Kojiki (Chamberlain, 1882)/Section 28

by Ō no Yasumaro

[Sect. XXVIII.—The August-Luck-Spirit-the-August-Wondrous-Spirit.^[1]]

Thereupon the Deity Master-of-the-Great-Land lamented himself, and said: “How shall I alone be able to make this land?^[2] Together with what Deity can I make this land?” At this time there came a Deity illuminating the sea. This Deity said: “If thou wilt lay me to rest^[3] well, I can make it together with thee. If not, the land cannot be made.” Then the Deity Master-of-the-Great-Land said: “If that be so, what is the manner of reverently laying thee to rest?” He replied, saying: “Reverently worship me on Yamato’s green fence, the eastern mountain’s top.”^[4] This is the Deity who dwells on the top of Mount Mimoro.^[5]

---

1. In the “Chronicles,” this is given as the designation of the Deity who came over the sea, and Motowori therefore adopts it as the heading of this Section.
2. For an explanation of this expression see Sect. XXIII, Note 26.
3. I.e. “if thou wilt build me a temple.” The original might also be rendered “if thou wilt worship before me,” or “at my shrine,” or “if thou wilt establish a temple to me.”
4. I.e., on Mount Mimoro which stands as a protecting fence in the eastern part of the province of Yamato. Awo-kaki-yama, “green fence mountain,” became a proper name used alternatively for Mount Mimoro (or, according to the later pronunciation, Mimuro). In like manner Himukashi-yama (in the later language Higashi-yama) “eastern mountain,” has by some been considered to be a proper name.
5. I.e. “august house;” so called probably from the temple of the deity.