'He will take my place and will yield respectful obedience. I will withdraw and depart from here.' He forthwith invested him with the pure Yasaka jewels, and then became concealed for ever.[1] Therefore Futsu-nushi no Kami appointed (II. 21.) Kunado no Kami[2] as guide, and went on a circuit of pacification. Any who were rebellious to his authority he put to death, while those who rendered obedience were rewarded. The chiefs of those who at this time rendered obedience were Oho-mono-nushi[3] no Kami and Koto-shiro-nushi no Kami. So they assembled the eighty myriads of Gods in the High Market-place of Heaven, and taking them up to Heaven with them, they declared their loyal behaviour. Then Taka-mi-musubi no Mikoto commanded Oho-mono-nushi no Kami, saying:—'If thou dost take to wife one of the Deities of Earth, I shall still consider that thy heart is disaffected. I will therefore now give thee my daughter Mi-ho-tsu hime to be thy wife. Take with thee the eighty myriads of Deities to be the guards of my August Grandchild to all ages.' So she sent him down again. Thereupon Ta-oki-ho-ohi no Kami, ancestor of the Imbe of the Land of Kii, was appointed hatter,[4] Hiko-sachi no Kami was made shield-maker,[5] Ma-hitotsu no Kami[6] was made metal-worker, Ame no Hi-washi[7] no Kami was appointed tree-fibre maker, and Kushi-akaru-dama no Kami (II. 22.) jewel-maker.[8]
Taka-mi-musubi no Kami accordingly gave command, saying:—'I will set up a Heavenly divine fence[9] and a
- ↑ i.e. died.
- ↑ The Deity of roads.
- ↑ Great-thing-master.
- ↑ Kasa-nuhi, i.e. broad-hat-sewer.
- ↑ Tate-nuhi, lit. shield-sewer.
- ↑ The one-eyed God. It is curious that the Smith-God of Japan, like the Cyclops of Greek fable, should have but one eye. The "Kojiki" calls him Ama-tsu Mara, as to which see Index. Also Ch. K., p. 55.
- ↑ Sun-eagle. Tree-fibre is yufu. It was the fibre for weaving made of the inner bark of the paper-mulberry, and perhaps also included hemp. All these objects were used in Shintō ceremonies.
- ↑ Kushi means comb; akaru, shining; dama (for tama), jewel.
- ↑ In Japanese, himorogi. The "Shiki" says that this is the same thing which is now called a shrine, but admits that its meaning is not clear. The usual interpretation is that the himorogi is a fence of sakaki (the sacred tree)
