Page:Nihongi by Aston.djvu/428

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Ninken.
397

Nakume. Yamaki, a man of Sumuchi, married Nakume, and had a daughter named Akitame. Yamaki's wife's father Karama no Hataye and the latter's child Nakume having both died, Yamaki, the man of Sumuchi, had an amour with his wife's mother, Funame of the Jewellers' Be, the fruit of which was Araki. Araki took to wife Akitame. One book says:—"Funame of the Jewellers' Be bore Nakume to her first husband Karama no Hataye; again to her second husband Yamaki, a man of Sumuchi, she bore Araki, so that Nakume and Araki were sister and brother by a different father. Consequently Nakume's daughter Akitame called Araki[1] her mother's elder brother. Nakume having married Yamaki, bore Akitame. Moreover, Yamaki having had illicit intercourse with Funame had by her Araki, so that Akitame and Araki were sister and brother by a different mother. Consequently Akitame called Araki her elder brother. In ancient times women called their brothers se[2] (elder brother), without distinction of age; while men called their sisters imo (younger sister). Hence the expression, 'To my mother an elder brother, to me an elder brother.'"[3]

In this year Hitaka no Kishi returned from Koryö, and delivered to the Emperor the artizans Sunyuki and Nonyuki.[4] They were the ancestors of the Koryö tanners of the village of Nukada in the district of Yamabe in the province of Yamato.

A.D. 494. (XV. 30.) 7th year, Spring, 1st month, 3rd day. Wo-hatsuse Waka-sazaki no Mikoto was appointed Prince Imperial.

A.D. 495. 8th year, Winter, 10th month. The people said:—"At this time there is peace throughout the land; the officials fill their offices worthily. Everywhere within the seas there is a movement towards good feeling; the subjects pursue peacefully their avocations." This year the five grains were produced in abundance, the silkworm and wheat afforded a rich harvest.

  1. In the speech above quoted.
  2. Se and imo also mean respectively husband and wife.
  3. This note is from the "Shiki" or "Scholiast."
  4. Possibly the Japanese reading of the characters is preferable, viz. Suruki, Toruki.