Nihongi: Chronicles of Japan from the Earliest Times to A.D. 697/Book IV
The Emperor Kami-Nunagaha-mimi was the third child of the Emperor Kami-Yamato-Ihare-biko Hohodemi. His mother's name was Hime-tatara-Isuzu no Mikoto, the eldest daughter of Koto-shiro-nushi no Kami.
This Emperor was of distinguished manners and appearance. As a child he possessed the vigour of manhood; when he grew to manhood, his form was gigantic. He excelled in warlike accomplishments, and his will was resolute in the extreme.
(IV. 2.) When he reached the age of forty-eight, the Emperor Kami-Yamato-Ihare-biko died. Now Kama-Nunagaha-mimi no Mikoto's disposition was profoundly filial, and his grief and longing knew no bounds. He made the funeral ceremonies his especial care.
His elder half-brother,[2] Tagishi-mimi no Mikoto, was now advanced in years,[3] and had a long experience of matters of state. Therefore he was again charged with the conduct of affairs, and the Emperor treated him as an intimate friend. This prince, however, was of a perverse disposition, and his natural bent was opposed to justice. During the period of sincere seclusion[4] his authority at last became independent, and concealing his malicious purposes, he plotted the destruction of his two younger brothers.
Now in the year Tsuchinoto U of the cycle, Winter, the 11th month, Kami-Nunagaha-mimi no Mikoto and his elder brother Kami-Ya-wi-mimi no Mikoto learnt privately his intentions and effectively prevented him. When the business of the misasagi was ended, they caused Yumi Be no Waka-hiko to make a bow, and Yamato no Kanuchi[5] Ama-tsu-ma-ura[6] to make a true-deer arrow-point, and the Ya[7] Be to prepare arrows. When the bow and arrows were ready, (IV. 3.) Kami-Nunagaha-mimi no Mikoto wished therewith to shoot to death Tagishi-mimi no Mikoto, who happened just then to be in a great muro at Kataoka, lying alone on a great couch. Then Kami-Nunagaha-mimi no Mikoto spake to Kami-Ya-wi no Mikoto, saying:—"The right time has now arrived. In words, secrecy is to be prized: in deeds, caution is advisable. Therefore, we have never had any partner in our conspiracy, and the enterprise of to-day is to be carried out by thee and me alone. I will first open the door of the muro. Do thou then shoot him." They accordingly went forward and entered in together.
Kami-Nunagaha-mimi no Mikoto pushed open the door, while Kami-Ya-wi-mimi no Mikoto's arms and legs trembled so that he was unable to let fly the arrow. Then Kami-Nunagaha-mimi no Mikoto snatched the bow and arrows which his elder brother held and shot Tagishi-mimi no Mikoto. The first shot struck him on the breast, the second on the back, and so at length he killed him. Hereupon Kami-Ya-wi-mimi no Mikoto was troubled and submitted himself, yielding the sovereignty to Kami-Nunagaha-mimi no Mikoto, saying:—"I am thy elder brother.[8] But I am timid and weak, and unfit for effective action. On the present occasion thou hast specially displayed divine valour, and hast thyself put to death our chief enemy. Is it not expedient that thou shouldst illuminate the Celestial station[9] and take over the functions of (IV. 4.) our Imperial ancestors? I will be thy assistant and will attend to the worship of the Gods of Heaven and Earth." He was the first ancestor of the Oho no Omi.
B.C. 581. 1st year, Spring, 1st month, 8th day. Kami-Nunagaha-mimi no Mikoto assumed the rank of Emperor. He made his capital at Katsuraki. It was called the palace[10] of Takaoka. He honoured the Empress by granting her the title of Kwō-dai-gō or Grand Empress.[11] This was the year Kanoye Tatsu of the cycle.
B.C. 580. 2nd year, Spring, 1st month. Isuzu-yori-bime was appointed Empress.
One writing says:—"Kaha-mata-bime, daughter of the Agata-nushi of Shiki."
One writing says:—"Itori-hime, daughter of Ohohimoro, Agata-nushi of Kasuga."
She was the Emperor's aunt. The Empress bore a son, the Emperor Shiki-tsu-hiko-tama-demi.
B.C. 578. 4th year, Summer, 4th month. Kami-Ya-wi-mimi no Mikoto died, and was buried on the Northern side of Mount Unebi.
B.C. 577. 25th year, Spring, 1st month, 7th day. The Imperial Prince (IV. 5.) Shiki-tsu-hiko-tama-demi no Mikoto was made heir to the Imperial throne.
B.C. 549. 33rd year, Summer, 5th month. The Emperor took ill, and on the 10th day of the same month, he died, at the age of eighty-four.
THE EMPEROR SHIKI-TSU-HIKO-TAMA-DEMI.
(ANNEI[12] TENNŌ.)
The Emperor Shiki-tsu-hiko-tama-demi was the eldest child of the Emperor Kami-Nunagaha-mimi. His mother's name was Isuzu-yori-bime no Mikoto, the younger daughter of Koto-shiro-nushi no Kami. This Emperor had been made Prince Imperial in the 25th year of the Emperor Kami-Nunagaha-mimi. He was then twenty-one[13] years of age. In the 5th month, Summer, of the 33rd year of his reign, the Emperor Kami-Nunagaha-mimi died. In the 7th month of that year, on the 3rd day of the month, the Prince Imperial assumed the Imperial Dignity.
B.C. 548. 1st year,[14] Winter, 10th month, 11th day. The Emperor Kami-Nunagaha-mimi was buried in the Misasagi on Tsukida Hill in Yamato.
The Emperor honoured the Empress with the title of Kwō-dai-gō.
This was the year Midzunoto Ushi of the cycle.
B.C. 547. 2nd year. The capital was removed to Katashiho. It was called the Palace of Ukiana.
B.C. 546. 3rd year, Spring, 1st month, 5th day. Nuna-soko-naka-tsu (IV. 6.) hime no Mikoto was appointed Empress.
Others call her Nuna-so hime.
One writing says:—"Kaha-tsu hime, daughter of Haye, Agata-nushi of Shiki."
One writing says:—"Daughter of Ohoma no Sukune."[15]
Before this, his consort had given birth to two Imperial princes. The first was called Ikishi-mimi no Mikoto, the second, the Emperor Oho-Yamato-hiko-suki-tomo.
One version says:—"She bore three princes, the first of whom was called Toko-tsu-hiko-iro-ne; the second, the Emperor Oho-Yamato-hiko-suki-tomo; and the third, Shiki-tsu-hiko no Mikoto."
B.C. 538. 11th year, 1st month, 1st day. Oho-Yamato-hiko-suki-tomo no Mikoto was made Prince Imperial. His younger brother, Shiki-tsu-hiko no Mikoto was the first ancestor of the Wi-tsu-kahi no Muraji.
B.C. 511. 38th year, Winter, 11th month, 6th day. The Emperor died at the age of 57.[16]
THE EMPEROR OHO-YAMATO-HIKO-SUKI-TOMO.
(ITOKU[17] TENNŌ.)
(IV. 7.) The Emperor Oho-Yamato-hiko-suki-tomo was the second child of the Emperor Shiki-tsu-hiko-tama-demi. His mother's name was Nuna-soko-naka-tsu-hime, grandchild of Koto-shiro-nushi no Kami, and daughter of the Prince[18] of Kamo. He was made Prince Imperial in the 11th year, Spring, the 1st month of the Emperor Shiki-tsu-hiko-tama-demi's reign. He was then 16 years of age. In the 38th year of that reign, Winter, the 12th month, the Emperor Shiki-tsu-hiko-tama-demi died.[19]
B.C. 511. 1st year, Spring, 2nd month, 4th day. The Prince Imperial assumed the Imperial Dignity.
Autumn, 8th month, 1st day. The Emperor Shiki-tsu-hiko-tama-demi was buried in the Misasagi above Mihodo no wi, south of Mount Unebi.
9th month, 14th day. The Empress was honoured with the title of Grand Empress. This was the year Kanoto U of the cycle.
B.C. 509. 2nd year, Spring, 1st month, 5th day. The capital was removed to Karu.[20] It was called the Palace of Magariwo.
2nd month, 11th day. Ama-toyo-tsu-hime no Mikoto was made Empress.
One version has:—"Idzumi hime, daughter of Oto-wite, son of Haye, Agata-nushi of Shiki."
(IV. 8.) One version has:—"Ihi-hime, daughter of Futo-ma-waka-hiko, Agata-nushi of Shiki."
This Empress was the mother of the Emperor Mi-matsu-hiko-Kayeshine.
B.C. 489. 22nd year, Spring, 2nd month, 12th day. Mi-matsu-hiko-Kayeshine no Mikoto was made Prince Imperial. He was then 18 years of age.
B.C. 477. 34th year, Autumn, 9th month, 8th day. The Emperor died.
THE EMPEROR MI-MATSU-HIKO-KAYESHINE.
(KŌSHŌ[23] TENNŌ.)
The Emperor Mi-matsu-hiko-Kayeshine was the eldest son of the Emperor Oho-Yamato-hiko-suki-tomo. The name of the Empress, his mother, was Ama-toyo-tsu-hime no Mikoto. She was the daughter of Ikishi-mimi no Mikoto.
The Emperor had been made Prince Imperial in Spring, the second month of the 22nd year of the reign of the Emperor Oho-Yamato-hiko-suki-tomo. The Emperor Oho-Yamato-hiko-suki-tomo died in autumn, the ninth month of the 34th year of his reign. On the 13th day of the 10th month of the following year, the Emperor Oho-Yamato-hiko-suki-tomo was buried in the Misasagi over the Masago Valley to the south of Mount Unebi.
(IV. 9.) B.C. 475. 1st year, Spring, 1st month, 9th day. The Prince Imperial assumed the Imperial Dignity.
Summer, 4th month, 5th day. The Empress was honoured with the title of Grand Empress.[24]
7th month. The capital was removed to Wakigami.[25] It was called the Palace of Ikegokoro. This year was the year Hinoye Tora of the cycle.
B.C. 447. 29th year, Spring, 1st month, 3rd day. Yoso-tarashi-hime was appointed Empress.
One version says:—"Nunaki-tsu hime, daughter of Haye, Agata-nushi of Shiki."
One version has:—"Oho-wi-hime, daughter of Toyo-aki-sata-wo of the Land of Yamato."
The Empress gave birth to Ama-tarashi-hiko-kuni-oshi-bito no Mikoto, and to the Emperor Yamato-tarashi-hiko-kuni-oshi-bito.
B.C. 408. 68th year, Spring, 1st month, 14th day. Yamato-tarashi-hiko-kuni-oshi-bito no Mikoto was made Prince Imperial. He was twenty years of age. Ama-tarashi-hiko-kuni-oshi-bito no Mikoto was the first ancestor of the Wani no Omi.
B.C. 391. 83rd year, Autumn, 8th month, 5th day. The Emperor died.
THE EMPEROR YAMATO-TARASHI-HIKO-KUNI-OSHI-BITO.
(KŌAN[26] TENNŌ.)
(IV. 10.) The Emperor Yamato-tarashi-hiko-kuni-oshi-bito was the second child of the Emperor Mi-matsu-hiko-kayeshine. His mother's name was Yoso-tarashi-hime. She was the younger sister of Okitsu Yoso, the ancestor of the Ohari no[27] Muraji.
The Emperor was made Prince Imperial in Spring, the 1st month of the 68th year of the reign of the Emperor Mi-matsu-hiko-kayeshine. The Emperor Mi-matsu-hiko-kayeshine died in Autumn, the 8th month of the 83rd year of his reign.
B.C. 392. 1st year, Spring, 1st month, 7th day. The Prince Imperial assumed the Imperial Dignity.
Autumn, 8th month, 1st day. The Empress was honoured with the title of Grand Empress. This year was the year Tsuchi no to Ushi of the cycle.
B.C. 391. 2nd year, Winter, 10th month. The capital was removed to Muro. It was called the Palace of Akitsushima.
B.C. 367. 26th year, Spring, 2nd month, 14th day. The Emperor appointed his niece,[28] Oshi-bime, Empress.
One version has:—"Naga-hime, daughter of Haye, Agata-nushi of Shiki."
One version has:—"Isaka-hime, daughter of Isaka-hiko, Agata-nushi of Tohoehi."
The Empress was the mother of the Emperor Oho-Yamato-neko-hiko-futo-ni.
B.C. 355. 38th year, Autumn, 8th month, 14th day. The Emperor Mi-matsu-hiko-kayeshine was buried in the Misasagi on Mount Hakata in Wakigami.
(IV. 11.) B.C. 317. 76th year, Spring, 1st month, 5th day. Oho-Yamato-neko-hiko-futo-ni no Mikoto was made Prince Imperial. He was then twenty-six years of age.
B.C. 291. 102nd year, Spring, 1st month, 9th day. The Emperor died.
The Emperor Oho-Yamato-neko-hiko-futo-ni was the eldest child of the Emperor Yamato-tarashi-hiko-kuni-oshi-bito. His mother's name was Oshi-bime. He had been appointed Prince Imperial in Spring, the 1st month of the 76th year of the reign of the Emperor Yamato-tarashi-hiko-kuni-oshi-bito. In Spring, the 1st month of the 102nd year of his reign, the Emperor Yamato-tarashi-hiko-kuni-oshi-bito died. In Autumn, the 9th month, 13th day, the Emperor Yamato-tarashi-hiko-kuni-oshi-bito was buried in the Misasagi on Tamade Hill.
Winter, 12th month, 4th day. The Prince Imperial removed the capital to Kuroda.[31] It was called the Palace of Ihodo.
B.C. 290. 1st year, Spring, 1st month, 12th day. The Prince Imperial assumed the Imperial Dignity. He honoured the Empress with the title of Grand Empress. This year was the year Kanoto Hitsuji of the cycle.
(IV. 12.) B.C. 289. 2nd year, Spring, 2nd month, 11th day. Hoso-bime no Mikoto was appointed Empress.
One version has:—"Kasuga no Chichi-haya-yamaka-hime."
One version has:—"Mashita-bime, daughter of Toso, Agata-nushi of Tohochi."
The Empress was the mother of the Emperor Oho-Yamato-neko-hiko-kuni-kuru. A concubine named Yamato no kuni-ka-hime [also called Haye-irone] was the mother of Yamato-to-to-hi-momo-so bime no Mikoto and of Hiko-i-saseri-hiko no Mikoto [also called Kibi-tsu-hiko no Mikoto], and Yamato-toto-waka-ya-bime no Mikoto.
Another concubine Haye-iroto was the mother of Hiko-sajima no Mikoto and of Waka-take-hiko no Mikoto. The younger of these, namely, Waka-take-hiko no Mikoto, was the first ancestor of the Kibi no Omi.[32]
B.C. 255. 36th year, Spring, 1st month, 1st day. Hiko-kuni-kuru no Mikoto was made Prince Imperial.
B.C. 215. 76th year, Spring, 2nd month, 8th day. The Emperor died.
(IV. 13.) THE EMPEROR OHO-YAMATO-NEKO-HIKO-KUNI-KURU.
(KŌGEN[33] TENNŌ.)
The Emperor Oho-Yamato-neko-hiko-kuni-kuru was the eldest child of the Emperor Oho-Yamato-neko-hiko-futo-ni. His mother's name was Hoso-bime, daughter of Oho-me,[34] Agata-nushi of Shiki. He had been created Prince Imperial in Spring, the 1st month of the 36th year of the reign of the Emperor Oho-Yamato-neko-hiko-futo-ni. He was then nineteen years of age. The Emperor Oho-Yamato-neko-hiko-futo-ni died in Spring, the 2nd month of the 76th year of his reign.
B.C. 214. 1st year, Spring, 1st month, 14th day. The Prince Imperial assumed the Imperial Dignity. He honoured the Empress with the title of Grand Empress. This year was the year Hinoto I of the cycle.
B.C. 211. 4th year, Spring, 3rd month, 11th day. The capital was removed to Karu. It was called the Palace of Sakahibara.
B.C. 209. 6th year, Autumn, 9th month, 6th day. The Emperor Oho-Yamato-neko-hiko-futo-ni was buried in the Misasagi on Muma-zaka[35] at Kataoka.
B.C. 208. 7th year, Spring, 2nd month, 2nd day. Uchi-shiko-me no Mikoto was appointed Empress. She had three children, two boys and one girl. The name of the eldest was Oho-hiko no Mikoto; of the second, the Emperor Waka-Yamato-neko-hiko Oho-hihi; and of the third, Yamato-toto-hime no Mikoto.
One version has:—"The Emperor's brother by the mother's side was Sukuna-biko-wo-kokoro[36] no Mikoto."
(IV. 14.) A concubine named Ika-shiko-me no Mikoto was the mother of Hiko-futo-woshi-makoto no Mikoto. The next concubine, named Hani-yasu-hime, daughter of Awotama of Kahachi, was the mother of Take-hani-yasu no Mikoto.
The elder brother Oho-hiko no Mikoto was the first ancestor of the Abe no Omi, the Kashihade[37] no Omi, the Ahe no Omi, the Sasaki-yama no Kimi, the Tsukushi no Miyakko, the Koshi no Miyakko and the Iga no Omi, in all seven families.
(IV. 15.) Hiko-futo-woshi-makoto no Mikoto was the grandfather of Takechi no Sukune.
B.C. 193. 22nd year, Spring, 1st month, 14th day. Waka-Yamato-neko-hiko-oho-hihi no Mikoto was made Prince Imperial. He was sixteen years of age.
B.C. 158. 57th year, Autumn, 9th month, 2nd day. The Emperor died.
THE EMPEROR WAKA-YAMATO-NEKO-HIKO-OHO-HIHI.
(KAIKWA[38] TENNŌ.)
The Emperor Waka-Yamato-neko-hiko-oho-hihi was the second child of the Emperor Oho-Yamato-neko-hiko-kuni-kuru. His mother's name was Uchi-shikome, the ancestor of the Hodzumi no Omi, and younger sister of Uchi-shiko-wo no Mikoto.
The Emperor had been created Prince Imperial in Spring, the 1st month of the 22nd year of the reign of the Emperor Oho-Yamato-neko-hiko-kuni-kuru. He was then sixteen years of age.
The Emperor Oho-Yamato-neko-hiko-kuni-kuru died in Autumn, the 9th month of the 57th year of his reign.
In Winter, the 11th month, 12th day, the Prince Imperial assumed the Imperial Dignity.
B.C. 157. 1st year, Spring, 1st month, 4th day. The Empress was honoured with the title of Grand Empress.
Winter, 10th month, 13th day. The capital was removed to (IV. 16.) Kasuga. It was called the Palace of Isa-kaha. This year was the year Kinoye Saru of the cycle.
B.C. 153. 5th year, Spring, 2nd month, 6th day. The Emperor Oho-Yamato-neko-hiko-kuni-kuru was buried in the Misasagi on the island of Tsurugi-ike.[39]
B.C. 152. 6th year, Spring, 1st month, 14th day. Ika-shiko-me no Mikoto was appointed Empress. [She was his father's concubine.] The Empress was the mother of the Emperor Mimaki-iri-hiko-i-niye.
The Emperor had previously taken to himself as concubine Taniha no Takano-hime. She was the mother of Hiko-yu-musumi no Mikoto. [Also called Hiko komosu no Mikoto.] There was a subordinate concubine named Oke-tsu-hime, younger sister of Oke-tsu no Mikoto, the ancestor of the Wani no Omi. She was the mother of Prince[40] Hiko-imasu.
(IV. 17.) B.C. 130. 28th year, Spring, 1st month, 5th day. Mimaki-iri-hiko no Mikoto was created Prince Imperial. He was nineteen years of age.
B.C. 98. 60th year, Summer, 4th month, 9th day. The Emperor died.
Winter, 10th month, 3rd day. He was buried in the Saka-moto Misasagi at Isa-kaha in Kasuga.
One version has:—"The Misasagi of Saka no kami."[41]
His age was then 115.
- ↑ This book contains the reigns of eight emperors, and covers a period of 483 years, giving an average of over sixty years for each reign. This is far too much for real history, especially when we consider the ages to which these sovereigns are said to have reached. Kôshô lived to the age of 114, Kôan to 137, and so on. Most of it is not even legendary. The account of the period previous to the accession of Suizei seems to contain a genuine ancient tradition, but the rest is plainly fictitious and the invention of some one imbued with Chinese ideas.
Kami means upper or lord; Nunagaha is the name of a river; mimi means august body.
Suizei means quiet, tranquil.
- ↑ The word employed indicates that the mother of this prince was not of full rank, but there is no such stigma as is implied by our word "bastard."
- ↑ As he was present with his younger brother at a council held by the Emperor Jimmu before starting on his expedition to the East, B.C. 667, we may suppose that he was at that time twenty years of age at least. We are now in B.C. 585, so that he must have been over 100.
- ↑ i.e. of mourning.
- ↑ Yumi-be is the Be of bow-makers; Kanuchi, smith.
- ↑ Ama-tsu-ma-ura. This name is obviously identical with that of the smith-god, Ama-tsu-mara, mentioned in the "Kojiki" (see Ch. K., p. 55), upon which Chamberlain remarks, "Obvius hujus nominis sensus foret 'Cælestis Penis.'" Ma-ura means literally true-heart, or inwards, and hence came to be used as a decent term for penis, corresponding somewhat to our word "nakedness." In modern times it is a very vulgar word. This is Hirata's view. Another derivation connects it with Mâra, the Indian God of lust, sin, and death.
If Ama-tsu-ma-ura or mara stood alone, we might be disposed with Motowori to pass it by as a proper name of doubtful derivation. But Hirata ("Koshiden" v. 48) quotes from old books three other names of deities which contain this element, viz. Oho (great) mara no Mikoto, Ama-tsu-aka (red) mara no Mikoto and Ama-teru (shining) mara take-wo (brave male) no Mikoto. He thinks it sufficient to say that as these are the names of Gods, a phallic interpretation is inadmissible, but in this European scholars will hardly agree with him. There is a Mara no Sukune in the Japanese peerage of the ninth century, known as the Seishiroku. See Index—Phallic worship.
- ↑ Ya, arrow.
- ↑ In this and other passages of the "Nihongi," there is a sort of recognition of a right of primogeniture, but cases are numerous where the eldest son is ignored or set aside without very strong reason in favour of a brother, widow, or younger son of the deceased sovereign.
- ↑ i.e. the rank of Emperor.
- ↑ Capital and palace are interchangeable terms in this narrative.
- ↑ Equivalent to Empress Dowager. This is a Chinese title.
- ↑ Annei means peace.
- ↑ The editor of the Shukai edition alters this to eleven, in order to agree with other passages. But when the whole chronology is utterly fanciful, there is no use attempting to make it consistent.
- ↑ For purposes of chronology, these reigns begin with the next year following the previous Emperor's death. The first year of Annei's reign is therefore B.C. 548, although his predecessor died B.C. 549.
- ↑ A title, derived by Yamada from Sukuna, small, and e or ye, elder brother.
- ↑ The "Kojiki" makes him 49.
- ↑ Admirable virtue.
- ↑ Prince is here 王, a lower rank than 皇子 or Imperial Prince.
- ↑ These repetitions seem intended to conceal the want of any real information about this period.
- ↑ In Yamato.
- ↑ The Japanese word for brother by the mother's side is hara-kara, "of the same belly," as to which a paper by the present writer on the "Family in Ancient Japan," contributed to the Japan Society's Journal, may be consulted.
- ↑ It is not clear what is meant by this.
- ↑ Filial piety manifested.
- ↑ Kwō-dai-gō.
- ↑ In Yamato.
- ↑ Filial piety-peace.
- ↑ Or Owari.
- ↑ A brother's daughter.
- ↑ Several of the Emperors' names have the element Yamato-neko (neko is a honorific), and one Emperor styles himself Yamato-neko in an edict, although this was not his name. It may be suspected that Yamato-neko was at one time a general title for the sovereigns of Japan.
- ↑ Filial piety-spirit.
- ↑ In Yamato.
- ↑ The "Kojiki" genealogies differ a good deal. One must be wrong; and both, doubtless, leave much to be desired in accuracy.
- ↑ Filial-duty-origin.
- ↑ Great-eyes.
- ↑ The home-acclivity.
- ↑ Small-prince-manly-heart.
- ↑ This word means steward.
- ↑ Civilization.
- ↑ Ike means a pond or artificial lake.
- ↑ Where Prince stands alone without the word Imperial before or after it, it represents the Chinese character 王, which in the "Nihongi" is applied sometimes to the kings or princes of Corea, but more usually to Japanese princes who did not belong to the family of the reigning sovereign.
- ↑ It is difficult to say whether Saka-moto and Saka no kami are proper names or merely descriptions. They mean respectively the "bottom of the acclivity" and the "top of the acclivity."