Empress Kōgyoku皇極天皇

Empress Ametoyotakara Ikashihitarashihime (天豐財重日足姫天皇) was the great-granddaughter of Emperor Nunakura no Futotamashiki, the granddaughter of Prince Oshisaka no Hikohito no Ōe, and the daughter of Prince Chinu. Her mother was called Princess Kibitsuhime.

The empress followed and studied the old way, and so governed. In the second year of Emperor Okinagatarashihi Hironuka she was set up as empress. In the tenth month of the thirteenth year Emperor Okinagatarashihi Hironuka died.

In spring, the first month, the first day being a jeongsa day, on the sinmi day the empress ascended the throne of emperor. Soga no Omi Emishi was made great minister, as before.

The great minister's son Iruka himself took the government of the land in hand, and his majesty was greater than his father's. Because of this robbers and thieves were afraid, and what was dropped on the road was not picked up.

On the eulyu day the Baekje envoy Azumi no Muraji Hirafu, of the rank of dainin, came from the land of Tsukushi riding post horses and said, "The land of Baekje heard that the emperor had died, and sent envoys of condolence. Your servant came with the envoys of condolence as far as Tsukushi. But your servant wished to serve at the funeral, and so came on ahead alone. Yet that land is now in great disorder."

In the second month, the first day being a jeonghae day, on the muja day Azumi no Yamashiro no Muraji Hirafu, Kusakabe no Kishi Iwakane and Yamato no Aya no Fumi no Atai Agata were sent to the place of the Baekje envoys of condolence, to ask the news of that land.

The envoys of condolence answered, "The lord of Baekje said to your servant, 'Saesang is always doing evil. We ask that he be given over to the returning envoys.'" The court did not permit it.

The attendants of the Baekje envoys of condolence said:

"In the eleventh month of last year the daejwapyeong Jijeok (智積) died. Also the envoys of Baekje threw the envoy of Gollyun (崐崘) into the sea. In the first month of this year the mother of the lord of the land died. Also the son of the younger prince, Gyogi (翹岐), with his mother and sister and four women, the naejwapyeong Gimi (岐味) and more than forty men of high name, were driven out to an island."

On the imjin day the envoys of Goryeo anchored at the port of Naniwa.

On the jeongmi day several great officers were sent to the district of Naniwa to inspect the gold and silver and the rest that the land of Goryeo had offered, together with its gifts.

When the envoys had finished their offering, they spoke and said, "In the sixth month of last year the younger prince died. In autumn, the ninth month, the great minister Irigasumi (伊梨柯須彌) killed the great king, and killed also Irigeosesa (伊梨渠世斯) and more than a hundred and eighty men. Then he made the son of the younger prince king, and made Dosuryu (都須流) and Geumnyu (金流), men of his own surname, great ministers."

On the musin day Goryeo and Baekje were feasted in the district of Naniwa.

An edict was given to the great minister. "Let Tsumori no Muraji Ōama be sent as envoy to Goryeo. Let Kunikatsu no Kishi Kuhina be sent as envoy to Baekje. Let Kusakabe no Kishi Maato be sent as envoy to Silla. Let Sakamoto no Kishi Nagae be sent as envoy to Imna."

On the gyeongsul day Gyogi was called and lodged in the house of Azumi no Yamashiro no Muraji.

On the sinhae day the guests of Goryeo and Baekje were feasted.

On the gyechuk day the envoys of Goryeo and the envoys of Baekje went back together.

In the third month, the first day being a byeongjin day, on the muo day it rained with no cloud. On the sinyu day Silla sent an envoy to give joy of her ascent to the throne, and an envoy of condolence. On the gyeongo day the envoys of Silla went back. In this month there were long rains.

In summer, the fourth month, the first day being a byeongsul day, on the gyesa day the great envoy Gyogi led his followers and did obeisance at the court.

On the eulmi day Soga no Ōomi called Gyogi of Baekje and the others to his house at Unebi, met them himself and talked with them, and then gave them one good horse and twenty bars of iron. Only Saesang was not called.

In this month there were long rains.

In the fifth month, the first day being an eulmyo day, on the gimi day Gyogi and the others were called before the government storehouse of Yosami in the land of Kawachi, and were made to watch the shooting and the hunt.

On the gyeongo day the ship of the tribute envoys of the land of Baekje and the ship of the Kishi anchored together at the port of Naniwa. On the imsin day the envoys of Baekje presented their tribute, and the Kishi reported on his mission.

On the eulhae day one of the followers of Gyogi died. On the byeongja day the son of Gyogi died.

At this time Gyogi and his wife feared and shunned the death of their son, and indeed did not come to the mourning. In the customs of Baekje and Silla, when there is one who has died, though it be father or mother, brother, husband or wife, or sister, they never look upon the dead themselves. Seen by this, their want of love is extreme. How are they different from birds and beasts?

On the jeongchuk day the ripened rice was first seen.

On the muin day Gyogi took his wife and children and moved to the house at Ōi in Baekje. Then he sent men and buried his son at Ishikawa.

In the sixth month, the first day being an eulyu day, on the gyeongja day a light rain fell. In this month there was a great drought.

In autumn, the seventh month, the first day being a gabin day, on the imsul day a guest star entered the moon.

On the eulhae day the Baekje envoys, the daejwapyeong Jijeok and the others, were feasted at the court. Then stout men were commanded to wrestle before Gyogi. When Jijeok and the others had finished the feast, they withdrew and did obeisance at the gate of Gyogi.

On the byeongja day a servant of Soga no Omi Iruka got a young white sparrow. On the same day a man put a white sparrow in a cage and sent it to Soga no Ōomi.

On the muin day the many ministers said to one another, "As the priests (祝) of every village have taught, some have killed oxen and horses and sacrificed to the gods of the shrines, some have moved the markets again and again, and some have prayed to the god of the river. There has been no effect at all."

Soga no Ōomi answered, "Let the scriptures of the Great Vehicle be read by turns in every temple. Let us repent of our faults as the Buddha taught, and pray reverently for rain."

On the gyeongjin day, in the south court of the great temple, images of the Buddha and the bodhisattvas and images of the Four Heavenly Kings were set up with reverence, and many monks were bowed to and asked to read the Great Cloud Sutra (大雲經) and other scriptures. At this time Soga no Ōomi held a censer in his hand, burned incense and made a vow.

On the sinsa day a light rain fell. On the imo day they could not pray down rain, and so the reading of the scriptures was stopped.

In the eighth month, on the gapsin day that was the first of the month, the empress went to the upper water of the river of Minabuchi. She knelt and did obeisance to the four quarters, looked up to heaven and prayed. At once it thundered and a great rain fell, and it rained five days in the end and watered all under heaven.

At this the people of all under heaven cried out together, "Ten thousand years! An emperor of utmost virtue."

On the gichuk day the Baekje envoys, the Chamgwan and the others, went back. A great ship and three ships of the same kind were given them. At midnight of this day it thundered in the southwest corner, and wind and rain beat, and the ships in which the Chamgwan and the others rode struck the bank and were broken.

On the byeongsin day the rank of shōtoku was given to the Baekje hostage, the dalsol Jangbok (長福). To those from the middle guests downward one grade of rank was given, and gifts were given, each according to his degree.

On the musul day ships were given to the Chamgwan of Baekje and the others, and they were sent off. On the gihae day the envoys of Goryeo went back. On the giyu day the envoys of Baekje and Silla went back.

In the ninth month, the first day being a gyechuk day, on the eulmyo day the empress gave an edict to the great minister. "I think to raise and build a great temple. Let the able men of Ōmi and Koshi be called up." Again the lands were charged to build ships.

On the sinmi day the empress gave an edict to the great minister. "From this month to the twelfth month as the limit, I would build a palace. Let timber for the halls be taken from every land. Let the east be bounded by Tōtōmi and the west by Aki, and call up the men to build the palace."

On the gyeyu day several thousand Emishi from the border of Koshi came in and submitted.

In winter, the tenth month, the first day being a gyemi day, on the gyeongin day the earth shook and it rained. On the sinmyo day the earth shook. That night the earth shook and the wind blew.

On the gabo day the Emishi were feasted at the court. On the jeongyu day Soga no Ōomi feasted the Emishi at his house and comforted them himself.

On this day the ship of the envoys of condolence of Silla and the ship of the envoys who gave joy of her ascent to the throne anchored at the island of Iki.

On the byeongo day, at midnight, the earth shook. In this month the ordinances of summer were followed, and it rained with no cloud.

In the eleventh month, the first day being an imja day, on the gyechuk day there was a great rain and thunder. On the byeongjin day, at midnight, thunder sounded once in the northwest corner. On the gimi day thunder sounded five times in the northwest corner. On the gyeongsin day the sky was warm like the air of spring. On the sinyu day rain fell. On the imsul day the sky was warm like the air of spring. On the gapja day thunder sounded once in the north and the wind rose.

On the jeongmyo day the empress held the feast of the new grain. On this day the princes and the great minister each held the feast of the new grain themselves.

In the twelfth month, on the imo day that was the first of the month, the sky was warm like the air of spring. On the gapsin day thunder sounded five times by day and twice by night.

On the gabo day the mourning for Emperor Okinagatarashihi Hironuka was first begun. On this day the shōtoku Kose no Omi Toko gave the funeral eulogy in the place of Prince Ōmata; next the shōtoku Awata no Omi Hosome gave the eulogy in the place of Prince Karu; next the shōtoku Ōtomo no Muraji Umakai gave the eulogy in the place of the great minister.

On the eulmi day Okinaga no Yamada no Kimi offered the eulogy of the succession.

On the sinchuk day thunder sounded three times in the northeast corner. On the gyeongin day thunder sounded twice in the east, and wind and rain beat.

On the imin day Emperor Okinagatarashihi Hironuka was buried on the hill of Namehazama. On this day the empress moved to the palace of Oharida.

On the gapjin day thunder sounded once in the night, and its sound was as if it split. On the sinhae day the sky was warm like the air of spring.

In this year Soga no Ōomi Emishi set up the shrine of his ancestors at Takamiya in Katsuragi and made a dance of eight rows. Then he made a song:

"Yamatono oshinohiroseo watasamuto ayuhidazukuri koshizukurahumo (野麻騰能。飫斯能毗稜栖鳴。倭施羅務騰。阿庸比阤豆矩梨。擧始豆矩羅符母)"

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

Again all the people of the whole land, and the hundred and eighty hereditary corporations with them, were called out, and two tombs were made beforehand at Imaki. One was called Ōmisasagi (大陵) and made the tomb of the great minister; one was called Komisasagi (小陵) and made the tomb of Iruka no Omi. It was wished that after their death men should not be troubled.

Further, all the people of the mibu of Kamitsumiya were gathered and set to work at the building of the tombs.

At this Princess Ōiratsume of Kamitsumiya was angry and sighed. "Soga no Omi holds the government of the land wholly as he pleases, and does many things without propriety. In heaven there are not two suns; in a land there are not two kings. By what right does he work all the people of our fief as he pleases?"

From this a grudge was bound, and in the end they perished together.

In this year the year sign was imin.

In spring, the first month, on the morning of the first day, an imja day, great clouds of five colors covered the whole sky, but the northeast alone was empty. A blue mist of one color rose all about from the earth. On the sinyu day there was a great wind.

In the second month, the first day being a sinsa day, on the gyeongja day peach blossoms were first seen. On the eulsa day hail fell and hurt the flowers and leaves of the grass and the trees.

In this month there were wind and thunder and rain and ice, and the ordinances of winter were followed. The shamans of the land broke off branches and leaves and hung cloth of mulberry upon them. They watched for the time when the great minister crossed the bridge, and vied with one another in setting out subtle sayings which they called the words of the gods. Those shamans were very many, and they could not all be heard.

In the third month, the first day being a sinhae day, on the gyehae day the hall of the Baekje guest house at Naniwa and the houses of the people caught fire. On the eulhae day frost fell and hurt the flowers and leaves of the grass and the trees. In this month there were wind and thunder and rain and ice, and the ordinances of winter were followed.

In summer, the fourth month, the first day being a gyeongjin day, on the byeongsul day there was a great wind and rain. On the jeonghae day the wind rose and the sky was cold. On the gihae day a west wind blew and hail fell. The sky was cold, and men wore three padded coats.

On the gyeongja day the ōmikotomochi of Tsukushi galloped a post horse and reported, "The younger prince, the brother of Gyogi the son of the lord of Baekje, has come together with the tribute envoys."

On the jeongmi day she moved from the temporary palace to the new palace of Itabuki at Asuka. On the gapjin day the land of Ōmi said, "Hail fell, and it was one inch across."

In the fifth month, the first day being a gyeongsul day, on the eulchuk day the moon was eclipsed.

In the sixth month, the first day being a gimyo day, on the sinmyo day the ōmikotomochi of Tsukushi galloped a post horse and reported, "Goryeo has sent envoys, and they come to court."

The many ministers heard it and said to one another, "Goryeo has not come to court since the gihae year, and this year it comes to court."

On the sinchuk day the tribute ship of Baekje anchored at the port of Naniwa.

In autumn, the seventh month, the first day being a giyu day, on the sinhae day several great officers were sent to the district of Naniwa to inspect the tribute and the gifts of the land of Baekje.

At this the great officers asked the tribute envoys, "The tribute of your land that you present falls short of the former rule. The things sent to the great minister are not changed in color from what was sent back last year. The things for the many ministers you have not brought at all. All of it is against the former rule. What is the reason?"

The great envoy, the dalsol Jasa (自斯), and the second envoy, the eunsol Gunseon, answered together, "We shall make it ready at once."

Jasa is the son of the hostage, the dalsol Muja (武子).

In this month the water of the pond of Mamuta stank greatly, and small worms covered the water. Those worms had black mouths and white bodies.

In the eighth month, the first day being a musin day, on the imsul day the water of the pond of Mamuta changed like the juice of indigo, and dead worms covered the water. The flow of the ditches too was congealed, three or four inches thick. Great fish and small stank as though they had rotted and died in summer, and so were not fit to eat.

In the ninth month, the first day being a jeongchuk day, on the imo day Emperor Okinagatarashihi Hironuka was buried in the tomb of Oshisaka.

On the jeonghae day Kibitsushima no Sumemioya no Mikoto died.

On the gyesa day an edict was given to Haji no Saba no Muraji Inote to oversee the mourning for the imperial grandmother. From the time the imperial grandmother lay sick until the mourning was begun, the empress did not leave her bedside, and was never weary in tending her.

On the eulmi day the imperial grandmother was buried on the hill of Mayumi. On this day there was a great rain and hail.

On the byeongo day the labor of building the tomb of the imperial grandmother was stopped, and silk and cloth were given to the Omi, the Muraji and the tomo no miyatsuko, each according to his degree.

In this month the water of the pond of Mamuta little by little turned white, and the smell was gone too.

In winter, the tenth month, the first day being a jeongmi day, on the giyu day the many ministers and the tomo no miyatsuko were feasted in the court of the government hall, and the granting of ranks was discussed. Then an edict was given to the kuni no tsukasa. "As was commanded before, there shall be no change again. Go to your charge, and govern with care what you have to govern."

On the imja day Soga no Ōomi Emishi did not come to court because of sickness, and privately gave the purple cap to his son Iruka, ranking him with a great minister. Again he called his younger son Mononobe no Ōomi. The grandmother of the great minister was the younger sister of Mononobe no Yuge no Ōmuraji. Therefore by his mother's wealth he took majesty in the world.

On the muo day Soga no Omi Iruka alone plotted to put away the princes of Kamitsumiya and to set up Furuhito no Ōe as emperor. At this time there was a children's song:

"Ihanoheni gosarukomeyaku komedanimo dagetetohorase yamashishinooji (伊波能杯你。古佐屢渠梅野倶。渠梅多你母。多礙底騰衰囉栖。歌麻之之能烏膩)"

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

In this month the water of the pond of Mamuta grew clear again.

In the eleventh month, on the byeongja day that was the first of the month, Soga no Omi Iruka sent the shōtoku Kose no Tokota no Omi and the dainin Haji no Saba no Muraji to fall upon Prince Yamashiro no Ōe and the others at Ikaruga.

At this the slave Minari and several tens of toneri came out and fought against them, and Haji no Saba no Muraji was struck by an arrow and died. The soldiers were afraid and drew back.

The men in the host said to one another, "One man matching a thousand — is this Minari?"

Yamashiro no Ōe then took the bones of a horse and threw them into the inner chamber, and at last led his consort and his sons and younger brothers, found a gap, fled out and hid on Mount Ikoma. Miwa no Fumiya no Kimi, the toneri Tame no Muraji and his daughter Uda no Moroishi, and Ise no Abe no Katabu followed him.

Kose no Tokota no Omi and the others burned the palace of Ikaruga, and seeing bones among the ashes, wrongly thought that the prince was dead. They broke the siege and withdrew.

Because of this Prince Yamashiro no Ōe and the others stayed four or five days on the mountain and could not eat.

Miwa no Fumiya no Kimi came forward and urged him, "We ask that you move toward the government storehouse of Fukakusa, and ride from there to the eastern lands. Make the mibu your foundation, raise soldiers, come back and fight. Your victory is certain."

Prince Yamashiro no Ōe and the others answered:

"As you say, the victory would be certain. But my heart wishes not to work the people for ten years. For the sake of one body, how should I trouble and weary ten thousand people? And I do not wish the people of a later age to say, 'Because of him we lost our fathers and mothers.' How should I be called a man only after winning that battle? To spend the body and make the land firm — is that not also a man?"

A man saw the princes of Kamitsumiya far off in the mountain, and went back and told Soga no Omi Iruka.

Iruka heard it and was greatly afraid. He quickly called out soldiers, and told Takamuko no Omi Kunioshi where the prince was. "Go quickly to the mountain. Seek out and seize that prince."

Kunioshi answered, "I guard the palace of the emperor. I dare not go outside."

Iruka was then about to go himself.

At this time Prince Furuhito no Ōe came panting and asked, "Where are you going?"

Iruka told him the reason in full.

Prince Furuhito said, "The rat lies in its hole and lives; it loses its hole and dies."

Because of this Iruka stopped going, and sent the generals to search at Ikoma, but in the end they could not find him.

Then Prince Yamashiro no Ōe and the others came back from the mountain and entered the temple of Ikaruga. The generals at once surrounded the temple with soldiers.

At this Prince Yamashiro no Ōe sent Miwa no Fumiya no Kimi to say to the generals, "If I raised soldiers and struck Iruka, my victory would be certain. But for the sake of one body I do not wish to harm the people. Therefore I give my one body to Iruka."

At last, with his sons and younger brothers and his consort and his concubines, he hanged himself at one time, and all died.

At this time banners and canopies of five colors and all manner of music shone in the sky and hung down over the temple. Many people looked up and marveled, and at last pointed them out to Iruka. Those banners and canopies changed into a black cloud, and because of this Iruka could not see them.

When Soga no Ōomi Emishi heard that Prince Yamashiro no Ōe and the others had all been killed by Iruka, he was angry and railed, "Ah! Iruka is utterly foolish and does nothing but violent and evil deeds. Is your own life not in danger too?"

At that time men explained that the children's song of before had come true. "By 'Ihanoheni' Kamitsumiya was likened; by 'gosaru' Hayashi no Omi was likened; by 'komeyaku' the burning of Kamitsumiya was likened; by 'komedanimo dagetetohorase yamashishinooji' the hair of Prince Yamashiro, speckled and like a wild goat, was likened. It is also the likeness of his casting away his palace and hiding in the deep mountains."

In this year Yeopung (餘豐), the crown prince of Baekje, let four hives of honeybees loose on Mount Miwa, but in the end they did not increase.

In spring, the first month, on the eulhae day that was the first of the month, Nakatomi no Kamako no Muraji was made the master of the rites of the gods. Two and three times he firmly declined and did not take it. He called himself sick and withdrew to live at Mishima.

At this time Prince Karu was ill in the leg and did not come to court. Nakatomi no Kamako no Muraji had long been on good terms with Prince Karu, and so went to his palace and would serve and lodge there.

Prince Karu knew well that the will and the spirit of Nakatomi no Kamako no Muraji were high and rare, and that his bearing was hard to offend against. So he had his beloved consort of the Abe house sweep a separate hall clean and spread new bedding high, and there was nothing that was not furnished. His reverence and regard were beyond the common.

Nakatomi no Kamako no Muraji, moved by this treatment, said to a toneri, "I have had favor beyond others, past what I looked for before. Who could keep him from being king of all under heaven?"

The toneri told the prince what had been said, and the prince rejoiced greatly.

Nakatomi no Kamako no Muraji was by nature loyal and upright, and had a heart to set things right and to save them. He was angry that Soga no Omi Iruka had lost the order of lord and servant and of elder and younger, and held a power that looked upon the altars of the land. He tried and met with many among the royal house, seeking an enlightened lord with whom merit and name might be raised.

Then he set his heart on Naka no Ōe, but being a stranger he could not yet open his hidden thoughts.

By chance he joined the company that played at ball under the zelkova tree of the temple of Hōkō, where Naka no Ōe was. He watched the leather shoe that came off with the ball and took it into his palm, knelt before the prince and offered it with reverence. Naka no Ōe knelt in turn and took it with reverence.

From this they were friends, and told each other what they held in their hearts, and hid nothing.

Afterward, fearing that others would take it ill that they met so often, they both took yellow scrolls in their hands and studied the teaching of the Duke of Zhou and of Confucius for themselves at the place of the teacher of Minabuchi. And so, going and coming on the road, shoulder to shoulder, they plotted in secret, and there was nothing in which they did not agree.

At this Nakatomi no Kamako no Muraji counselled him, "One who plots a great matter is better with help. We ask that you take the eldest daughter of Soga no Kurayamada no Maro as consort and make the closeness of marriage, and after that open your words and plot the matter with him. There is no nearer road to success than this."

Naka no Ōe heard it and rejoiced greatly, and bent to follow what was counselled.

Nakatomi no Kamako no Muraji then went himself and made an end of the match. But on the night that was set, the eldest daughter was stolen away by a kinsman.

Because of this Kurayamada no Omi was troubled and afraid, and lay looking up, not knowing what to do.

His younger daughter wondered at the troubled look of her father, came to him and asked, "What do you grieve and regret?"

The father told her the reason.

The younger daughter said, "I pray you, do not grieve. To offer me up would not be too late either."

The father then rejoiced greatly and at last offered his daughter. He served with a red heart, and there was nothing more that he shrank from.

Nakatomi no Kamako no Muraji commended Saeki no Muraji Komaro and Katsuragi no Wakainukai no Muraji Amita to Naka no Ōe, and said, "Thus and thus."

In the third month an owl bore its young in the storehouse of the house at Ōtsu of Toyura no Ōomi.

The land of Yamato said:

"Of late Osaka no Atai, a man of the district of Uda, took a boy with him and, delighting to play upon the snow, climbed Mount Uda. There he saw purple mushrooms that had pushed up through the snow. They were more than six inches high and filled about four jeong.

Then he had the boy gather them, and came back and showed them to the neighbors, but all said that they did not know them, and doubted they were a poisonous thing.

At this Osaka no Atai and the boy boiled and ate them, and they had a great savor. The next day they went and looked, and there was nothing there at all.

Osaka no Atai and the boy, because they ate the broth of the mushrooms, were without sickness and lived long."

A certain man said, "Perhaps the common people did not know the jicho (芝草), and so called it a mushroom without warrant."

In summer, the sixth month, on the gyemyo day that was the first of the month, Ōtomo no Umakai no Muraji offered lily flowers. Their stalks were eight feet long, and the roots were separate but the tips joined.

On the eulsa day the upper district of Shiki said, "A man saw a monkey sleeping by day on Mount Miwa, and quietly took it by the arm, but did not hurt its body. The monkey still kept its eyes shut and sang:"

"Mukatsuoni dateruseraga nigodekoso wagateotorame dagasakide sakidezomoya wagatetorasumoya (武舸都烏爾。陁底屢制囉我。你古泥擧曾。倭我底烏騰羅毎。拖我佐基泥。作基泥曾母野。倭我底騰羅須謀野)"

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

That man wondered at the song of the monkey, let it go and went away. This was a sign that, some years after, the princes of Kamitsumiya would be surrounded by Soga no Kuratsukuri on Mount Ikoma.

On the musin day, among the lotuses of the pond of Tsurugi, there was one that had two calyxes on a single stalk.

Toyura no Ōomi guessed without warrant and said, "This is a sign that Soga no Omi will prosper." Then he wrote it in gold and offered it to the sixteen-foot Buddha of the great temple of Hōkō.

In this month the shamans of the land broke off branches and leaves and hung cloth of mulberry upon them. They watched for the time when the great minister crossed the bridge, and vied with one another in setting out subtle sayings which they called the words of the gods. Those shamans were very many, and they could not all be heard.

The old men said, "It is a sign that the customs are changing."

At this time there were three songs that went about:

The first said:

"Harobaroni gotozokikoyuru shimanoyabuhara (波魯波魯你渠騰曾枳舉喻屢。之麻能野父播羅)"

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

The second said:

"Ochikatano asanonokigishi doyomosazu warewaneshikado hitozodoyomosu (烏智可拖能。阿娑努能枳枳始騰余謀佐儒。倭例播禰始柯騰。比騰曾騰余謀須)"

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

The third said:

"Omayashini wareohikirete seshihitono omotemoshirazu ihemoshirazumoya (烏磨野始你。倭例烏比岐例底。制始比騰能。於謀提母始羅孺。伊弊母始羅孺母也)"

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

In autumn, the seventh month, Ōfube no Ō, a man of the bank of the Fuji river in the eastern lands, urged the people of the villages to worship an insect, and said, "This is the god of Tokoyo. He who worships this god gains wealth and long life."

The shamans at last falsely laid it upon the words of the gods and said, "He who worships the god of Tokoyo — the poor man gains wealth, and the old man returns to his youth."

Because of this they urged the more, and made the people throw away the goods and the treasures of their houses. They set out wine, set out vegetables and the six kinds of cattle by the roadside, and made them cry out, "New wealth comes in!"

The people of the capital and of the country took the insect of Tokoyo, set it in a clean place, and sang and danced and sought good fortune. They threw away their precious goods, and there was no gain at all; the loss and the spending were extreme.

At this Hata no Miyatsuko Kawakatsu of Kadono hated that the people were deluded, and struck Ōfube no Ō. Those shamans were afraid and stopped urging the worship.

Then the men of that time made a song:

"Utsumasawa kamitomokamito kikoekuru tokoyonokamio uchikitamasumo (禹都麻佐波。柯微騰母柯微騰。枳舉曳倶屢。騰舉預能柯微乎。宇智岐多麻須母)"

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

This insect is always born on the orange tree, and sometimes on the prickly ash. Its length is more than four inches, and its thickness is about that of a thumb. Its color is green with black spots, and its shape is wholly like the silkworm.

In winter, the eleventh month, Soga no Ōomi Emishi and his son Iruka no Omi built their houses side by side on the hill of Amakashi. The house of the great minister they called the Mikado (宫門), and the house of Iruka they called the Hasama no Mikado (谷宫門). Their sons and daughters they called princes (王子).

Outside the houses they made a wall and a stockade, and beside the gate they made an armory. At every gate they set one boat filled with water and several tens of wooden hooks, to be ready against fire. They always had strong men bear arms and guard the house.

The great minister had Naga no Atai build the temple of Hokonoki on Mount Ōniho, and again raised a house east of Mount Unebi. He dug a pond and made it a fortress, and raised a storehouse and stored arrows in it.

He always went in and out with fifty soldiers about him, and he named the stout men the Attendants of the East. The men of the several clans went into his gate and served him, and were named the Sons and Nurslings of the Ancestor (祖子孺者). The Aya no Atai served wholly at the two gates.

In spring, the first month, sometimes on the ridge of a hill, sometimes by a river, sometimes between the palace and the temples, something was seen far off and the cries of monkeys were heard. Sometimes they were about ten, sometimes about twenty. When men went near and looked, the thing was not to be seen, and though the sound of the crying was still heard, its body could not be beheld.

The men of that time said, "This is the messenger of the great god of Ise."

In summer, the fourth month, on the musul day that was the first of the month, the monks who had studied in Goryeo said:

"Anjak Deukji (鞍作得志), who studied with us, made a friend of a tiger and learned its arts. Sometimes he made a withered mountain turn green, sometimes he made yellow earth turn to white water. His strange arts of all kinds could not all be searched out.

Also the tiger gave him its needle and said, 'Take care, take care. Do not let men know. Treat with this, and there is no sickness that will not be healed.' It was indeed as he said: he treated, and there was nothing that was not cured.

Deukji always hid the needle in a pillar. Afterward the tiger broke that pillar, took the needle and ran away.

The land of Goryeo knew that Deukji wished to go home, and gave him poison and killed him."

In the sixth month, the first day being a jeongyu day, on the gapjin day Naka no Ōe said secretly to Kurayamada no Maro no Omi, "On the day when the three Han present their tribute, I will surely have you read out their memorial." Then he told him the plot to cut down Iruka. Maro no Omi received it and consented.

On the musin day the empress went to the great hall of state. Furuhito no Ōe attended her.

Nakatomi no Kamako no Muraji knew that Soga no Iruka no Omi was by nature full of suspicion and wore a sword night and day, and taught a jester a device to make him take it off. Iruka no Omi laughed, took off his sword, and came in and attended at his seat.

Kurayamada no Maro no Omi came forward and read out the memorial of the three Han.

At this Naka no Ōe warned the guards of the gates, and at one time had all twelve gates locked so that none should go to and fro. He called the guards of the gates together to one place, and was about to give them rewards.

At that time Naka no Ōe himself took a long spear and hid at the side of the hall. Nakatomi no Kamako no Muraji and the others held bows and arrows and guarded him.

He had Ama no Inukai no Muraji Katsumaro give the two swords in a box to Saeki no Muraji Komaro and Katsuragi no Wakainukai no Muraji Amita, and said, "Strive, strive. You must strike quickly."

Komaro and the others swallowed their rice with water, and in their fear threw it up again. Nakatomi no Kamako no Muraji scolded them and made them take heart.

Kurayamada no Maro no Omi feared that the reading of the memorial was near its end and that Komaro and the others did not come. The sweat that ran wet his whole body, his voice was confused and his hands shook.

Kuratsukuri no Omi wondered and asked, "Why do you tremble?"

Yamada no Maro answered, "I am near to the emperor, and unawares the sweat runs."

Naka no Ōe saw that Komaro and the others feared the majesty of Iruka and hung back and did not come forward, and said, "Now!"

At once, with Komaro and the others, he came out upon him unawares, and with a sword cut and wounded the head and the shoulder of Iruka.

Iruka started up in alarm, and Komaro moved his hand, swung his sword and wounded one of his legs.

Iruka rolled to the throne, knocked his head on the ground and said, "He who should sit in the succession is the child of heaven. Your servant knows no crime. I beg that this be looked into."

The empress was greatly alarmed and gave an edict to Naka no Ōe. "I do not know what is being done. What matter is this?"

Naka no Ōe lay on the ground and said, "Kuratsukuri would destroy the kindred of heaven utterly and overturn the seat of the sun. Shall the grandchild of heaven be put aside for Kuratsukuri?"

The empress then rose and went into the hall.

Saeki no Muraji Komaro and Wakainukai no Muraji Amita cut down Iruka no Omi. On this day rain fell, and the standing water overflowed the court. The body of Kuratsukuri was covered with a mat and a screen.

Furuhito no Ōe saw it and ran into his own palace, and said to men, "The men of Han (韓) have killed Kuratsukuri no Omi. My heart is in pain." Then he went into his chamber, shut the gate and did not come out.

Naka no Ōe then entered the temple of Hōkō, made it a fortress and made ready. All the princes and the kings, the ministers and the great officers, the Omi and the Muraji, the tomo no miyatsuko and the kuni no miyatsuko followed and attended him.

He sent a man to give the body of Kuratsukuri no Omi to the great minister Emishi.

At this the Aya no Atai gathered all their kindred, put on armor, took arms, and would help the place where the great minister was, and set out a battle line.

Naka no Ōe sent the general Kose no Tokota no Omi to set forth to the band of rebels the opening of heaven and earth and the first being of lord and servant, and to let them know where to go.

At this Takamuko no Omi Kunioshi said to the Aya no Atai, "We shall surely be put to death because of the son of our lord, and the great minister too stands and waits for his own execution today or tomorrow. Then for whom shall we fight in vain and all suffer punishment?

When he had finished speaking he loosed his sword, threw down his bow, cast these away and went. The band of rebels also scattered and fled after him.

On the giyu day Soga no Omi Emishi and the others, coming to their death, burned the Tennōki (天皇記), the Kokki (國記) and their precious treasures. Fune no Fubito Esaka quickly took the burning Kokki and offered it to Naka no Ōe.

On this day it was permitted to bury the bodies of Soga no Omi Emishi and of Kuratsukuri in a tomb, and it was permitted again to weep and wail.

At this a certain man explained the first of the songs that went about:

"The song says, 'Harobaroni gotozokikoyuru shimanoyabuhara.' This is the sign that the palace halls rose next to the house of Shima no Ōomi, and that Naka no Ōe and Nakatomi no Kamako no Muraji secretly plotted the great cause and planned to kill Iruka."

The second of the songs that went about was explained:

"The song says, 'Ochikatano asanonokigishi doyomosazu warewaneshikado hitozodoyomosu.' This is the sign that the princes of Kamitsumiya were gentle by nature and had no crime at all, yet were harmed by Iruka; and though they did not requite it themselves, heaven sent men to kill him."

The third of the songs that went about was explained:

"The song says, 'Omayashini wareohikiirete seshihitono omotemoshirazu ihemoshirazumoya.' This is the sign that Iruka no Omi was suddenly cut down in the palace by Saeki no Muraji Komaro and Wakainukai no Muraji Amita."

On the gyeongsul day she gave up the throne to Prince Karu, and set up Naka no Ōe as crown prince.