[Sect. XCVIII.—Emperor Chiū-ai (Part IV.—The Empress Jin-gō Conquers Korea).]
So the wave of the august vessel pushed up onto the land of Shiragi, reaching to the middle of the country. Thereupon the chieftain of the country, alarmed and trembling, petitioned [the Empress], saying: “From this time forward obedient to the Heavenly Sovereign’s commands, I will feed his august horses and will marshal vessels every year, nor ever let the vessels’ keels dry or their poles and oars dry, and will respectfully serve him without drawing back while heaven and earth shall last.” So therefore the Land of Shiragi was constituted the feeder of the august horses, and the Land of Kudara was constituted the crossing store. Then the Empress stuck her august staff on the gate of the chieftain of Shiragi, and having made the Rough August Spirits of the Great Deities of the Inlet of Sumi the guardian Deities of the land, she laid them to rest, and crossed back. So while this business was yet unconcluded, [the child] with which she was pregnant was about to be born. Forthwith, in order to restrain her august womb, she took a stone and wound it round the waist of her august skirt, and the august child was born after she had crossed [back] to the Land of Tsukushi. So the name by which the place was called where the august child was born was Umi. Again the stone which she wound round her august skirt is at the village of Ito in the Land of Tsukushi.
[Sect. XCIX.—Emperor Chiū-ai (Part V.—The Empress Jin-gō Fishes in Tsukushi).]
Again when, having reached the village of Tamashima in the Department of Matsura in Tsukushi, she partook of an august meal on the bank of the river, it being then the first decade of the fourth moon, she then sat on a shoal in the middle of the river, picked out threads from her august skirt, used grains of rice as bait, and hooked the trout in the river. (The name by which the river is called is the Wo-gaha; again the name by which the shoal is called is Kachi-do-hime.) So down to the present time it is an uninterupted [custom] for women in the first decade of the fourth moon to pick out threads from their skirts, use grains as bait, and hook trout.
[Sect. C.—Emperor Chiū-ai (Part VI.—The Empress Jin-gō Subdues Yamato).]
Hereupon, when Her Augustness Princess Okinaga-tarashi was returning up to Yamato, she, owing to doubts concerning the disposition of the people, prepared a mourning-vessel, set the august child in that mourning-vessel, and let a report ooze out that the august child was already dead. While she went up thus, King Kagosaka and King Oshikuma, having heard [of the circumstance], thought to waylay her, went forth to the moor of Toga, and hunted for an omen. Then King Kagosaka climbed up an oak-tree, and then a large and angry boar came forth, dug up the oak-tree, and forthwith devoured King Kagosaka. His younger brother, King Oshikuma, undaunted by this circumstance, raised an army and lay in wait [for the Empress], to close with the mourning-vessel as being an empty vessel. Then an army was landed from the mourning-vessel, and joined in combat [with the opposing forces]. At this time King Oshikuma made the Noble Isahi, ancestor of the Kishi Clan of Naniha, his generalissimo; and on the august side of the Heir Apparent His Augustness Naniha-ne-ko-take-furu-kuma, ancestor of the Grandees of Wani, was made generalissimo. So when [the Empress’s troops] had driven [King Oshikuma’s troops] as far as Yamashiro, [the latter] turned and made a stand, and both [sides] fought together without retreating. Then His Augustness Take-furu-kuma planned, and caused it to be said that, as Her Augustness Princess Okinaga-tarashi was already dead, there was no need for further fighting,—forthwith snapping his bowstrings and feigning submission. Therefore King Oshikuma’s generalissimo, believing the falsehood, unbent his bows and put away his arms. Then [the Empress’s troops] picked out of their topknots some prepared bowstrings (one name [of the bowstrings] was usa-yu-dzuru,) stretched [their bows] again, and pursued and smote [the enemy]. So [these] fled away to Afusaka, rallied, and fought again. Then [the Empress’s troops] pursued pressed, on, and defeated them, and cut to pieces that army at Sasanami. Thereupon King Oshikuma, together with the Noble Isahi, being pursued and pressed, got on board a vessel and floated on the sea, and sang, saying: “Come on, my lord! rather than be stricken by Furu-kuma’s hurtful hand, I will plunge like the grebe into the Sea of Afumi,—I will!”
Forthwith they plunged into the sea, and died together.
[Sect. CI.—Emperor Chiū-ai (Part VIII.—The Heir Apparent Exchanges Names with the Great Deity Izasa-Wake).]
So when His Augustness the Noble Take-uchi, taking with him the Heir Apparent for the purpose of purification, passed through the lands of Afumi and Wakasa, he built a temporary palace at Tsunuga at the mouth of the Road of Koshi [for the Heir Apparent] to dwell in. Then His Augustness the Great Deity Izasa-wake, who dwelt in that place, appeared at night in a dream, and said: “I wish to exchange my name for the august name of the august child.” Then [the dreamer of the dream] prayed, saying: [“I] am filled with awe! The name shall be respectfully exchanged according to thy command.” Again the Deity charged [him, saying]: “To-morrow morning [the Heir Apparent] must go out on the beach; I will present my [thank-] offering for the name [given me] in exchange.” So when [the Heir Apparent] went out in the morning to the beach, the whole shore was lined with broken-nosed dolphin-fishes. Thereupon the august child caused the Deity to be addressed, saying: “Thou bestowest on me fish of thine august food.” So again his august name was honoured by his being called the Great Deity of August Food. So he is now styled the Food-Wondrous-Great-Deity. Again the blood from the noses of the dolphin-fishes stank. So the strand was called by the name of Chiura. It is now styled Tsunuga.
[Sect. CII.—Emperor Chiū-ai (Part VIII.—The Empress Jin-gō Presents Liquor to the Heir Apparent).]
Hereupon, when the [Heir Apparent] returned up [to the Capital], his august parent, Her Augustness Princess Okinaga-tarashi, distilled some waiting-liquor, and presented it to him. Then his august parent sang augustly, saying: “This august liquor is not my august liquor:—oh! it is august liquor respectfully brought as a divine congratulation, a repeated congratulation, a bountiful congratulation, a reiterated congratulation, by the Small August Deity, who dwells eternally, firmly standing. Partake not shallowly! Go on! go on!”
Having thus sung, she presented to him the great august liquor. Then His Augustness the Noble Take-uchi replied for the august child and sang, saying: “Whatever person distilled this august liquor must surely have distilled it singing the while with that drum on the mortar,—must surely have distilled it dancing the while, for this august liquor, august liquor, to be ever more and more joyful. Go on! go on!”
These are Drinking Songs.
[Sect. CIII.—Emperor Chiū-ai (Part IX.—His Death and That of the Empress Jin-gō).]
Altogether the august years of this Heavenly Sovereign Tarashi-naka-tsu-hiko were fifty-two. His august mausoleum is at Nagaye, near Wega, in Kafuchi. (The Empress died at the august age of one hundred. She was buried in the mausoleum of Tatanami in Saki.)
His Augustness Homuda-wake dwelt at the palace of Akira at Karushima, and ruled the Empire. This Heavenly Sovereign wedded three queens, daughters of King Homuda-no-Ma-waka, the name of one of whom was Her Augustness Princess Takagi-no-iri; of the next, Her Augustness Naka-tsu-hime; and of the next, Her Augustness Oto-hime. (The father of these Queens, King Homuda-no-ma-waka, was the son of His Augustness Prince Iho-ki-no-iri by his wife Shiritsuki-tome, daughter of the Noble Take-inada, ancestor of the Chiefs of Wohari.) So the august children of Her Augustness Princess Takagi-no-iri were: His Augustness Nukata-no-oho-waka-tsu-hiko; next His Augustness Oho-yama-mori; next His Augustness Iza-no-ma-waka; next his younger sister the Lady of Ohohara; next the Lady of Komuku. (Five Deities). The august children of Her Augustness Naka-tsu-hime were: the Lady of Arata in Ki; next His Augustness Oho-sazaki; next His Augustness Netori. (Three Deities). The august children of Her Augustness Oto-hime wore: the Lady Abe; next the Lady of Mihara in Ahaji; next the Lady of Unu in Ki; next the Lady of Minu. (Five Deities). Again he wedded the Princess Miya-nushi-ya-kaha-ye, daughter of the Grandee Wani-no-Hifure, and begot august children: Uji-no-waki-iratsuko; next his younger sister Yata-no-waki-iratsume; next Queen Medori. (Three Deities.) Again he wedded Wo-nabe-no-iratsume, younger sister of Yakaha-ye-hime, and begot an august child: Uji-no-waki-iratsume. (One Deity.) Again he wedded Okinaga-ma-waka-naka-tsu-hime, daughter of King Kuhimata-naga-hiko, and begot an august child: King Waka-nuke-futa-mata (one Deity). Again he wedded the Princess of Itowi, daughter of Shima-tari-ne, ancestor of the Agricultural Chiefs of Sakurawi, and begot an august child: His Augustness Hayabusa-wake (one Deity). Again, he wedded Naga-hime of Idzumi in Himuka, and begot august children: King Oho-haye, next King Wo-haye; next Hata-bi-no-waki-iratsume (three Deities). Again he wedded Princess Ka-guro, and begot august children: Kaha-rada-no-iratsume; next, Tama-no-iratsume; next, Osaka-no-oho-naka-tsu-hime; next, Tohoshi-no-iratsume; next, King Kataji (five Deities). Again, he wedded Nu-iro-me of Kadzuraki, and begot an august child: King Iza-no-ma-waka. (One Deity.) The august children of this Heavenly Sovereign [numbered] altogether twenty-six (eleven Kings and fifteen Queens). Of these His Augustness Oho-sazaki [was he who afterwards] ruled the Empire.
[Sect. CV.—Emperor Ō-jin (Part II.—He Divides the Inheritance Between His Three Sons).]
Hereupon the Heavenly Sovereign asked His Augustness Oho-yama-mori and His Augustness Oho-sazaki, saying: “Which think ye dearer, an elder child or a younger child?” (The reason why the Heavenly Sovereign propounded this question was because it was his intention to make Uji-ni-waki-iratsuko rule the Empire.) Then His Augustness Oho-yama-mori said: “The elder child is the dearer.” Next His Augustness Oho-sazaki, knowing the august feeling which made the Heavenly Sovereign deign to ask [the question], said: “The elder child, having already become a man, gives no trouble; but the younger child, not being yet a man, is the dearer.” Then the Heavenly Sovereign said: “My lord Sazaki’s words agree with my thoughts,” and forthwith ordained the division [of the inheritance] thus: His Augustness Oho-yama-mori to administer the government of the mountains and the sea, His Augustness Oho-sazaki to take and deign to report on the government of the realm, and Uji-no-waki-iratsuko to rule the succession of Heaven’s sun. So His Augustness Oho-sazaki was not disobedient to the Heavenly Sovereign’s commands.
[Sect. CVI.—Emperor Ō-jin (Part III.—He Wooes Princess Miya-nushi-ya-kaha-ye).]
One day the Heavenly Sovereign, when he had crossed over into the land of Afumi, augustly stood on the moor of Uji, gazed on the moor of Kadzu, and sang, saying: “As I look on the Moor of Kadzu in Chiba, both the hundred thousand-fold abundant house-places are visisble, and the land’s acme is visible.”
So when he reached the village of Kohata, a beautiful maiden met him at a fork in the road. Then the Heavenly Sovereign asked the maiden, saying: “Whose child art thou?” She replied, saying: “I am the daughter of the Grandee Wani-no-Hifure, and my name is Princess Miya-nushi-ya-kaha-ye.” The Heavenly Sovereign forthwith said to the maiden: “When I return on my progress to-morrow, I will enter into thy house.” So Princess Ya-kaha-he told her father all that [had happened]. Thereupon her father replied, saying: “Ah! it was the Heavenly Sovereign! [His commands are] to be respected. My child, respectfully serve him!”—and so saying, he grandly decorated the house, and awaited [the Heavenly Sovereign’s return], whereupon he came in on the next day. So when [the father] served [the Heavenly Sovereign] a great august feast, he made his daughter Her Augustness Princess Ya-kaha take the great august liquor-cup and present it. Thereupon, while taking the great august liquor-cup, the Heavenly Sovereign augustly sang, saying: “Oh this crab! whence this crab? [It is] a crab from far-distant Tsunuga. Whither reaches its sideward motion? [It has] come towards Ichiji-shima and Mi-shima. It must be because, plunging and breathless like the grebe, I went without stopping along the up and down road by the wavelets, that the maiden I met on the Kohata road has a back oh! like a small shield, a row of teeth like acorns. Oh! the earth of the Wani pass at Ichihiwi! Owing to the skin of the first earth being ruddy, to the last earth being of a reddish black, she, without exposing to the actual sun that makes one bend one’s head the middle earth like three chestnuts, draws thickly down her drawn eye-brows;—the woman I met, the child I saw and wanted in this way, the I child I saw and wanted in that way, oh! she is opposite to me at the height of the feast! oh! she is at my side!”
Ita auguste coivit [cum illâ], et procreavit filium Uji-no-waki-iratsuko.
[Sect. CVII.—Emperor Ō-jin (Part IV.—He Grants Princess Kami-naga to His Son Oho-sazaki).]
The Heavenly Sovereign, hearing of the beauty of Princess Kami-naga, daughter of the Duke of Muragata in the land of Himuka, and thinking to employ her, sent down for her, whereupon the Heir Apparent His Augustness Oho-sazaki, having seen the maiden land at the port of Naniha, and being charmed with the grace of her appearance, forthwith directed the Prime Minister the Noble Take-uchi, to intercede for him in the great august presence of the Heavenly Sovereign, and make [the latter] grant to him Princess Kami-naga, whom he had sent down for. Then on the Prime Minister the Noble Take-uchi requesting the great commands, the Heavenly Sovereign forthwith granted Princess Kami-naga to his august child. The way he granted her was this:—the Heavenly Sovereign, on a day when he partook of a copious feast, gave Princess Kami-naga the great august liquor oak- [leaf] to present to the Heir Apparent. Then he augustly sang, saying: “Come on, children! oh! the fragrant flowering orange-tree on my way as I go to pluck the wild garlic,—to pluck the garlic,—has its uppermost branches withered by birds perching on them, and its lowest branches withered through people plucking from them. But the budding fruit on the middle branch, like three chestnuts,—the ruddy maiden, oh! if thou lead her off with thee, it will be good, oh!”
Again he augustly sang, saying: “Driving the dyke-piles into Lake Yosami where the water collects, my heart (ignorant of the pricking of the stumps of the water-caltrop, ignorant of the creeping of the roots of the Brasenia peltata), being more and more laughable, is now indeed repentant!”
Having thus sung, he bestowed [her on the Heir Apparent]. So after having been granted the maiden, the Heir Apparent sang, saying: “Oh! the maiden of Kohada in the back of the road! though I heard of her like the thunder, we mutually intertwine [our arms] as pillows.”
Again he sang, saying: “I think lovingly ah! of how the maiden of Kohada in the back of the road sleeps [with me] without disputing.”
[Sect. CVIII.—Emperor Ō-jin (Part V.—Songs of the Territorial Owners of Yeshinu).]
Again, the Territorial Owners of Yeshinu, seeing the august sword which was girded on His Augustness Oho-sazaki, sang, saying: “Sharp is the beginning, freezing is the end of the sword girded on Oho-sazaki, Oho-sazaki, the solar august child of Homuda,—[it is] chilly, chilly like the trees beneath the trunks of the winter trees.”
Again, having made a cross-mortar at Kashifu in Yeshinu, and having in that cross-mortar distilled some great august liquor, they, when they presented the great august liquor [to the Heavenly Sovereign], sang as follows, drumming with their mouths: “We have made a side-mortar at Kashinofu, and in the side-mortar we have distilled some great august liquor, which do thou sweetly partake of, oh our lord!”
This Song is one which it is the custom to chant down to the present day when, from time to time, the Territorial Owners present a great feast [to the Sovereign].
[Sect. CIX.—Emperor Ō-jin (Part VI.—Various Deeds).]
In this august reign were graciously established the Fisher Tribe, the Mountain Tribe, the Mountain Warden Tribe, and the Ise Tribe. Again the Pool of Tsurugi was made. Again there came over [to Japan] some people from Shiragi. Therefore His Augustness the Noble Take-uchi, having taken them with him and set them to labour on pools and embankments, made the Pool of Kudara.
[Sect. CX.—Emperor Ō-jin (Part VII.—Tribute From Korea).]
Again King Shō-ko, the Chieftain of the land of Kudara, sent as tribute by Achi-kishi one stallion and one mare. (This Achi-kishi was the ancestor of the Achiki Scribes.) Again he sent as tribute a cross-sword, and likewise a large mirror. Again he was graciously bidden to send as tribute a wise man, if there were any such in the land of Kudara. Therefore, receiving the [Imperial] commands, he sent as tribute a man named Wani-kishi, and likewise by this man he sent as tribute the Confucian Analects in ten volumes and the Thousand Character Essay in one volume,—altogether eleven volumes. (This Wani-kishi was the ancestor of the Fumi Grandees.) Again he sent as tribute two artisans,—a smith from Kara named Taku-so and a weaver from Go named Sai-so.
[Sect. CXI.—Emperor Ō-jin (Part VIII.—The Emperor Intoxicated).]
Again there came over [to Japan] the ancestor of the Hada Rulers, the ancestor of the Aya Suzerains, and likewise a man who knew how to distill liquor, and whose name was Nim-pan, while another name for him was Susukori. So this [man] Susukori distilled some great august liquor, and presented it to the Heavenly Sovereign, who, excited with the great august liquor that had been presented to him, augustly sang, saying: “I have become intoxicated with the august liquor distilled by Susukori. I have become intoxicated with the soothing liquor, with the smiling liquor.”
On his walking out singing thus, he hit with his august staff a large stone in the middle of the Ohosaka road, upon which the stone ran away. So the proverb says: “Hard stones get out of a drunkard’s way.”
[Sect. CXII.—Emperor Ō-jin (Part IX.—Troubles Which Followed His Decease).]
So after the decease of the Heavenly Sovereign, His Augustness Oho-sazaki, in conformity with the Heavenly Sovereign’s commands, ceded the Empire to Uji-no-waki-iratsuko. Thereupon His Augustness Oho-yama-mori, disobeying the Heavenly Sovereign’s commands, and anxious in spite thereof to obtain the Empire, had the design to slay the Prince his younger brother, secretly raised an army, and prepared to attack him. Then His Augustness Oho-sazaki, hearing that his elder brother had prepared an army, forthwith despatched a messenger to apprise Uji-no-waki-iratsuko. So, startled at the news, [the latter] set troops in ambush by the river-bank, and likewise, after having drawn a fence of curtains and raised a tent on the top of the hill, placed there publicly on a throne one of his retainers to pretend that he was the King, the manner in which all the officials reverentially went and came being just like that [usual] in the King’s presence. And moreover, preparing for the time when the King his elder brother should cross the river, he arranged and decorated a boat and oars, and moreover ground [in a mortar] the root of the Kadzura japonica, and having taken the slime of its juice, rubbed therewith the grating inside the boat, so as to make any who should tread on it fall down, and then himself put on a cloth coat and trowsers, and having assumed the appearance of a common fellow, stood in the boat holding the oar. Hereupon, when the King his elder brother, having hid his troops in ambush and put on armour beneath his clothes, reached the river-bank and was about to get into the boat, he gazed at the grandly decorated place [on the hill], thought the King his younger brother was sitting on the throne, being altogether ignorant [of the fact] that he was standing in the boat holding the oar, and forthwith asked the fellow who was holding the oar, saying: “It has been reported to me that on this mountain there is a large and angry boar. I wish to take that boar. Shall I peradventure get that boar?” Then the fellow holding the oar replied, saying: “Thou canst not.” Again he asked, saying: “For what reason?” [The boatman] answered, saying: “He is not to be got, however often and in however many places he be chased. Wherefore I say that thou canst not [catch him either].” When they had crossed as far as the middle of the river, [Prince Uji-no-waki-iratsuko] caused the boat to be tilted over, and [his elder brother] to fall into the water. Then forthwith he rose to the surface, and floated down with the current. Forthwith, as he floated, he sang, saying: “Whoever is swiftest among the boatmen of the Uji ferry will come to me.”
Thereupon the troops that had heen hidden on the river-hank rose up simultanously on this side and on that side, and fixing their arrows [in their bows], let him go floating down. So he sank on reaching Kawara Point. So on their searching with hooks the place where he had sunk, [the hooks] struck on the armour inside his clothes, and made a rattling sound. So the place was called by the name of Kawara Point. Then when they hooked up his hones, the younger King sang, saying: “Catalpa bow, Evonymus standing by the ferry-bank of Uji! My heart had thought to cut [you], my heart had thought to take [you]; but at the base methought of the lord, at the extremity methought of the younger sister; grievously methought of this, sorrowfully methought of that; and I come [back] without cutting it,—the Catalpa bow, the Evonymus.”
So the bones of His Augustness Oho-yama-mori were buried on the Nara mountain. His Augustness Oho-yama-mori (was the ancestor of the Dukes of Hijikata, the Dukes of Heki, and the Dukes of Harihara.)
[Sect. CXIII.—Emperor Ō-jin (Part X.—Princes Oho-sazaki and Uji-no-waki-iratsuko Cede the Empire to Each Other).]
Thereupon while the two Deities His Augustness Oho-sazaki and Uji-no-waki-iratsuko were, each of them, ceding the Empire to the other, a fisherman came with a great feast as tribute. So they each resigned it to the other. So the elder brother refused it, and caused it to be offered to the younger brother, and the younger brother refused it and caused it to be offered to the elder brother, during which mutual cedings many days elapsed. As such mutual ceding took place not [only] once or twice, the fisherman wept from the fatigue of going back wards and forwards. So the proverb says: “Ah! the fisherman weeps on account of his own things.” Meanwhile Uji-no-waki-iratsuko died early. So His Augustness Oho-sazaki did rule the Empire.
[Sect. CXIV.—Emperor Ō-jin (Part XI.—Ama-no-hi-boko Crosses Over to Japan).]
Moreover of old there had been [a man] called by the name of Ama-no-hi-boko, child of the ruler of the land of Shiragi. This person crossed over here [to Japan]. The reason of his crossing over here was [this]: In the land of Shiragi there was a certain lagoon, called by the name of the Agu Lagoon. On the bank of this lagoon a certain poor girl was [taking her] midday sleep. Tunc solis radii, cœlesti arcui similes, in privatas partes impegerunt. Again there was a certain poor man, who, thinking this occurrence strange, constantly watched the woman’s behaviour. So the woman, having conceived from the time of that midday sleep, gave birth to a red jewel. Then the poor man who had watched her begged [to be allowed] to take the jewel, and kept it constantly wrapped up by his side. This person, having planted a rice-field in a valley, had loaded a cow with food for the labourers, and was getting into the middle of the valley, when he met the ruler’s son, Ama-no-hi-boko, who thereupon asked him, saying: “Why enterest thou the valley with a load of food upon a cow. Thou wilt surely kill this cow and eat her.” Forthwith he seized the man and was about to put him into prison, when the man replied, saying: “I was not going to kill the cow. I was simply taking food to the people in the fields.” But still [the ruler’s child] would not let him go. Then he undid the jewel [which hung] at his side, and [therewith] bribed [the ruler’s child]. So [the latter] let the poor man go, brought the jewel [home], and placed it beside his couch. Forthwith it was transformed into a beautiful maiden, whom he straightway wedded, and made his chief wife. Then the maiden perpetually prepared all sorts of dainties with which she constantly fed her husband. So the ruler’s child [grew] proud in his heart, and reviled his wife. But the woman said: “I am not a woman who ought to be the wife of such as thou. I will go to the land of my ancestors;”—and forthwith she secretly embarked in a boat, and fled away across here [to Japan], and landed at Naniha. (This is the deity called princess Akaru, who dwells in the shrine of Hime-goso at Naniha.) Thereupon Ame-no-hi-boko, hearing of his wife’s flight, forthwith pursued her across hither, and was about to arrive at Naniha, when the Deity of the passage prevented his entrance. So he went hack again, and landed in the country of Tajima.
[Sect. CXV.—Emperor Ō-jin (Part XII.—Descendants of Ama-no-hi-boko, and Treasures Brought by Him).]
Forthwith staying in that country, he wedded Saki-tsu-mi, daughter of Tajima-no-matawo, and begot a child: Tajima-morosuku. The latter’s child was Tajima-hi-ne. The latter’s child was Tajima-hinaraki. The latter’s children were Tajima-mori, next Tajima-hitaka, next Kiyo-hiko (three Deities). This Kiyo-hiko wedded Tagima-no-mehi, and begot children: Suga-no-morowo, next his younger sister Suga-kama-yura-domi. So the above mentioned Tajima-hitaka wedded his niece Yura-domi, and begot a child: Her Augustness Princess Takanuka of Kadzuraki. (This was the august parent of Her Augustness Princess Okinaga-tarashi.) So the things which Ama-no-hi-boko brought over here, and which were called the “precious treasures,” were: two strings of pearls; likewise a wave-shaking scarf, a wave-cutting scarf, a wind-shaking scarf, and a wind-cutting scarf; likewise a mirror of the offing and a mirror of the shore,—eight articles in all. (These are the Eight Great Deities of Idzushi.)
So this Deity had a daughter whose name was the Deity Maiden-of-Idzushi. So eighty Deities wished to obtain this Maiden-of-Idzushi in marriage, but none of them could do so. Hereupon there were two Deities, brothers, of whom the elder was called the Youth-of-the-Glow-on-the-Autumn-Mountains, and the younger was named the Youth-of-the-Haze-on-the-Spring-Mountains. So the elder brother said to the younger brother: “Though I beg for the Maiden of Idzushi, I cannot obtain her in marriage. Wilt thou [be able] to obtain her?” He answered, saying: “I will easily obtain her.” Then the elder brother said: “If thou shalt obtain this maiden, I will take off my upper and lower garments, and distill liquor in a jar of my own height, and prepare all the things of the mountains and of the rivers [,and give them to thee] in payment of the wager.” Then the younger brother told his mother everything that the elder brother had said. Forthwith the mother, having taken wistaria-fibre, wove and sewed in the space of a single night an upper garment and trowsers, and also socks and boots, and likewise made a bow and arrow, and clothed him in this upper garment, trowsers, etc., made him take the bow and arrows, and sent him to the maiden’s house, where both his apparel and the bow and arrows all turned into wistaria-blossoms. Thereupon the Youth-of-the-Haze-on-the-Spring-Mountains hung up the bow and arrows in the maiden’s privy. Then, when the Maiden-of-Idzushi, thinking the blossoms strange, brought them [home, the Youth-of-the-Haze-on-the-Spring-Mountains] followed behind the maiden into the house, and forthwith wedded her. So she gave birth to a child. Then he spoke to his elder brother, saying: “I have obtained the Maiden-of-Idzushi.” Thereupon the elder brother, vexed that the younger brother should have wedded her, did not pay the things he had wagered. Then when [the younger brother] complained to his mother, his august parent replied, saying: “During my august life the Deities indeed are to be well imitated; moreover it must be because he imitates mortal men that he does not pay those things.” Forthwith, in her anger with her elder child, she took a jointed bamboo from an island in the River Idzushi, and made a coarse basket with eight holes, and took stones from the river, and mixing them with brine, wrapped them in the leaves of the bamboo and caused this curse to be spoken: “Like unto the becoming green of these bamboo-leaves, [do thou] become green and wither! Again, like unto the flowing and ebbing of this brine, [do thou] flow and ebb! Again, like unto the sinking of these stones, [do thou] sink and be prostrate!” Having caused this curse to be spoken, she placed [the basket] over the smoke. Therefore the elder brother dried up, withered, sickened, and lay prostrate for the space of eight years. So on the elder brother entreating his august parent with lamentations and tears, she forthwith caused the curse to be reversed. Thereupon his body became sound as it had been before. (This is the origin of the term “a divine wager-payment.”)
Again this Heavenly Sovereign Homuda’s august child King Waka-nuke-futa-mata wedded his mother’s younger sister Momo-shiki-iro-be, another name for whom was Her Augustness Oto-hime-ma-waka-hime, and begot children: Oho-iratsuko, another name for whom was King Oho-hodo; next Her Augustness Osaka-no-oho-mika-tsu-hime; next Tawi-no-naka-tsu-hime; next Tamiya-no-naka-tsu-hime; next Fujihara-no-koto-fushi-no-iratsume; next Queen Torime; next King Sane. (Seven Kings [and Queens].) So King Oho-hodo (was the ancestor of the Dukes of Mikuni, the Dukes of Hata, the Dukes of Okinaga, the Dukes of Sakabito of Sakata, the Dukes of Yamaji, the Dukes of Meta in Tsukushi, and the Dukes of Fuse). Again King Netori wedded his younger half-sister the Lady Mihara, and begot children: King Naka-tsu-hiko; next King Iwashima. (Two Kings.) Again the child of King Katashiha was King Kunu.
[Sect. CXVIII.—Emperor Ō-jin (Part XV.—His Age and Place of Burial).]
The august years of this Heavenly Sovereign Homuda were altogether one hundred and thirty. His august mausoleum is on the mound of Mofusu at Wega in Kafuchi.
Vol. III.
His Augustness Oho-sazaki dwelt in the palace of Takatsu at Naniba, and ruled the Empire. This Heavenly Sovereign wedded (the Empress) Her Augustness Iha-no-hime, daughter of Kadzuraki-no-so-tsu-biko, and begot august children: His Augustness Ohoye-no-izaho-wake; next the Middle King of the Inlet of Sumi; next His Augustness Midzu-ha-wake of Tajihi; next His Augustness the Noble Wo-asadzuma-no-waku-go (four Deities). Again he wedded Princess Kami-naga, daughter of the Duke of Muragata in Himuka, as mentioned above, and begot august children: Hatabi-no-oho-iratsuko, another name for whom was the King of Great Kusaka; next Hatabi-no-waki-iratsume, another name for whom was Her Augustness Princess Nagahi, and another name was Her Augustness Waka-kusaka-be. (Two Deities.) Again he wedded his younger half-sister Yata-no-waki-iratsume. Again he wedded his younger half-sister Uji-no-waki-iratsumo. These two Deities had no august children. Altogether the august children of this Heavenly Sovereign Oho-sazaki [numbered] in all six Deities. (Five Kings and one Queen.) So His Augustness Izaho-wake [was he who afterwards] ruled the Empire. Next His Augustness Tajihi-no-midzu-ha-wake likewise ruled the Empire. Next His Augustness the Noble Wo-asadzuma-no-waku-go likewise ruled the Empire.
[Sect. CXX.—Emperor Nin-toku (Part II.—Various Deeds).]
In the august reign of this Heavenly Sovereign the Kadzuraki Tribe was established as the august proxy of the Empress, Her Augustness Iha-no-hime. Again the Mibu Tribe was established as the august proxy of the Heir Apparent, His Augustness Izaho-wake. Again the Tajihi Tribe was established as the august proxy of His Augustness Midzuha-wake. Again the Oho-kusaka Tribe was established as the august proxy of King Oho-kusaka, and the Waka-kusaka Tribe was established as the august proxy of King Waka-kusaka-be. Again people from Hada were set to labour, and the embankment at Mamuta and also the granaries of Mamuta were made. Again the Pool of Wani and the Pool of Yosami were made. Again the Naniha Channel was dug, and [the waters of the rivers] led to the sea. Again the Wobashi Channel was dug. Again the port of the inlet of Sumi was established.
[Sect. CXXI.—Emperor Nin-toku (Part III.—He Remits the Taxes).]