Imna together and report to the emperor.

Now we mean to ask that Tsumori no Muraji stay, and send a swift messenger apart from him to set out the state of things in full and report to the emperor. We will send the envoy to Japan on the tenth day of the third month. When this envoy arrives, the emperor will surely ask you. You, the lord of the Japanese office, and the hanki of Imna, should each send out an envoy to go with our messenger and hear the decree the emperor makes known."

Apart from this he said to Kawachi no Atai, "From of old until now I have heard only of your wickedness. Your forefathers all carried a crooked and false heart"

"and coaxed men with words. Wigagimi trusted their words alone, did not grieve over the hardship of the country, went against my heart and turned his back on it, and did cruel and harsh things as he pleased. For this he was driven out, and it was your doing alone.

You came and lived in Imna and always did what was not good, and Imna grew less day by day, and it was your doing alone.

Though you are a small thing, you are like a little fire that burns the hills and the fields and spreads on from village to village. Through your evil doing Imna will surely be broken. In the end you have kept the government houses of the many countries west of the sea from serving the emperor's palace forever.

Now I will report to the emperor and beg that you be moved back to the place you came from. You too are to go and hear it."

He also said to the lord of the Japanese office and the hanki of Imna:

"Who could set up the country of Imna without borrowing the emperor's power? So I wish to go to the emperor and ask for generals and soldiers, and help the country of Imna. The food for the generals and soldiers I must carry myself. The number of the generals and soldiers is not yet fixed, and the place to carry the food to is hard for me to settle alone. I would have us sit in one place, discuss together what is right and what is not, choose and follow the best, and report to the emperor. So I have called you again and again, and still you have not come, and there was no taking counsel."

The Japanese office answered:

"That the stewards of Imna did not go when called is because I did not send them. They could not go. When I reported to the emperor, the messenger who came back made known, 'I shall send Iki no Omi to Silla and Tsumori no Muraji to Baekje. Wait until you hear my command, and do not put yourself to the trouble of going to Silla or Baekje.'

The command was made known in this way, and then I heard that Iki no Omi had gone as envoy to Silla, so I sent after him and asked about the decree the emperor had made known."

"The answer was, 'The ministers of Japan and the stewards of Imna should go to Silla and hear the emperor's command.' It did not say to go to Baekje and hear the command.

Afterward Tsumori no Muraji came at last, and as he passed by here he said, 'I have now been sent to Baekje to have the district governors and castle lords of Baekje who are in Hahan sent out.'

I heard this word only. I did not hear that Imna and the Japanese office were to gather in Baekje and hear the emperor's command. So I did not go. It was not the will of Imna."

At this the hanki of Imna said, "When the messenger came and called us, we wished to go at once and take part, but the lord of the Japanese office would not send us. So we did not go. The great king has put out his whole heart to teach and show us, that he may set up Imna. Seeing this, our joy is hard to set out in full."

In the third month Baekje sent the nasol Atakdeukmun (阿■得文), Gama (哥麻), the Kose nasol, and Gabi (哥非), the Mononobe nasol, and the rest, who sent up a memorial:

"The nasol Mimasa and the nasol Giryeon and the rest reached your servant's country and brought the written decree, which said, 'You should plan a good counsel together with the Japanese office there and set up Imna early. Be on your guard, and do not be deceived by others.'

Also Tsumori no Muraji and the rest reached your servant's country, brought the written command, and asked about the setting up of Imna. Taking up with respect the command that came down, we did not dare let the time slip. Wishing to plan together, we sent messengers and called the Japanese office and Imna.

They answered together, 'The new year has already come. We ask to go when it has passed.' They did not come for a long time, so we sent messengers and called them again. They answered together, 'The time of the sacrifice has already come. We ask to go when it has passed.' They did not come for a long time, so we sent messengers and called them again, but because they sent men of low rank we could not plan together.

That Imna did not come when called is not its own will. This is the work of the crookedness and flattery of Ahyeon Inasa and Jwaro Mado.

Imna makes Alla its elder brother and follows its will alone, and the men of Alla make the Japanese office their heaven and follow its will alone. Now Ikuha no Omi, Kibi no Omi, Kawachi no Atai and the rest all do only as Inasa and Mado point.

Though Inasa and Mado are lowly men of a small house, they take the government of the Japanese office wholly into their own hands, and they also block Imna and do not let it go. Because of this we cannot plan together and send an answer to the emperor."

"So I have kept Komanuko here and sent a swift messenger apart from him, quick as a flying bird, to report to the emperor.

If these two men stay in Alla and do much that is crooked and flattering, Imna will be hard to set up, and the many countries west of the sea will surely fail to serve. I bow and ask that these two men be moved back to the place they came from.

Send down a decree to the Japanese office and to Imna, and have them plan the setting up of Imna. So your servant sends the nasol Mimasa and the nasol Giryeon and the rest, and joins them to Komanuko, to send up this memorial and report."

Then a decree was given:

"That Ikuha no Omi and the rest went back and forth to Silla was not my heart. In days gone by, when Ikimi and Aro hanki were there, they were pressed hard by Silla and could not till and sow. Baekje was far along the road and could not save them in their need. It was through Ikuha no Omi and the rest going back and forth to Silla that they could till and sow at last. This is what I have heard before. If Imna is once set up, Inasa and Mado will draw back of themselves. What is there to speak of?"

"I bow and take up this decree, and joy and fear come into my heart together. Yet I know that Silla's deceiving of the court is not the command of heaven.

In spring Silla took Taksun, then drove out our garrison at Gurye mountain and held it at last. The land near Alla was tilled by Alla, and the land near Gurye mountain was tilled by Silla, each tilling its own, and neither broke in upon the other and took it away. But Inasa and Mado crossed another's border to till, and in the sixth month they fled.

In the time of Kose no Omi, who came after Ikimi, Silla no longer broke in upon and pressed another's border."

"Alla did not say that it was pressed hard by Silla and could not till and sow.

Your servant heard before that every spring and autumn Silla gathers many soldiers and much armor and means to fall upon Alla and Hasan (荷山), and I heard also that it means to fall upon Gara. Of late we got word by letter and at once sent generals and soldiers to guard Imna, and were not slack in it. Again and again we sent out swift troops and went to the rescue in good time. For this reason Imna tilled and sowed with the seasons, and Silla did not dare break in and press upon them.

So the report that 'Baekje was far along the road and could not save them in their need, and it was through Ikuha no Omi and the rest going back and forth to Silla that they could till and sow at last' is a deceiving of the heavenly court above, and turns into crookedness and flattery. When it is as plain as this and they still deceive the heavenly court, there must be much else that is empty and false.

If Ikuha no Omi and the rest stay on in Alla, I fear the country of Imna will be hard to set up. Have them draw back early. Your servant fears this deeply.

Jwaro Mado, though born of a woman of Han (韓), holds the place of ōmuraji, stands among the stewards of Japan, and has entered the ranks of honor and high standing. Yet now he wears instead the namarye (奈麻禮) cap of Silla, and so it is easily seen that his body and heart have gone over and attached themselves to another.

Watching closely what he does, there is no fear in him at all. So before this I reported his evil doings and set them down in full for you to hear. Even now he wears another's clothing and goes daily into the land of Silla, and comes and goes on public and private business with nothing at all that he shrinks from.

The fall of Takguk (喙國) was from no other cause. Hampa hanki (凾跛旱岐) of Takguk held two hearts toward the country of Gara and answered Silla from within, and Gara fought along with them from without. For this it fell. If Hampa hanki had not answered from within, Takguk, small though it was, would surely not have perished.

With Taksun it was the same. If the lord of Taksun had not answered Silla from within and called in the robbers,"

"how should it have come to ruin?

Looking all round at the ruin and fall of the many countries, all of it came from men who answered from within and held two hearts.

Now Mado and the rest hold Silla in their heart, and have come at last to wear its clothing, and go back and forth morning and evening, secretly weaving the heart of a robber. I fear Imna will be destroyed forever through this. If Imna is destroyed, your servant's country stands alone and in danger. Though we wished to come to court, how could we do it again?

I bow and pray that the emperor look deep and look far, and move them back quickly to the place they came from, and so give Imna peace."

In winter, the tenth month, the envoys of Baekje, the nasol Deukmun and the nasol Gama and the rest, went back.

In the eleventh month Baekje sent messengers to call the ministers of the Japanese office and the stewards of Imna, and said, "The nasol Deukmun, Gama the Kose nasol, and Gabi the Mononobe nasol, who were sent to attend the emperor's court, have come back from Japan. Now the ministers of the Japanese office and the stewards of the country of Imna should come, hear the command, and take counsel together on Imna."

Kibi no Omi of Japan; Daebulson and Guchwiyuri, the hahanki of Alla; Gojeonhae, the sangsuwi of Gara; the lord of Jolma; the lord of Saigi; the son of the lord of Sanbanhae; Heulgeonji (訖乾智), the isuwi of Dara; the hanki of Jata; and the hanki of Gucha (久嵯) then went to Baekje.

Then Seongmyeong, king of Baekje, showed them the gist of the written decree and said, "I sent the nasol Mimasa, the nasol Giryeon and the nasol Yokata and the rest to attend the court in Japan, and the decree said, 'Set up Imna early.' Tsumori no Muraji also took up the command and asked about the making of Imna. That is why I called you. What should be done now to set Imna up? I ask that each of you set out his plan."

Kibi no Omi and the hanki of Imna said, "The setting up of the country of Imna rests upon the great king alone. We would follow the king, report together, and hear the command."

King Seongmyeong said to them:

"The country of Imna and our Baekje have from of old been bound by an oath to be as sons and younger brothers. Now Ikimi of the Japanese office has already struck Silla, and would strike us next. He also likes to listen to the empty and deceiving words of Silla.

Ikimi was sent to Imna in the first place not to break in upon that country and harm it. From of old until now Silla has been without the way, has eaten its own words and broken faith, and destroyed Taksun, a country that was as our arms and legs."

"Wishing to have done with my regret quickly, I called you here, that we might take up the gracious decree together, raise up and carry on the country of Imna, and be elder and younger brothers forever as in the old days.

I have heard quietly that on the border of the two countries Silla and Alla there is a great river, a place of hold and defense. I wish to hold it and repair six castles there. I would respectfully ask the emperor for three thousand soldiers, five hundred to fill each castle, and with our own soldiers keep them from working their fields, and press and trouble them. Then the five castles of Gurye mountain will likely throw down their weapons of themselves and bow their heads and surrender. And the country of Taksun should rise again. The clothing and food of the soldiers I ask for I will supply myself. This I wish to report to the emperor. That is the first plan.

As for still setting district governors and castle lords in Namhan (南韓) — how should that be to turn our back on the emperor and cut off the road of tribute? It is only that we hope to win through many hardships and beat down a strong enemy. Of all that wicked crowd, who would not plan to join them? The enemy to the north is strong and great, and our country is small and weak. If we do not set district governors and castle lords in Namhan and keep up our defenses and guard them, we cannot hold off this strong enemy, and we cannot hold Silla down either. So we still set them there, to strike and press Silla and to soothe and preserve Imna. If we do not, I fear we shall be destroyed and be unable to come to court and pay our visits. This I wish to report to the emperor. That is the second plan.

Also, while Kibi no Omi, Kawachi no Atai, Inasa and Mado are still in that country, though the emperor decree that Imna be made, it cannot be got. I ask that these four men be moved and each sent back to his own home village, and I wish to report this to the emperor. That is the third plan.

Let us send envoys together with the ministers of Japan and the hanki of Imna, report together to the emperor, and beg to hear his gracious decree."

At this Kibi no Omi and the hanki said:

"The three plans the great king has set out fit our foolish minds as well. Now we would go back and ask with respect of the great minister of Japan, the king of Alla and the king of Gara, and send envoys together and report to the emperor together. This is truly a meeting that comes once in a thousand years. How can we not think deeply on it and weigh it well?"

In the twelfth month the province of Koshi reported:

"On the shore of the cape of Minabe, north of the island of Sado, there were Mishihase (肅愼) men who had come in a single ship and stayed a long while. In spring and summer they caught fish for their food. The men of that island said they were not men, and said they were goblins, and did not dare go near them.

A man of the village of Umu, east of the island, gathered acorns and, wishing to cook and eat them, put them in the ashes and roasted them. Their husks turned into two men, who flew up a foot or so above the fire and fought each other for a while. The villager thought it very strange and took them and set them in his yard. Again they flew as before and did not stop fighting each other.

Someone divined and said, 'The men of this village will surely be bewitched by goblins.' Before long, as the words had said, they were plundered.

Then the Mishihase men moved to the shore of the river Senami. The god of that shore was greatly to be shunned, and men did not dare go near it. They were thirsty and drank the water there, and half of them died. Their bones piled up in a cave in the rock, and the people call it the Mishihase bend."

In the sixth year, in spring, the third month, Kashiwade no Omi Hadehi was sent as envoy to Baekje.

In summer, the fifth month, Baekje sent the nasol Gijun (其悛), the nasol Yokata, and Chaju of the sideok rank and the rest, who sent up a memorial.

In autumn, the ninth month, Baekje sent Bori (菩提) of the hodeok rank of the middle division and the rest as envoys to Imna, and gave goods of Wu to the ministers of the Japanese office and to the many hanki, each according to his rank.

In this month Baekje made a sixteen-foot Buddha image (丈六) and wrote a prayer for it, saying:

"I have heard that the merit of making a sixteen-foot Buddha image is very great. Now it is made with reverence. By this merit may the emperor gain surpassing and good virtue, and may the lands of the miyake that the emperor rules all receive blessing and help. And may all living beings under the wide heaven all gain release. For this it is made."

In winter, the eleventh month, Kashiwade no Omi Hadehi came back from Baekje and said:

"When your servant was sent as envoy, my wife and children went along with me. We went on and came to the shore of Baekje, and as the day grew late we stopped for the night. My little boy was suddenly gone and I did not know where. That night deep snow fell. When the sky grew light I began to search, and there were the tracks of a tiger going on ahead.

So your servant put on his sword and his armor, and searching came to a cave in the rock, and drew his sword and said, 'That a man takes the lord's command with reverence, toils on land and sea, combs his hair in the wind and bathes in the rain, spreads grass and lays out thorn branches to sleep — it is because he loves his child and would have him carry on his father's work. You too are a god of might, and loving a child is one and the same. Tonight my child is gone, and I followed the traces and came here. I do not fear to lose my life. I have come to repay you.'

Then the tiger came forward and opened its mouth to bite. Hadehi suddenly put out his left hand and seized the tiger's tongue, and with his right hand stabbed it dead. He stripped off the skin, took it, and came back."

In this year Goryeo was in great disorder, and many were put to death.

In the seventh year, in spring, the first month, the first day being a gapjin day, on the byeongo day, the envoys of Baekje, the nasol Giryeon of the middle division and the rest, went back. With them were given seventy good horses and ten ships.

In summer, the sixth month, the first day being an imsin day, on the gyemi day, Baekje sent Yakyeomnye (掠葉禮), the nasol of the middle division, and the rest, who offered tribute.

In autumn, the seventh month, Imaki district in Yamato province reported:

"In the spring of the fifth year Kawahara no Tami no Atai Miya climbed a tower and looked far off, and saw a fine colt. It eyed its own shadow and neighed loudly, and leapt lightly over its mother's back. He went and bought it, and reared it for several years. When it was grown it was like a startled wild goose and a soaring dragon, and stood out above the herd. It followed the mind of the man who rode it, and its running kept to the measure. It leapt across a gorge of the hill of Ōuchi eighteen jang wide."

Kawahara no Tami no Atai Miya was a man of the village of Hinokuma.

In this year Goryeo was in great disorder, and those who died in the fighting were more than two thousand.

In the eighth year, in summer, the fourth month, Baekje sent Jinmoseonmun (眞慕宣文), the deoksol of the front division, and the nasol Gama and the rest, and begged for troops to rescue them. With them they offered Dongseongjaeon (東城子言) of the lower division to take the place of the deoksol Munhyumana (■休麻那).

In spring, the first month, the first day being a gyesa day, on the eulmi day, the envoys of Baekje, Jinmoseonmun the deoksol of the front division and the rest, asked to go back. A decree was then given. "The rescuing troops you begged for will surely be sent to your aid. Report it to your king quickly."

In the ninth year, in summer, the fourth month, the first day being an imsul day, on the gapja day, Baekje sent Yakyeomnye, the nasol of the middle division, and the rest, who reported:

"The deoksol Seonmun and the rest took up the command and came to your servant's country, saying, 'The rescuing troops you begged for will be sent in good time.' Taking up the gracious decree with respect, our joy and gladness are without end.

But in the fighting at the castle of Majin (馬津城) one who was taken captive said, 'It was the country of Alla and the Japanese office that called them in and urged them to strike.' Weighing it against the facts, it does indeed look to be so.

Yet three times we called them, wishing to look into that saying, and none of them came. So we think hard on it. We bow and pray that the dread emperor look into it first, and hold back for a while the rescuing troops we begged for, and wait for your servant to report."

A decree was given:

"I have heard the report you sent up, and have seen what you are troubled by. That the Japanese office and Alla did not save a neighbor in its hardship is hateful to me as well. And that they secretly sent envoys to Goryeo cannot be believed. If I command it, they go at once of themselves; since I did not command it, how could it be so?

Let the king open his collar and loosen his belt, be at ease in himself, and not doubt or fear deeply. Join with Imna according to the earlier command, gather your strength and hold off the northern enemy together, and each guard what is given to him. I will send some number of men to fill the land of Alla that is empty where men have fled."

In the sixth month, the first day being a sinyu day, on the imsul day, he sent an envoy and gave a decree to Baekje. "How is it since the deoksol Seonmun went back? What is the news? I hear that your country has been harmed by the robbers of Goryeo. Join with Imna, urge each other on, and plan together as before and hold them off."

In the intercalary seventh month, the first day being a gyeongsin day, on the sinmi day, the envoys of Baekje, Yakyeomnye and the rest, went back.

In winter, the tenth month, three hundred and seventy men were sent to Baekje to help in building a castle at Deugisin (得爾辛).

In summer, the sixth month, the first day being an eulyu day, on the sinmyo day, Gugwi (久貴) of the jangdeok rank and Machamun (馬次文) of the godeok rank and the rest asked to go back. A decree was then given. "As for Yeonnasa (延那斯) and Mado secretly sending envoys of their own to Goryeo, I will send men and ask whether it is false or true. The soldiers you begged for are held back, as you wished."

In the eleventh year, in spring, the second month, the first day being a sinsa day, on the gyeongin day, he sent an envoy and gave a decree to Baekje:

"Following the meaning of the memorial sent up by Gugwi of the jangdeok rank and Majinmun of the godeok rank and the rest, I will teach and show you each thing one by one, as clearly as looking into the palm of the hand. I wish to know your mind in full, and I hope you will set out all that you hold.

Since Ōichi no Obito came back, things are as they always were, with nothing different. Now I send an envoy only because I wish to look into your answering words.

And I hear that the nasol Mamu (馬武) is a minister who is as the king's own arms and legs, taking up what comes from above and passing on what goes below, fitting the king's heart very well and being the king's helper. If you wish your country to be without trouble, and to be a government house forever and serve the emperor forever, make Mamu your chief envoy and send him to court. That is all."

He gave a further decree. "I hear that the northern enemy is strong and fierce. So I give you thirty sets of arrows. I hope they may hold even one place."

In summer, the fourth month, on the gyeongjin day that was the first of the month, the king's envoy (王人) of Japan who was in Baekje was about to go back.

Seongmyeong, king of Baekje, said to the king's envoy, "In the matter of Imna we will take up the command and hold fast. In the matter of Yeonnasa and Mado, whether we are asked or not asked, we will follow the command alone."

Then he offered six slaves of Goryeo, and gave one slave to the king's envoy apart from these.

On the eulmi day Baekje sent Pigugeun (皮久斤), the nasol of the middle division, and Jakganna (灼干那) of the sideok rank of the lower division and the rest, who offered ten captives of Goryeo.

In the twelfth year, in spring, the third month, a thousand seom of barley seed were given to the king of Baekje.

In this year King Seongmyeong of Baekje himself led his people and the soldiers of the two countries, went and struck Goryeo, and took the land of Hanseong (漢城). He also moved his soldiers forward and struck Pyeongyang (平壤), and the land of six districts in all was won back at last as their old land.

In the thirteenth year, in summer, the fourth month, Prince Yata no Tamakatsu no Ōe died.

In the fifth month, the first day being a mujin day, on the eulhae day, Baekje, Gara and Alla sent Mokjugeumdon (木州今敦), the deoksol of the middle division, and Asabida (阿斯比多) of the Hanae division and the rest, who reported:

"Goryeo and Silla have made peace with each other and joined their strength, and plan to destroy your servant's country and Imna. So we respectfully seek and ask for rescuing troops. We would strike first where they do not expect it. As for how many soldiers, we will follow the emperor's command."

A decree was given. "I have heard in full what the king of Baekje, the king of Alla and the king of Gara, together with the ministers of the Japanese office, have sent envoys to report. Join with Imna as well, bring your hearts together and make your strength one. If you do this, you will surely receive the blessing of heaven's sheltering, and you will have the help of the spirit of the dread emperor besides."

In winter, the tenth month, King Seongmyeong of Baekje sent Norisachigye (怒■斯致契), the dalsol of the Hui clan (姫氏) of the western division, and the rest, who offered one gilt bronze image of Shakyamuni Buddha, a number of banners and canopies (幡盖), and several volumes of sutras and treatises (經論).

Apart from this he sent up a memorial praising the merit of spreading the law abroad and of worship, saying:

"This law is the most excellent among all the laws. It is hard to understand and hard to enter, and even the Duke of Zhou and Confucius could not know it. This law can bring forth blessing and reward beyond measure and beyond bound, and at last brings a man to complete the highest awakening.

It is like a man holding a jewel that grants his will, so that whatever he seeks to use it for follows his will entirely. The jewel of this wonderful law is the same, and what is prayed and wished for comes about at will, with nothing lacking.

From far off in Tianzhu even to the Three Han there is no one who does not take it up and hold to it as it teaches, and honor and revere it. For this reason Myeong (明), king of Baekje, your servant, respectfully sends his attendant minister Norisachigye to carry it and hand it over to the imperial country (帝國), and to have it spread abroad in the home provinces. This carries out what the Buddha set down, that 'my law shall flow eastward.'"

On this day the emperor heard it and leapt for joy, and gave a decree to the envoy. "From of old until now I have never yet heard a law so fine and subtle as this. Yet I will not decide it myself."

Then he asked all round of the many ministers. "The form of the Buddha offered by the country of the west is upright and solemn, and I have never seen the like at all. Should he be worshiped or not?"

Soga no Ōomi Iname no Sukune reported, "The many countries of the west all worship him alike. How should Toyoakitsu Japan turn its back on him alone?"

Mononobe no Ōmuraji Okoshi and Nakatomi no Muraji Kamako reported together, "Those who have been king over all under heaven in our country have always made it their work to sacrifice and bow to heaven and earth and to the hundred and eighty gods of the land and grain, in spring and summer and autumn and winter. If now we change and bow to a foreign god, we fear it will bring on the anger of the gods of the country."

The emperor said, "Give it to Iname no Sukune, the man who wishes it in his heart, and let him worship it as a trial."

The great minister knelt and received it, and in his joy set it up in his house at Oharida. He worked hard at the practice that leads out of the world and made it his cause, and he gave up his house at Mukahara and made it a temple.

Afterward a breath of plague went through the country, and the people came to die young, and as time went on there were more and more of them, and it could not be cured.

Mononobe no Ōmuraji Okoshi and Nakatomi no Muraji Kamako reported together, "Because your servants' counsel was not used before, it has come to these deaths from sickness. If you turn back now before you have gone far, there will surely be good fortune. Throw it away early and seek blessing for the days to come with all your heart."

The emperor said, "Do as you report."

The officials in charge then let the image of the Buddha float away in the canal of Horie at Naniwa, and set fire to the temple besides, and burned it until nothing at all was left. At this, with no wind or cloud in the sky, the great hall suddenly took fire.

In this year Baekje gave up Hanseong and Pyeongyang. Silla thereupon went into Hanseong and lived there. This is Udubang (牛頭方) and Imibang (尼彌方) of Silla today.

In the fourteenth year, in spring, the first month, the first day being a gapja day, on the eulhae day, Baekje sent Gwayachaju (科野次酒), the deoksol of the upper division, and Yesaedon (禮塞敦) of the gansol rank and the rest, and begged for soldiers.

In the first month, on the muin day, the envoys of Baekje, Mokhyeopgeumdon, the deoksol of the middle division, and Asabida of the Hanae division and the rest, went back.

In summer, the fifth month, on the mujin day that was the first of the month, the province of Kawachi reported. "In the sea of Chinu in Izumi district there is a Brahma voice (梵音), and it sounds out like thunder, and a light shines bright like the color of the sun."

The emperor thought it strange in his heart, and sent Mizobe no Atai to go into the sea and search for it.

In this month Mizobe no Atai went into the sea and indeed saw a camphor tree floating on the water and shining clear. He took it at last and offered it up. The emperor ordered his painters to make two images of the Buddha. These are the camphor-wood images of the temple of Yoshino that give out light today.

In the sixth month Uchi no Omi was sent as envoy to Baekje. With him were given two good horses, two ships of the same kind, fifty bows and fifty sets of arrows.

The command said, "The soldiers you asked for will be as the king wishes to use them."

Apart from this the command said, "The doctors of medicine (醫博士), the doctors of divination (易博士) and the doctors of the calendar (暦博士) should be sent up and down in their turn. The men of these kinds set down above have now come to the year and the month for their change, so send them with the returning envoy and change them over. Books of divination and books of the calendar and medicines of every kind may also be sent along."

In autumn, the seventh month, the first day being a sinyu day, on the gapja day, he went to the palace of Kusumagari.

Soga no Ōomi Iname no Sukune took up the command and sent Wangjini (王辰爾) to count and set down the tax laid on the ships. Wangjini was then made head of the ships, and for this a surname was given him, Fune no Fubito. He is the ancestor of the Fune no Muraji today.

In the eighth month, the first day being a sinmyo day, on the jeongyu day, Baekje sent Gwayasilla (科野新羅), the nasol of the upper division, and Munhyudaesan (■休帶山) of the godeok rank of the lower division and the rest, who sent up a memorial:

"Last year your servants took counsel together and sent the Uchi no Omi, the deoksol Chaju, and the great men of Imna, to report on the matter of the many miyake beyond the sea. We bowed and waited for your gracious decree as the spring grass looks up for sweet rain.

This year we suddenly heard that Silla and Goryeo had planned together and said, 'Baekje and Imna go often to Japan. Their mind is perhaps to borrow soldiers and strike our countries. If this is true, we may stand on tiptoe and wait for the breaking and ruin of our countries. Let us take Alla before the soldiers of Japan have set out, and cut the road to Japan.'

Such is their plan, and your servants, hearing it, held deep danger in their hearts, and at once put a swift messenger in a light boat and hurried this memorial to you to report.

We bow and pray that in your heavenly kindness you quickly send a front force and a rear force, one after the other, to come and save us, and make firm the many miyake beyond the sea before the autumn season. If it is late, we may bite our navels and not reach them.

When the soldiers you send reach your servant's country, your servant will meet the cost of their clothing and food. It will be the same when they reach Imna. If we cannot meet it all, your servant will surely help fill it out so that there is no lack.

Apart from this, Ikuha no Omi took up the emperor's command with respect and came to soothe your servant's country, and from early dawn until night he worked hard and set many matters in order. For this the many countries beyond the sea all spoke of his goodness, and said that he would keep the lands beyond the sea clean for ten thousand years. Unhappily he has died, and we grieve deeply for him. Who now will set the affairs of Imna in order? We bow and pray that in your heavenly kindness you quickly send one in his place, and so settle Imna.

Also, the many countries beyond the sea are very short of bows and horses. From of old until now we have received them from the emperor and held off strong enemies. We bow and pray that in your heavenly kindness you give us bows and horses in plenty."

In winter, the tenth month, the first day being a gyeongin day, on the giyu day, Yeochang (餘昌), the prince of Baekje, sent out all the soldiers within the country and went toward the country of Goryeo. He built a stockade at Baekhabya (百合野) and let the soldiers sleep and eat.

That evening he looked about, and the great fields were rich and the plain stretched far, and traces of men were few and the sound of dogs was not heard.

Then all at once the sound of drums and pipes was heard. Yeochang was greatly startled at this, and beat his drums in answer, and held fast through the night.

When he rose and looked at dawn, the middle of the wide field was covered as with a green mountain, and banners filled it.

As the day broke, one horseman wearing a neck guard, two horsemen carrying gongs, and two horsemen with leopard tails at their ears, five horsemen in all, came up with their reins abreast and asked, "The young ones said, 'There are guests in the middle of our field.' Why do you not come out and greet us with courtesy? We would know at once the surname and name, the years and the rank, of the one who is to ask and answer with us in courtesy."

Yeochang answered, "My surname is the same surname. My rank is gansol. My years are twenty-nine."

Baekje asked in return, and they answered in the same way as before.

At last they set up a marker and joined battle. Then Baekje ran a brave man of Goryeo through with a spear, threw him down from his horse, and cut off his head. They then stuck the head on the tip of the spear, held it up, came back, and showed it to the host. The anger of the general of Goryeo grew fiercer still.

At this the shout of joy from Baekje could have split heaven and earth. Then a lesser general of theirs beat his drum and fought hard, and drove the king of Goryeo back onto the height of Dongseongsan (東聖山).

In the fifteenth year, in spring, the first month, the first day being a muja day, on the gabo day, the prince Nunakura no Futotamashiki no Mikoto was set up as crown prince.

On the byeongsin day Baekje sent Muncha (文次) of the sideok rank of Mokju of the middle division, and Waljwabunok (曰佐分屋) of the sideok rank of the front division and the rest, to Tsukushi, and they asked of Uchi no Omi and Saeki no Muraji and the rest:

"The deoksol Chaju and the gansol Saedon and the rest came on the fourth day of the intercalary month last year and said, 'We will arrive in the first month of this year.' They said this, but we have not yet learned whether they are coming or not. And how many soldiers are there? We would hear how many, so as to make ready our camps and walls beforehand."

Apart from this they asked, "We have now taken up and heard the decree of the dread emperor, and have come to Tsukushi to see the soldiers you are sending. Our joy at hearing it is beyond compare. This year's fighting is far more dangerous than before. We pray that the soldiers you send may arrive within the first month."

At this Uchi no Omi took up the command and answered them, saying, "A thousand soldiers will be sent at once to help you, with a hundred horses and forty ships."

In the second month Baekje sent Samgwi (三貴), general and gansol of the lower division, and Mulbuo (物部烏), the nasol of the upper division, and the rest, and begged for rescuing troops.

With them they offered the deoksol Dongseongjamakgo (東城子莫古) to take the place of the nasol Dongseongjaeon of the earlier turn, and Wangryugwi (王柳貴), a doctor of the Five Classics (五經博士), to take the place of Majeongan (馬丁安) of the godeok rank, and nine monks, Damhye (曇慧) and the rest, to take the place of the seven monks Dosim (道深) and the rest.

Apart from this they took up the command and offered Wangdoryang (王道良) of the sideok rank, a doctor of divination (易博士); Wangboson (王保孫) of the godeok rank, a doctor of the calendar (暦博士); the nasol Wangyureungta (王有悛陀), a doctor of medicine (醫博士); Banryangpung (潘量豊) of the sideok rank and Jeongyuta (丁有陀) of the godeok rank, gatherers of herbs (採藥師); and Samgeun (三斤) of the sideok rank, Gimacha (己麻次) of the gyedeok rank, Jinno (進奴) of the gyedeok rank, and Jinta (進陀) of the daedeok rank, musicians (樂人). All were changed over as had been asked.

In the third month, on the jeonghae day that was the first of the month, the envoys of Baekje, Muncha of the sideok rank of Mokju of the middle division and the rest, went back.

In summer, the fifth month, the first day being a byeongsul day, on the muja day, Uchi no Omi led ships and soldiers and went to Baekje.

In winter, the twelfth month, Baekje sent Munsaganno (■斯干奴), the gansol of the lower division, who sent up a memorial:

"Myeong, king of Baekje and your servant, together with the many ministers of Wa who are in Alla and the hanki of the many countries of Imna, report.

Sara (斯羅) is without the way, does not fear the emperor, is of one heart with Goryeo, and would break down and destroy the many miyake north of the sea. Your servants took counsel together and sent Arishi no Omi and the rest to look up to you and beg for soldiers, and asked that Sara be struck.

The emperor sent Arishi no Omi, who led soldiers and arrived in the sixth month. Your servants rejoiced deeply. On the ninth day of the twelfth month we sent them out and struck Sara.

Your servant first sent Mononobe no Makamu no Muraji, the yeong (領) of the eastern quarter, to lead the soldiers of that quarter and strike the castle of Hamsan (函山城). Mononobe no Makaisaka no Kimi of Tsukushi, one of the people Arishi no Omi brought with him, shot fire arrows. Receiving the might and the spirit of the emperor, at the hour of the west (西時) on the ninth day we burned the castle and took it. So we send a single messenger and hurry a ship to report.

Apart from this we report. If it were Sara alone, the soldiers Arishi no Omi leads would be enough. Now that Goryeo and Sara are of one heart and have joined their strength, it is hard to bring it off. We bow and pray that you quickly send the many soldiers on the island of Tsukushi to come and help your servant's country, and to help Imna as well. Then the thing can be done.

We report also. Your servant will send ten thousand soldiers of his own to help Imna. We report this along with the rest. The matter is now urgent, so we send a single ship to report. We offer only two bolts of fine brocade, one patterned mat, three hundred axes, and of the people taken in the castle two men and five women. They are light and thin, and we are ashamed to send them."

Yeochang planned to strike Silla, and the old men remonstrated. "Heaven is not yet with us. We fear ruin will come."

Yeochang said, "You are old. Why are you afraid? We serve a great country.

What is there to fear?"

At last he went into the country of Silla and built the stockade of Gutamora (久陀牟羅).

His father King Myeong was troubled. Yeochang had long suffered in the camp and had long gone without sleep and food. Saying that a father's love often falls short and a son's duty is seldom fulfilled, he went himself to meet him and comfort him.

Silla heard that King Myeong was coming in person, sent out all the soldiers within the country, cut the road, and broke them.

At this Silla said to Godo (苦都), a slave who kept horses in the village of Jwaji (佐知村), "Godo is a lowly slave, and King Myeong is a famous lord. Now let a lowly slave kill a famous lord, so that it may be handed down to later ages and never leave men's mouths."

Then Godo took King Myeong, bowed twice, and said, "I ask to cut off the king's head."

King Myeong answered, "It is not fitting that a king's head be taken by the hand of a slave."

Godo said, "By the law of our country, one who breaks what he has sworn, even though he be king of a country, must take it at the hand of a slave."

King Myeong looked up to heaven, sighed greatly, wept, and allowed it, saying, "Whenever I think of it, the pain has always gone into my marrow. Weighing it, I cannot live on in disgrace." Then he stretched out his neck and took the stroke.

Godo cut off his head and killed him, and dug a pit and buried him.

Yeochang was surrounded at last, and though he wished to get out he could not. The soldiers were startled and afraid and did not know what to plan.

There was a man who could shoot well, called Tsukushi no Kuni no Miyatsuko. He came forward, drew his bow and took aim, and shot down the bravest and strongest of the horsemen of Silla. The arrow flew so sharply that it went through the front and the back bow of the saddle he rode on, and reached the neck of the armor he wore.

Then he shot arrow after arrow like rain, and grew no slacker, and shot back the soldiers who surrounded them. By this Yeochang and the many generals were able to escape by a side road and get away.

Yeochang praised the Kuni no Miyatsuko for shooting back the surrounding soldiers, and honored him with the name Kuraji no Kimi.

At this the generals of Silla knew well that Baekje was worn out and spent, and wished at last to destroy it and leave nothing.

One general said, "It cannot be done. The emperor of Japan has reproached our country many times over the matter of Imna. How much more if we plan to destroy the government house of Baekje besides — it will surely bring trouble afterward." So they stopped.

In the sixteenth year, in spring, the second month, Yeochang, the prince of Baekje, sent Prince Hye (惠), who reported, "King Seongmyeong has been killed by robbers."

The emperor heard it and grieved and mourned. He sent a messenger to meet him at the landing and comfort him.

Then Kose no Omi asked Prince Hye, "Do you wish to stay here, or do you wish to go toward your own home country?"

Hye answered, "Leaning upon the emperor's virtue, I hope to repay the enemy of my late father the king. If you would let pity fall upon me and give me weapons in plenty, so that I may wash away the shame and repay the enemy, that is your servant's wish. As for my going or staying, I dare do nothing but follow the command."

Then Soga no Omi asked after him and said:

"King Seong reached wonderfully into the way of heaven and the order of the earth, and his name flowed to the four quarters and the eight directions. We thought in our minds that he would keep his peace forever, lead the vassal countries west of the sea, and serve the emperor for a thousand and ten thousand years. How could we have reckoned that in one morning he would pass far away, going with the water and never returning, to rest in the dark chamber? How cruel is this pain, how bitter is this sorrow. Of all who have feeling in them, who would not be stricken with grief? What fault could it be that brought on this ruin? And by what plan may the country be settled now?"

Hye answered, "Your servant is foolish and dark by nature, and does not know great plans. How much less what blessing and ruin rest upon, and whether a country stands or falls."

The lord Soga said:

"In old days, in the time of the emperor Ōhatsuse, your country was pressed hard by Goryeo, and was in more danger than eggs piled one on another. Then the emperor commanded the officer in charge of the gods to receive a plan from the gods with reverence. The man who made the prayers was then filled with the words of the god, and answered, 'Bend and ask the god of the founding of the land (建邦) to go and save the lord who is about to perish, and the country will surely be quiet and still, and men and things at peace.' For this they asked the god to go and save him, and the land and its altars were at peace.

The god of the founding of the land is the god who came down from heaven and set up the country in the age when heaven and earth were parting, and in the time when grass and trees spoke.

Of late I hear that your country has left off and does not sacrifice to him. If you now repent of the fault that is past, put the shrine in order, and offer sacrifice to the spirit of the god, the country may flourish. Do not forget this."

In autumn, the seventh month, the first day being a gimyo day, on the imo day, Soga no Ōomi Iname no Sukune and Hozumi no Iwayumi no Omi and the rest were sent as envoys to the five districts of Kibi, and the miyake of Shirai (白猪屯倉) was set up.

In the eighth month Yeochang of Baekje said to the many ministers, "I, who am young, now wish to leave the world and follow the way for the sake of my late father the king."

The many ministers and the people answered:

"Now that our lord wishes to leave the world and follow the way, we too will take up his teaching. Alas, when what was weighed beforehand was not settled, great trouble came after. Whose fault is it?

The country of Baekje is what Goryeo and Silla strive with each other to destroy. It has come from the first opening of the country down to this year. To what country do you now mean to hand over the ridgepole of this land? You must make the reason plain and teach it to us. If only the words of the old men had been used, how should it have come to this? We ask that you repent of the fault that is past and not trouble yourself to leave the world. If you would carry out your vow, then have the people of the country ordained."

Yeochang answered, "Very well."

He then went to his ministers and planned it. The ministers took counsel together at last and had a hundred men ordained, and made many banners and canopies and all kinds of works of merit, and so on.

In the seventeenth year, in spring, the first month, Prince Hye of Baekje asked to go back. He was given weapons and fine horses in great number, and rewards and stipends were granted him again and again, so that many looked on and marveled.

Then Abe no Omi, Saeki no Muraji and Harima no Atai were sent to lead the ships and soldiers of the country of Tsukushi and escort him as far as his country. Apart from these, Tsukushi no Hi no Kimi was sent to lead a thousand brave soldiers and escort him as far as Mite, and then to guard the places of hold and defense along the road of the landings.

In autumn, the seventh month, the first day being a gapsul day, on the gimyo day, Soga no Ōomi Iname no Sukune and the rest were sent to Kojima district in Bizen, and a miyake was set up. Kazuraki no Yamada no Atai Mizuko was made the tazukahi.

In winter, the tenth month, Soga no Ōomi Iname no Sukune and the rest were sent to Takechi district in Yamato province, and the miyake of Ōmusa of the Karahito (韓人) and the miyake of Omusa of the men of Goryeo were set up, and in Kii province the miyake of Amabe was set up.

In the eighteenth year, in spring, the third month, on the gyeongja day that was the first of the month, Yeochang, the prince of Baekje, took up the succession and ascended the throne. He is King Wideok (威徳王).

In the twenty-first year, in autumn, the ninth month, Silla sent Mijigiji (彌至己知), of the rank of namal, who offered tribute and levy. The feast given him was better than what was usual.

The namal was glad, and as he left he said, "The envoy who brings tribute and levy is one whom the country holds honored and weighty, yet in private talk he is held light and low. An envoy is one on whom the lives of the people hang, yet in choosing and using men he is held low. It cannot be said that the harm done to a king's government does not surely come from this. I ask that sons of good houses be chosen for envoys, and that low and mean men not be made envoys."

In the twenty-second year Silla sent Guryejil (久禮叱), of the rank of geupbeolgan, who offered tribute and levy. The office of guests cut down the forms of courtesy in receiving him below what was usual. The geupbeolgan was angry and bore a grudge, and left.

In this year Silla sent Noje (奴■), the daesa (大舎), again, who offered the tribute and levy of the year before. At the Ōkori of Naniwa, when the order of the many countries was being set, Nukatabe no Muraji and Kazuraki no Atai and the rest, who had charge of the guests, ranged him below Baekje and led him in.

The daesa was angry and went back, and did not enter the guest house, but boarded a ship and came to Anato.

At that time the guest house of Anato was being repaired and rebuilt. The daesa asked, "For what guest is it being built?"

Kawachi no Umakai no Obito Oshikatsu, the workman, deceived him and said, "It is the lodging place for the man who is being sent to question the discourteous envoy of the west."

The daesa went back to his country and told them what had been said. So Silla built a castle on Arapasasan (阿羅波斯山) to make ready against Japan.

In the twenty-third year, in spring, the first month, Silla struck and destroyed the government house of Imna.

In summer, the sixth month, a decree was given:

"Silla is a small and ugly thing among the western barbarians, and it goes against heaven and has no shape of decency. It has broken our kindness and our right, shattered our government house, poisoned and harmed our people, and cut down and ruined our districts and counties.

Our Okinagatarashihime no Mikoto was holy in spirit and bright in mind, and she went all through the land under heaven, toiled for the many people, and fed and reared the ten thousand folk. She pitied Silla when it came back to her in its need, kept whole the head of the king of Silla that should have been struck off, gave Silla land that was a place of hold and defense, and raised Silla to an honor beyond its rank.

What did our Okinagatarashihime no Mikoto do to Silla that was mean, and what did our people do to Silla that they should resent it? Yet Silla with long spears and strong crossbows has trampled Imna, and has bared its teeth and hooked its claws and cruelly harmed things that have souls. It cut out livers and cut off feet and was not sated with the pleasure of it; it dried bones in the sun and burned corpses and did not call it cruel.

As for the kindred and the people of Imna, they took the knife and the block to the end, and both slaughtered them and cut them up. How can they be called guests of all the land, and said to have become subjects of the king? Who could eat another's grain and drink another's water, and hear this and not grieve in his heart?

How much more the crown prince and the great ministers, who stand in kinship close as the calyx to the flower, whose charge it is to weep blood over the wrong, who hold the office of a hedge and a shield, who have received favor from the crown of the head to the heel, who have received the virtue of the former court for generations and whose persons hold the places of the age to come. If they cannot pour out their gall and draw out their bowels, and join in cutting down the crooked and the rebellious, and wash away the pain and cruelty done to heaven and earth, and repay the enemy of their lord and father, then even in death they will bear the regret of having failed in the way of a son and a subject."

In this month someone slandered Umakai no Obito Kayori and said, "The saddle cloth of Kayori's wife, Ō no Omi Sanuki, is out of the common."

When it was looked at closely it was the empress's saddle. He was taken at once into prison, and the questioning was very sharp.

Umakai no Obito Kayori then raised his voice and swore, "It is empty. It is not true. If it is true, I will surely meet with a disaster from heaven."

In the end, through the hard questioning, he fell to the ground and died. Not long after he died, fire suddenly broke out in the palace.

The prison officers seized and bound his sons Morishi and Nakatsusehi and were about to throw them into the fire, and they cursed, saying, "It is not by my hand that they are thrown, but by the hand of the man who makes the prayers."

When the curse was done and they were about to throw them into the fire, the mother of Morishi prayed and asked, "If you throw the children into the fire, a disaster from heaven will indeed come. I ask that they be given to the man who makes the prayers, and made slaves of the god."

So at the mother's asking it was allowed that they be taken as slaves of the god.

In autumn, the seventh month, on the gisa day that was the first of the month, Silla sent an envoy who offered tribute and levy. That envoy knew that Silla had destroyed Imna, and was ashamed to have turned his back on the kindness of that country, and did not dare ask to go back. In the end he stayed and did not return to his own land, and was ranked the same as the people of the country. He is the ancestor of the men of Silla in the village of Uno in Sarara district, Kawachi province, today.

In this month Ki no Omaro no Sukune, the great general, was sent to lead soldiers and go out from □□, and Kawabe no Omi Nihe, the second general, to go out from Geojeungsan (居曾山), meaning to ask why Silla had struck Imna.

When they reached Imna at last, Komotsumebe no Obito Tomi was sent to Baekje to agree upon the plan of the campaign. Tomi then slept at his wife's house, and dropped the sealed papers and his bow and arrows on the road.

Silla learned the whole plan of the campaign and suddenly raised a great army. Then it fell into defeat and ruin, and begged to surrender and came over.

Ki no Omaro no Sukune won, turned his soldiers back, entered the camp of Baekje, and gave an order to the host:

"To win and not forget defeat, and to be at ease and yet reckon on danger, is the good teaching of old. Now we are on the border, where jackals and wolves touch upon us. Can we take it lightly and not think of change and hardship? Still more, even in a time of peace the sword is not taken from the body. Surely the arming of a gentleman is a thing that cannot be left off. Be deeply on your guard, and work at holding this order high."

The soldiers all gave their hearts to him and served him in obedience.

Kawabe no Omi Nihe went forward alone, fought from place to place, and took every place he turned to. Silla raised a white flag again, threw down its weapons and surrendered.

Kawabe no Omi Nihe, who did not understand soldiering at all, raised a white flag in answer and went forward alone for nothing.

The fighting general of Silla said, "General Kawabe no Omi now wishes to surrender." Then he moved his soldiers forward to meet him in battle, and used up all his swift troops in a hard attack and broke them. Those wounded among the vanguard were very many.

Yamato no Kuni no Miyatsuko Tehiko knew he could not save himself, and left his soldiers and fled. The fighting general of Silla took a hooked halberd in his hand and pursued him as far as the moat of the castle, and swung the halberd and struck at him. Tehiko thereupon rode a swift horse and leapt across the moat of the castle, and barely got away with his life.

The fighting general stood at the moat of the castle and sighed, "Kusunijiri (久須尼自利)."

At this Kawabe no Omi at last led his soldiers back and hastily made camp in the open field. Then the soldiers all deceived and despised one another, and there was no one who followed and obeyed.

The fighting general came into the camp himself and took alive Kawabe no Omi Nihe and the rest, and the wife who had come with him. At that time father and son, husband and wife could not care for one another.

The fighting general asked Kawabe no Omi, "Which do you love more, your life or your wife?"

He answered, "Why should I love one woman and bring ruin on myself? How could she be better than my life?"

In the end he allowed her to be taken as a concubine. The fighting general then violated his wife in the open ground.

When the woman came back afterward, Kawabe no Omi went to speak with her. The woman was deeply ashamed and full of resentment, and would not go with him, and said, "Once you sold my body lightly. With what face do you meet me now?" In the end she would not speak.

This woman was the daughter of Sakamoto no Omi, and was called Umashihime.

Tsuki no Kishi Ikina, who was taken captive at the same time, was brave and fierce by nature, and in the end did not submit.

The fighting general of Silla drew his sword and would have struck him, and pressed him and stripped off his loincloth, and drove him to turn his buttocks toward Japan and cry out loudly, "Let the generals of Japan bite my buttocks."

He cried out at once, "Let the king of Silla eat my buttocks."

Though he was pressed hard and painfully, he still cried out as before. For this he was killed. His son Ojiko also held his father in his arms and died.

That the words and the will of Ikina were hard to take from him was all like this. For this the many generals grieved for him and held his loss especially dear.

His wife Ōhako was taken captive along with him. She was stricken with sorrow and sang:

"Karakunino Kinohenitachite Ohobakowa Hirefurasumo Yamatohemukite (柯羅倶爾能、基能陪爾陀致底、於譜磨故幡、比例甫■須母、耶魔等陛武岐底)"

Someone sang in answer:

"Karakunino Kinohenitatashi Ohobakowa Hirefurasumiyu Naniwahemukite (柯羅倶爾能、基能陪爾陀陀志、於譜磨故幡、比禮甫羅須彌喩、那爾婆陛武岐底)"

— These two songs set down sounds only, and are not turned into meaning.

In the eighth month the emperor sent Ōtomo no Muraji Sadehiko, the great general, to lead some tens of thousands of soldiers and strike Goryeo.

Sadehiko then used the plan of Baekje and struck and broke Goryeo. Their king went over the wall and fled. Sadehiko then rode his victory into the palace, and took all the rare treasures and goods, a seven-layered woven curtain and an iron house, and came back.

He offered the seven-layered woven curtain to the emperor, and sent two suits of armor, two swords adorned with gold, three bells engraved in bronze, two banners of five colors, and the beautiful woman Hime together with her serving woman Atako, to Soga no Iname no Sukune no Ōomi.

At this the great minister took the two women in as wives at last, and had them live in the Magaridono at Karu.

In winter, the eleventh month, Silla sent an envoy who offered tribute and levy together. The envoy knew well that the country was angry that Silla had destroyed Imna, and did not dare ask to go back. Fearing he would be punished, he did not return to his own land, and was ranked the same as the people. He is the ancestor of the men of Silla at Hani-io in Mishima district, Settsu province, today.

In the twenty-sixth year, in summer, the fifth month, men of Goryeo, Dumuriyapye (頭霧■耶陛) and the rest, came over and submitted at Tsukushi. They were placed in Yamashiro province. They are the ancestors of the men of Goryeo at Unehara, Nara and Yamamura today.

In the twenty-eighth year there were great floods in the districts and provinces, and famine, and some men ate one another. Grain was moved from the neighboring districts and they saved one another with it.

In the thirtieth year, in spring, the first month, on the sinmyo day that was the first of the month, a decree was given. "The setting up and reckoning of the tabe goes back a long way. There are many who are barely ten years and more in age and who slip out of the registers and escape their service. Send Itsu to look into and settle the registers of the able-bodied men of the tabe of Shirai."

In summer, the fourth month, Itsu looked into the able-bodied men of the tabe of Shirai and settled the registers according to the decree. Indeed he brought the farming households into order.

The emperor thought well of Itsu's merit in settling the registers, and gave him the surname Shirai no Fubito, and then gave him the office of tazukahi and made him second to Mizuko.

In the thirty-first year, in spring, the third month, on the gapsin day that was the first of the month, Soga no Ōomi Iname no Sukune died.

In summer, the fourth month, the first day being a gapsin day, on the eulyu day, he went to the palace of Shibakaki at Hatsuse.

Enu no Omi Susoshiro, a man of Koshi, came to the capital and reported. "Envoys of Goryeo suffered in wind and waves, lost the landing, gave themselves to the water and drifted, and suddenly came ashore. The officers of the district hid it. So your servant brings it out and reports it."

A decree was given. "I have carried on the work of the sovereigns for some years now, and Goryeo has lost its way and come for the first time to the shore of Koshi. Though they suffered drifting and drowning, they still kept their lives whole. Is this not because a fair way reaches widely, the highest virtue stands high and high, a kindly teaching goes through everywhere, and a great favor is broad and broad? The officials in charge are to build a guest house in Sagaraka district, Yamashiro province, keep it clean and in order, and support and nourish them generously."

In this month the sovereign's carriage came back from the palace of Shibakaki at Hatsuse. Yamato no Aya no Uji no Atai Nukago and Kazuraki no Atai Naniwa were sent to meet and summon the envoys of Goryeo.

In the fifth month Kashiwade no Omi Katabuko was sent to Koshi to receive the envoys of Goryeo.

The chief envoy looked into it and knew that Kashiwade no Omi was the shining envoy of the sovereign, and then said to Michi no Kimi, "That you are not the emperor is indeed as I suspected. Since you have bowed down before Kashiwade no Omi, it is all the plainer that you are one of the people. Yet before this you deceived me, took the tribute and made it your own. Give it back quickly, and do not weary me with dressed-up words."

Kashiwade no Omi heard this and had men search out the tribute, and gave it over in full. He came back to the capital and reported that his charge was done.

In autumn, the seventh month, on the imja day that was the first of the month, the envoys of Goryeo came to Ōmi.

In this month Kose no Omi Saru and Kishi no Akahato were sent out from the landing of Naniwa, and they drew the ships up to Sasanami mountain, decked the ships out, and then went to meet them at the northern mountain of Ōmi. At last they led them into the guest house of Takami in Yamashiro.

Then Yamato no Aya no Sakanoue no Atai Komaro and Nishigori no Obito Ōishi were sent to guard them. The envoys of Goryeo were received again at the guest house of Sagaraka.

In the thirty-second year, in spring, the third month, the first day being a musin day, on the imja day, Sakata no Mimiko no Iratsuko no Kimi was sent as envoy to Silla to ask the reason why Imna had fallen.

In this month the things offered by Goryeo and the memorial with them had not yet been presented and reported. Several periods of ten days (旬) went by while they divined and waited for a good day.

In summer, the fourth month, the first day being a muin day, on the imjin day, the emperor took to his bed in sickness and was unwell. The crown prince had gone outside and was not there. He was called by post horse, and when he came he was led into the room where the emperor lay, and the emperor took his hand and gave a decree.

"My sickness is heavy. I put the affairs that come after into your hands. You must strike Silla, set Imna up and invest it, and make them husband and wife again, just as in the old days. Then I shall die without regret."

In this month the emperor died at last in his inner bedchamber. How old he was then is not known.

In the fifth month he was laid in the mourning chamber at Furuichi in Kawachi.

In autumn, the eighth month, on the byeongja day that was the first of the month, Silla sent mourning envoys, Mijiljasilso (未叱子失消) and the rest, who offered their grief at the mourning chamber.

In this month Mijiljasilso and the rest went back.

In the ninth month he was buried in the tomb of Sakaahi at Hinokuma.