honorary title of Grand Empress. This was the year Midzu-noye Tatsu of the cycle.
B.C. 28. 2nd year, Spring, 2nd month, 9th day. Saho-hime was appointed Empress. She gave birth to Homu-tsu-wake no Mikoto. From his birth the Emperor loved him, and kept him near his own person. When he grew to manhood, he could not speak.
Winter, 10th month. The capital was removed to Maki-muku. It was called the Palace of Tamaki. In this year the man of Imna, Sonaka cheulchi,[1] asked permission to return to his country. Therefore gifts were liberally bestowed on him, and there were entrusted to him as a present for the King of Imna 100 pieces of red silk. But the Silla people waylaid and robbed him, and at this time began the enmity between the two countries.[2]
One account says:—"In the reign of the Emperor Mimaki, there was a man with horns on his forehead[3] who came riding in a ship and anchored in the Bay of Kebi in the land of Koshi. Therefore that place was called Tsunoga.[4] He was asked what countryman he was. He replied, saying:—'I am the son of the King of Great Kara. (VI. 3.) My name is Tsunoga arashito, and I am also called Ushiki arishichi kanki.[5] It having come to my ears that there is in the Land of Japan a sage Emperor, I wished to offer
- ↑ Corean pronunciation. The Japanese would be Sonaka shichi.
- ↑ There is probably some historical foundation for this. But the chronology must be wrong. According to the Tongkam, Kara (Imna) was not formed into a kingdom until A.D. 42, and hostilities between Kara and Silla are first mentioned in that work in A.D. 94. They were also at war in 97, 115, 116, and 203. See "Early Japanese History" in "J.A.S.T.," p. 44.
- ↑ The ancient Chinese Emperors are so depicted.
- ↑ Now Tsuruga in Echizen. A derivation from Tsuno-nuka (horn-forehead) seems intended.
- ↑ The Chinese characters in the text are probably intended to be read with their Japanese pronunciation, and I have accordingly in this instance followed the traditional Kana rendering. If the Corean pronunciation were followed, we should read Tonoka Arasǎteung and Usaki ari cheulchi kanki. The Shiki says that kanki is a Silla rank equal to the Japanese senior 3rd rank. From a passage in Keidai Tennō's reign, year 23, it would appear that Arashito, or Arasǎteung, was the name of some office or dignity.
