— 60 —
21. With regard to the parallel passages in the Kojiki and the Nihongi, “Ukefuse” signifies “to put a tub bottom upwards” and in this instance Ame-no-Uzume-no-Mikoto performed a divine dance on the tub, stamping until it resounded like a drum and thereby coming into union with the Divine, i.e., as though she were herself possessed by the divine spirit. The original expression “ukefuse” never conveys the idea of an oath, which the author of the Kogoshui erroneously accepted.
22. “Shimenawa” is the ordinary form of the rather archaic “shirikumenawa.” According to B. H. Chamberlain, in perfect agreeemnt with the learned Moto-ori, “shirikumenawa” denotes a straw rope so constructed that its roots project and are visible at the end thereof. Moto-ori’s explanation shows that this is more likely to be the proper significance of the word than “back-limiting-rope” (“shirihe-kagiri-me-nawa”) which, as Kamo-Mabuchi had previously suggested, might have originated when the event narrated in the legend was described (B. H. Chamberlain, E.T.K., p. 59). According to our view “shime” may mean “to forbid” just as “shimeno” denotes a “forbidden field,” so that the land encircled by a rope is simply a taboo, i.e., a sacred precinct forbidden to be approached or trodden upon by ordinary unclean feet. Since the entrance to the Rock-Cave was barred by a similar rope, this “shimeno” was probably tobooed, a forbidden ground, or sanctuary, which laymen must not be allowed to enter. We do not understand the explanation given in a note in the Kogoshui that this rope represents “the Sun’s shadow.”
23. I.e., The Goddess of the Great August Palace. Sir
