Nakachiko of the Saheki Be is mentioned in the history of the reign of Woke Tennō.
A.D. 493. 6th year, Autumn, 9th month, 4th day. Hitaka no Kishi was sent to Corea to fetch skilled artizans. This autumn, after (XV. 28.) Hitaka no Kishi was despatched, there was a woman dwelling at Mitsu[1] in Naniha who made lament, saying:—
For to me he is an elder brother,
And to my mother too an elder brother.
The sound of her lament was exceeding pathetic, even to the rending of men's bowels.[3] A man of the village of Hishiki, named Kaso, hearing it, came in front of her, and said:—"Why is thy lamentation so exceedingly sorrowful?" The woman answered and said:—"Think of the autumn garlic's ever clustering growth."[4] Kaso said:—"Thou art right. Now I understand what thou hast said." But a companion of his, not comprehending her meaning, inquired, saying:—"By what dost thou understand?" He answered and said:—"Funame (XV. 29.) of the Naniha Jewellers' Be was wedded to Karama no Hataye[5] and bore to him Nakume,[6] who was wedded to a man of Sumuchi named Yamaki and bore to him Akitame. Karama no Hataye and his daughter Nakume having both died, Yamaki, the man of Sumuchi, had illicit intercourse with Funame[7] of the Jewellers' Be, and had by her a son named Araki, who took to wife Akitame. Upon this Araki set out for Koryö in the suite of Hitaka no Kishi. Therefore his wife Akitame, restless and full of longing, has lost her wits and become distraught, and the sound of her lamentation is very touching, even to the rending of men's bowels."
Funame of the Jewellers' Be and Karama no Hataye became husband and wife, and had a daughter named
- ↑ The august harbour.
- ↑ Literally young herb or grass.
- ↑ Cf. the Biblical expression "bowels of compassion".
- ↑ By the clusters of the garlic bulbs in autumn she indicates the somewhat complicated family relations described below.
- ↑ Kara-fisher's-field.
- ↑ The (professional) weeping woman.
- ↑ His wife's mother. This union was regarded as incestuous.
