“ Now if a great man were to establish laws, justice could not fail to flourish. And even if some gain should accrue to the people, in what way would this interfere with the Sage's [107] action? Moreover, it will be well to open up and clear the mountains and forests, and to construct a palace. Then I may (III. 30.) reverently assume the Precious Dignity, and so give peace to my good subjects. Above, I should then respond to the kindness of the Heavenly Powers in granting me the Kingdom, and below, I should extend the line of the Imperial descendants and foster rightmindedness. ”

“ Before this, at the battle of Kusaka, there was a man who hid in a great tree, and by so doing escaped danger. So pointing to this tree, he said:—"I am grateful to it, as to my mother." Therefore the people of the day called that place Omo no ki no Mura. [28]
5th month, 8th day. The army arrived at the port of Yamaki in Chinu [also called Port Yama no wi] . Now Itsuse no Mikoto's arrow wound was extremely painful. He grasped his sword, and striking a martial attitude, said:—"How exasperating it is that a man should die of a wound received at the hands of slaves, and should not revenge it!" ”

“ Now Ukeshi the Elder did not come. But Ukeshi the Younger came, and making obeisance at the gate of the camp, declared as follows:—"Thy servant's elder brother, Ukeshi the Elder, shows signs of resistance. Hearing that the descendant of Heaven was about to arrive, he forthwith raised an army with which to make an attack. But having seen from afar the might of the Imperial army, he was afraid, and did not dare to oppose it. Therefore he has secretly placed his troops in ambush, and has built for the occasion a new palace, in the hall of which he has prepared engines. ”

“ Thereupon Hiko-ho no ninigi no Mikoto, throwing open the barrier of Heaven and clearing a cloud-path, urged on his superhuman course until he came to rest. At this time the world was given over to widespread desolation. It was an age of darkness and disorder. In this gloom, therefore, he fostered justice, and so governed this western border. [3] Our Imperial ancestors and Imperial parent, like gods, like sages, accumulated happiness and amassed glory. Many years elapsed. From the date when our Heavenly ancestor descended until now it is over (III. 3.) ”

“ Mike Irino no Mikoto, also indignant at this, said:—"My mother and my aunt are both Sea-Goddesses: why do they raise great billows to overwhelm us?" So treading upon the waves, he went to the Eternal Land. [33] The Emperor was now alone with the Imperial Prince Tagishi-mimi no Mikoto. Leading his army forward, he arrived at Port Arazaka in Kumano [also called Nishiki Bay] , where he put to death the Tohe of Nishiki. At this time the Gods belched up a poisonous vapour, from which everyone suffered. For this reason the Imperial army was again unable to exert itself. ”

“ When the "Nihongi" was written they still occupied a large part of the main island of Japan, and in earlier times, as we gather from the evidence of place-names (See Chamberlain's Essay published by the Imperial University) , they extended west even of Yamato. But it would not be safe to draw any conclusion from their mention in this poem. The writer of the "Nihongi" is in the habit of fitting ancient poetry into his narrative in a very arbitrary manner. The "Kojiki" omits it. Yemishi or Yebisu is also applied to barbarous tribes generally, and this is probably its primary meaning. ”

“ Now when Naga-sune-hiko [26] heard this, he said:—"The object of the children of the Heavenly Deity in coming hither is assuredly to rob me of my country." So he straightway levied all the forces under his dominion, and intercepted them at the Hill of Kusaka. A battle was engaged, and Itsuse no Mikoto was hit by a random arrow on the elbow. The Imperial forces were unable to advance against the enemy. ”

“ If after that they still refuse submission, it will not be too late to take warlike measures against them." Shiki the Younger was accordingly sent to explain to them their interests. But Shiki the Elder and the others adhered to their foolish design, and would not consent to submit. Then Shihi-netsu-hiko advised as follows:—"Let us first send out our feebler troops by the Osaka road. When the enemy sees them he will assuredly proceed thither with all his best troops. We should then straightway urge forward our robust troops, and make straight for Sumi-zaka. ”

“ The earthen jars which are set up shall be called the Idzube or sacred jars, the fire shall be called Idzu no Kagu-tsuchi or sacred-fire-elder, the water shall be called Idzu no Midzu-ha no me or sacred-water-female, the food shall be called Idzu-uka no me or sacred-food-female, the firewood shall be called Idzu no Yama-tsuchi or sacred-mountain-elder, and the grass shall be called Idzu no No-tsuchi or sacred-moor-elder. ”

“ The clue to its meaning is afforded by the "Wamiō-shō," a Chinese-Japanese vocabulary of the tenth century, which says, on the authority of the "Shiki," still more ancient commentaries on the "Nihongi," that the Yang-wu or Sun-crow is in Japanese yata-garasu. The Yang-wu is a bird with three claws, and of a red colour, which, according to Chinese myth, inhabits the sun. ”

“ Their disposition cannot be ascertained. Why should we remain for a long time in one place? By so doing we could not have control over emergencies." So he removed his camp to another place.
11th month, 7th day. The Imperial army proceeded in great force to attack the Hiko [79] of Shiki. First of all the Emperor sent a messenger to summon Shiki the Elder, but he refused to obey. Again the Yata-garasu was sent to bring him. When the crow reached his camp it cried to him, saying:—"The child of the Heavenly Deity sends for thee. Haste! haste!" ”

“ Fishing with cormorants is still practised in Japan. ↑ Land-view. ↑ Women's acclivity. ↑ Men's acclivity. The terms Me-zaka and Wo-zaka are now applied to two roads or stairs leading up to the same place, one of which (the women's) is less precipitous than the other. ↑ Sumi-zaka means charcoal acclivity. ↑ Shiki the Elder. ↑ Lit. Robber-slaves or prisoners. ↑ A shrine, like a templum, might be merely a consecrated plot of ground. Kagu-yama is a mountain in Yamato. ”

“ Now there was a man who made representation to him, saying:—"There is a child who was (III. 31.) born to Koto-shiro-nushi no Kami by his union with Tama-kushi-hime, daughter of Mizo-kuhi-ni no Kami of Mishima. Her name is Hime-tatara-i-suzu-hime no Mikoto. She is a woman of remarkable beauty." The Emperor was rejoiced, and on the 24th day of the 9th month he received Hime-tatara-i-suzu-hime no Mikoto and made her his wife.
B.C. 660. Year Kanoto Tori, Spring, 1st month, 1st day. The Emperor assumed the Imperial Dignity in the Palace of Kashiha-bara. ”

“ If thou doest so, the enemy will render submission of their own accord." The Emperor received with reverence the directions given in his dream, and proceeded to carry them into execution.
Now Ukeshi the Younger again addressed the Emperor, saying:—"There are in the province of Yamato, in the village of Shiki, eighty Shiki bandits. Moreover, in the village of Taka-wohari [some say Katsuraki] there are eighty Akagane [61] bandits. All these tribes intend to give battle to the Emperor, and thy servant is anxious in his own mind on his account. ”

“ There were, moreover, Tsuchi-gumo at the village of Taka-wohari, whose appearance was as follows:—They had short bodies, and long arms and legs. They were of the same class as the pigmies. The Imperial troops wove nets of dolichos, which they flung over them and then slew (III. 28.) them. Wherefore the name of that village was changed to Katsuraki. [96] It is in the land of Ihare. Its ancient name was Kataru, or Katatachi. When our Imperial forces routed the enemy, a great army assembled and filled that country. ”

“ Mikoto he granted a site for a house in which to dwell at the village of Tsuki-zaka, thereby showing him special favour.
Moreover, he caused the Oho-kume to dwell at a place on the river-bank, west of Mount Unebi, now called Kume no mura. [114] Such was the origin of this name. Utsu-hiko was made (III. 33.) Miyakko of the land of Yamato. Moreover, he gave to Ukeshi the younger the village of Takeda, constituting him Agata-nushi [115] of Takeda. He was the ancestor of the Mohi-tori [116] of Uda. Shiki the younger, whose personal name was Kuro-haya, was made Agata-nushi of Shiki. ”

“ But Sora-mitsu really means "that fills the sky," i.e. that reaches to the farthest horizon. These names are merely poetical inventions. They were never in actual use. ↑ The "Kojiki" makes him 137. ↑ The Misasagi are still to be seen in large numbers in Japan, especially in the Gokinai or five metropolitan provinces. They are particularly numerous in Kahachi and Yamato.
In the most ancient times, say the Japanese antiquarians, the Misasagi or tombs of the Mikados were simple mounds. At some unknown period,
Misasagi, side view. ”

“ This suggests that there was a distinction between esoteric and exoteric in the Shintō rites of this time. ↑ Idzu-hime means dread or sacred princess. The "Tsūshō" commentator says that the persons entrusted with this function were usually women, as may be seen in the case of the priestesses of Ise, Kamo, and Kasuga. But as no women were available at this time, Michi-no-Omi was given a feminine title for the occasion. ”

“ The Imperial forces at length proceeded eastwards, the prow of one ship touching the stern of another. Just when they reached Cape Naniha they encountered a current of great swiftness. Whereupon that place was called Nami-haya (wave-swift) or Nami-hana (wave-flower) . It is now called Naniha, [23] which is a corruption of this.
3rd month, 10th day. Proceeding upwards against the stream, they went straight on, and arrived at the port of Awo-kumo no Shira-date, in the township of Kusaka, in the province (III. 7.) ”

“ There is another Yamato in Chikugo, where the Aino derivation is surely out of place. I have no desire, however, to dispute all his Aino derivations of place names in this part of Japan, and I think it very probable that the first Japanese who settled here drove out a population of Aino race.
↑ Primogeniture was evidently not recognized in Japan at the time this story was written. ↑ i.e. Kiushiu. ↑ This is in imitation of the great number of years ascribed to the reigns of the early Chinese monarchs. ↑ Shiho tsutsu no oji. ↑ i.e. for the further development of the Imperial power. ”

“ A little work called "Kek-kio-kō," in a collection entitled "Haku-butsu-sō-sho," published by the Japanese Imperial Museum, has brought together all the available information respecting Muro and Tsuchi-gumo.
↑ Chiefs. ↑ Oka-zaki means hill-spur, and is perhaps to be so understood here, and not as a proper name. ↑ Saka-moto (acclivity bottom) may be also a description and not a proper name. ↑ Hofuri is a kind of Shintō priest. It is unlikely that persons not of Japanese race should be so called. ”

“ The guidance of conquerors or colonists to their destination by a supernatural bird or beast is a familiar feature of old-world story. See Lang, "Custom and Myth," II., 71. ↑ The sovereignty. ↑ Hi means sun ”