The Prince Imperial said:—‘‘I know that the Prince, my elder brother, is not to be moved from his resolution. Why then should I prolong my life and give trouble to the Empire?”’ So he died by his own hand. Then Oho-sazaki no Mikoto, hearing of the Prince Imperial’s death, was greatly shocked, and hastening from Naniha arrived at the Palace of Uji. Now three days had passed since the Prince Imperial’s death. Oho- sazaki no Mikoto beat his breast, wept aloud, and knew not what to do. He loosed out his hair, and bestriding the corpse, called upon him thrice, saying:—‘‘Oh, my younger brother, the Imperial Prince!” In course of time he came to life, raised himself up, and remained in a sitting posture. Here- upon Oho-sazaki no Mikoto addressed the Heir Apparent, saying:—‘“‘Oh, what grief! Oh, what regret! Why didst thou pass away of thine own accord? If the dead had any ence of opinion among native commentators as to the meaning of this poem. It would seem as if the Prince, having thrown his brother overboard, could hardly claim much credit for clemency. But probably this is a genuine ancient poem, which the author has inserted here without much regard to fitness. The asterisks represent the untranslatable pillow-word Chihay- bito, an epithet of Uji.
NINTOKU. 257 NINTOKU. 257 knowledge, what would the late Emperor think of me?” So the Prince Imperial addressed the Prince his elder brother, saying:—‘‘ It is the’ command of Heaven. Who may stay it? If I should go to the place where the Emperor is, I will tell him of all the Prince, my elder brother’s wisdom, and also of my abdication. But the sage Prince must surely be fatigued after the long and hurried journey which he undertook on hearing of my death.’’ So he presented to him the Imperial Princess Yata,' his younger sister by the same mother, saying:— “‘Though she is unworthy of thy nuptials, she may in some small measure serve to be entered in the number of the side Courts.”” So he lay down again in his coffin and died.
Hereupon Oho-sazaki no Mikoto put on plain unbleached garments and began mourning for him, and his lamentation was exceedingly pathetic. He was buried on the top of the hill of Uji.
Ist year, Spring, ist month, 3rd day. Oho-sazaki no Mikoto assumed the Imperial Dignity. The Empress was honoured with the title of Grand Empress. He made his capital at Naniha. It was called the Palace of Takatsu. The Palace enclosure and buildings were not plastered, the gable rafters and ridgepoles, the posts and pillars were devoid of ornament; the covering of thatch was not evenly trimmed.? This was that he might not delay the season of agricultural operations for the sake of his own personal caprices.
Before this time, on the day that the Emperor was born, an owl entered the parturition house. The next morning the Emperor Homuda called to him the Prime Minister Takechi no Sukune, and addressed him, saying:—‘‘ What may this portend?” The Prime Minister answered and said:—‘‘ It is a lucky omen. Moreover yesterday when thy servant’s wife was in labour, a wren entered the parturition house. This also is strange!’’ Hereupon the Emperor said:—‘‘ Now our child and the Prime Minister’s child have been born on the same day.
1 She was also a daughter of the late Emperor. This shows that marriages of sisters by the father’s stde only were allowed. The Prince Imperial was able to give his sister by the mother’s side in marriage. He would have had no control over his sisters by the father’s side only.
= It should be remembered that at this period every Mikado built himself a new palace in a new locality.
par ee se >.
XI.
8.
9.
278 NIHONGI.
In the case of both there are omens. This is an indication from Heaven. Let us take the names of these birds, and each exchanging them, call our children after them as a covenant ° to future generations.” So he took the name ‘‘wren” (sazaki) and called the Prince Imperial by it, saying:—‘‘ The Imperial Prince Oho-sazaki.”! And he took the name “ owl” (Dzuku) and called the Prime Minister’s child by it, saying:—‘‘ Dzuku no Sukune.” He was the first.ancestor of the Omi of Heguri.
This year was the year Midzunoto Tori (roth) of the Cycle.
2nd year, Spring, 3rd month, 8th day. [ha no hime no Mikoto was appointed Empress. She was the mother of the Emperor Ohi-ne’ Iza-ho-wake, of the Imperial Prince Suminohe no Nakatsu, of the Emperor Midzu-ha-wake, and of the Emperor Wo-asa-tsu-ma-waku-go no Sukune. Another consort, Kami- naga-hime of Hiuga, bore to him the Imperial Prince Oho- kusaka and the Imperial Princess Hatahi.
4th year, Spring, 2nd.month, 6th day. The Emperor addressed his ministers, saying:—‘‘ We ascended a lofty tower and looked far and wide, but no smoke arose in the land. From this we gather that the people are poor, and that in the houses there are none cooking their rice. We have heard that in the reigns of the wise sovereigns of antiquity, from every one was heard the sound of songs hymning their virtue, in every house there was the ditty, ‘How happy are we.’ But now when we observe the people, for three years past, no voice of eulogy is heard; the smoke of cooking has. become rarer and rarer. By this we know that the five grains* do not come up, and that the people are in extreme want. Even in the Home provinces * there are some who are not supplied; what must it be in the provinces outside of our domain?”
3rd month, 21st day. The following decree was issued:— 1 T have elsewhere suggested that the name of the Emperor Oho-sazaki was a posthumous title given him owing to the great size of the mound (sasagi) under which he is. buried near Sakai. And although there is much to be said on the other side, I am not sure that this may not after all be correct. The difference in spelling between sasagi and sazaki is immaterial.
2 Ohi-ne or Oho-ye means great-elder-brother. It is hardly a name.
3 Hemp, millet, rice, wheat and barley, pulse.
4 The territory round the capital ruled immediately by the Emperor. This is a Chinese phrase, not properly applicable to Japan at this period.
NINTOKU. 279 ‘From this time forward, for the space of three years, let forced labour be entirely abolished, and let the people have rest . from toil.” From this day forth his robes of state and shoes did not wear out, and none were made. The warm food and hot broths did not become sour or putrid, and were not renewed. He disciplined his heart and restrained his impulses so that he discharged his functions without effort.
Therefore the Palace enclosure fell to ruin and was not rebuilt; the thatch decayed, and was not repaired; the wind and rain entered by the chinks and soaked the coverlets; the starlight filtered through the decayed places and exposed the bed-mats. After this the wind and rain came in due season,' ° the five grains produced in abundance. For the space of three autumns the people had plenty, the praises of his virtue filled the land, and the smoke of cooking was also thick.
7th year, Summer, 4th month, 1st day. The Emperor was on his tower, and looking far and wide, saw smoke arising plentifully. On this day he addressed the Empress, saying:— ‘We are now prosperous. What can there be to grieve for?”’ The Empress answered and said:—‘‘ What dost thou mean by prosperity?”? The Emperor said:—“ It is doubtless when the smoke fills the land, and the people freely attain to wealth.” The Empress went on to say:—‘‘The Palace enclosure is crumbling down, and there are no means of repairing it; the buildings are dilapidated so that the coverlets are exposed. Can this becalled prosperity?”? The Emperor said:—‘*‘ When Heaven establishes a Prince, it is for the sake of the people. The Prince must therefore make the people the foundation. For this reason the wise sovereigns of antiquity, if a single one of their subjects was cold and starving, cast the responsibility on themselves. Now the people’s poverty is no other than Our poverty; the people’s prosperity is none other than Our prosperity. There is no such thing as the people’s being prosperous and yet the Prince in poverty.”?
' The notion that the virtues of the Emperor have a direct influence on the weather is, of course, Chinese.
2 This whole episode is the composition of some one, well acquainted with Chinese literature. The sentiments are throughout characteristically Chinese, and in several cases whole sentences are copied verbatim from Chinese works.
esrO; XT stet's 280 NIHONGI.
Autumn, 8th month, gth day. For the Imperial Prince Ohine Izaho-wake there was established the Mibu Be,’ and again for the Empress there was established the Katsuraki - Ber gth month. The provinces, without exception, petitioned, saying:—‘‘ Three years have now elapsed since forced labour was altogether remitted. The Palace buildings have therefore become decayed, and the Treasury empty. The black-headed people have now abundance, and remnants are not picked up. Therefore in the villages there are no men without wives or women without husbands, in the houses there is store of spare ‘provisions. If at sucha time there was no payment of taxes pate, 323: with which to repair the Palace buildings, we fear that we should incur guilt in the sight of Heaven.” The Emperor, however, continued to be patient, and would not grant their petition.
roth year, Winter, roth month. Forced labour for the building of a Palace was imposed for the first time. Hereupon the people, without superintendence, supporting the aged and leading by the hand the young, transported timber, carried baskets * on their backs, and worked their hardest without distinction of night or day, vying with one another in the con- struction. In this manner, ere long the Palace buildings were every one completed. Therefore up to the present day he is styled the Sage Emperor.
11th year, Summer, 4th month, 16th day. The Emperor commanded his ministers, saying:—‘‘ Viewing this land, the moors and marshes extend far and wide, and the cultivated fields are fewand rare. Moreover, the river waters spread out to each side, so that the lower streams flow sluggishly. Should there ' This Be is also called the Nibu Be. There are several places in Japan, of thisname. It was originally the group of peasants whose duty it was to provide wet nurses, etc., for infant princes. See Ch. K., p. 268, and Moto- wori in “ Kojikiden,” xxxv. 12.
> The “ Kojiki” says that these two Be were instituted as “ middai” of the Prince and the Empress, i.e. in order to perpetuate their memory, the Be in such cases taking the name of the person or of his or her residence. The last explanation might apply to the Empress, but it is not clear how the name Mibu could perpetuate the memory of this Prince.
3 Of earth.
NINTOKU. 281 happen to be continuous rains, the tide from the sea flows up against them so that one may ride in boats through the villages: and the highways, too, are covered with mud. There- fore do ye our ministers examine this together, and having ascertained the source of the divergence, make a channel for them to the sea, and, staying the contrary flow (of the tide), preserve the fields and houses.”
Winter, roth month. The plain north of the Palace was excavated, and the water from the south diverted into the Western Sea. Therefore that water was called by the name Hori-ye.’
Moreover, in order to prevent the overflowing of the Northern river the Mamuta embankment was constructed. At this time there were two parts of the construction which gave way and could not be stopped up. Then the Emperor had a dream in which he was admonished by a God, saying:—‘“‘ There is a man of Musashi named Koha-kubi’ and a man of Kahachi named Koromo no ko,* the Muraji of Mamuta. Let these two men be sacrificed to the River-God, and thou wilt surely be enabled to close the gaps.” So he sought for these two men, and having found them, sacrificed them to the River-God. Hereupon Koha-kubi wept and lamented, and plunging into the water, died. So that embankment was completed. Koromo no ko, however, took two whole calabashes, and standing over the water which could not be dammed, plunged the two calabashes into the mid-stream and prayed, saying:—‘‘ O thou River-God, who hast sent the curse (to remove which) I have now come hither as a sacrifice. If thou dost persist in thy desire to have me, sink these calabashes and let them not rise to the surface. Then shall I know that thou art a true God, and will enter the water of my own accord. But if thou canst not sink the cala- bashes, I shall, of course, know that thou art a false God, for whom, why should I spend my life in vain?” Hereupon a whirlwind arose suddenly which drew with it the calabashes and tried to submerge them in the water. But the calabashes, 1 Excavated estuary, or canal. 2 Strong-neck.
* Garment-child. These are personal names. Such names are in the original put after titles, but I have reversed this order, in accordance with European practice.
OC) Is fd Xe ies 282 NIHONGI.
dancing on the waves, would not sink, and floated far away over the wide waters. In this way that embankment was completed, although Koromo no ko did not die. Accordingly Koromo no ko’s cleverness saved his life. Therefore the men of that time gave a name to these two places, calling them ‘‘ Kohakubi’s Gap” and ‘‘ Koromo no ko’s Gap.”
This year men of Silla came to the Court with tribute, and were made to labour at this public work.
t2th year, Autumn, 7th month, 3rd day. The Land of Kory6 sent tribute of iron shields and iron targets.
8th month, roth day. The Koryé guests were entertained at Court. On this day the ministers and functionaries were assembled and made to shoot at the iron shields and targets presented by Koryé. Nobody could pierce the targets except Tatebito no Sukune, the ancestor of the Omi of Ikuba,* who shot at the iron targets and pierced them. Then the guests from Koryé, when they saw this, were struck with awe by his excellent skill in archery, and, standing up together, did obeisance to the Emperor. The next day the Emperor com- mended Tatebito no Sukune and gave him a title, calling him Ikuba no Toda no Sukune. On the same day a title was given to Sukune no Omi, the ancestor of the Miyakko of Ohase, and he was called Sakashi-nokori? no Omi.
Winter, roth month. The Great Canal was dug in the district of Kurikuma in Yamashiro for the irrigation of the rice- fields. By this means the peasants of that district had always years of abundance.
13th year, Autumn, gth month. Now for the first time official granaries were established at Mamuta. The Usu-me* Be was accordingly instituted.
Winter, roth month. The Pond of Wani* was made. In the same month the Yokono Embankment was constructed.
t4th year, Winter, 11th month. A bridge was made at the Wikahi ferry. It was this place which was called Wo-bashi.’ In this year a highway was constructed and laid down within the capital from the South Gate extending in a straight line as 1 Tatebito means shield-man, and Ikuba, target. 2 Clever-remainder. 3 Millers. * In Kahachi. ’ Small-bridge.
NINTOKU. | 283 far as the village of Tajihi. Moreover, a great canal was dug in Konku’ by which the water of the Ishikaha River was brought to irrigate the four waste plains of Upper Suzuka and Lower Suzuka, Upper Toyora and Lower Toyora. By bringing these under cultivation there were gained more than 40,000 K ‘iting? of rice-land. Therefore the peasants of those places enjoyed abundance, and there was no longer the plague of bad years.
16th year, Autumn, 7th month, 1st day. The Emperor, indicating Kuhada no Kugahime, a lady of the Palace, to his personal attendants, said:—‘‘ It is our desire to bestow affection on this damsel, but, harassed by the Empress’s jealousy, we have - not been able to become united to her. Many years have passed. Why should she waste her years of bloom?” So he made a song, saying:— Who will nourish The daughter of the Omi That sweeps along the bottom of the water? 3 Then Hayamachi, the ancestor of. the Miyakko of the province of Harima, advanced alone and made a song, saying:— I, Hayamachi of Harima, (Where the dreadful tides are) Though full of awe, Like rocks tumbling down, I will nourish her.‘ That same day Kugahime was given to Hayamachi. On the evening of the next day Hayamachi went to Kugahime’s house. Now Kugahime would not comply with his wishes, but he per- sisted in approaching the curtained space. Then Kugahime ‘In Kahachi.
* A Chinese measure of land equal to 100 mo, or more than fifteen English acres. This exact number of K‘iting occurs in a Chinese book of the Han period as the extent of land reclaimed by a similar operation.
3 The last line is a makura kotoba not in the least suitable as an epithet of Omi, a minister. But Omi is somewhat like ami, a net, for which it is satisfactory enough. The text is doubtful.
4 This stanza is in the ordinary 31-syllable metre, and the previous one in the same, minus the first two lines. The second line is a makura kotoba.
NOT Ts: 284 NIHONGI.
said:—‘‘ Thy handmaiden will end her years husbandless. How can she become my Lord’s wife?’ Now the Emperor, when he heard this, wished to accomplish Hayamachi’s desires, so he sent Kugahime along with Hayamachi to Kuhada. But Kugahime straightway became ill and died on the journey. Therefore there is to this day the tomb of Kugahime.
r7th year. Silla did not attend the Court with tribute.
Autumn, gth month. Toda no Sukune, ancestor of the Omi of Ikuba, and Sakashi-nokori no Omi, ancestor of the Miyakko of Ohase, were sent to inquire the reason of the failure to send tribuite. Hereupon the Silla people were afraid, and presented 1460 pieces of tribute, fine silks, and miscellaneous objects of all kinds—in all eighty ship-loads.
22nd year, Spring, ist month. The Emperor addressed the Empress, saying:—‘‘ I have taken to me the Imperial Princess Yata, and am about to make her my concubine.” But the Empress would not allow it. Hereupon the Emperor made a song, in which he besought the Empress, saying:— As a means of raising up Dear ones: As a spare bowstring To supply a vacancy I would place (her) along with (thee).
The Empress made a song in reply, saying:— In the case of garments To double them is well, But my Lord who would set in a row The couches of night— I wonder if he is wise.
The Emperor again made a song, saying:— Like the shore of Narabi ' Of Cape Naniha That projects (into the sea) It must have been solely to be thy comrade That that child came into being.
i Narabi means to be associated with, to be a companion.
NINTOKU. 285 The Empress made a song in reply, saying:-— Like the summer insect, The insect that seeks the fire Wearing double garments,!
That the palace precinct should be thus, Nay! it is not good.? XI. 17 The Emperor again made a song, saying:— Even the traveller, Who with unshared tears Toils over the little pass of Hika In Asatsuma*— Well for him had he a companion!
The Empress finally refused her consent. Therefore she was silent, and answered not again.
30th year, Autumn, gth month, r1th day. The Empress a.p. 342. made an excursion to the land of Kii. She went as far as Cape * Kumano, and was coming back with leaves of the mit- suna,’ which she had gathered there. On this day the Emperor, espying the Empress’s absence, wedded the Imperial Princess Yata, and placed her in the Palace. Now the Empress, when she arrived at the Naniha ferry, heard that the Emperor had become united to the Imperial Princess Yata, and was very wroth. She flung into the sea the mitsuna leaves which she had gathered, and would not land. Wherefore the men of that day called the sea where the leaves were scattered XI. 18. Kashiha no Watari, or the Kashiha ferry. Now the Emperor, unaware that the Empress was angty and would not. land, went in person to the Great Harbour,’ and while awaiting the Empress’s ship, made a song, saying: — 1 Wings? 2 The meaning is here somewhat doubtful.
* Asatsuma is the name of a mountain in Yamato. It means “ morning- wife.”
4 This is properly not a cape, but only a spur ofa hill.
> In the original mitsuna-kashiha. Kashiha is the Quercus dentata, a kind of evergreen oak, the leaves of which were used as drinking-cups. But this term was also applied to any leaves used for this purpose. Here the leaves of another tree—the mitsuna—seem to be intended. Chamberlain makes it the aralia. See Ch. K., pp. 248-273.
§ No doubt Naniha or Osaka.
>» ee 286 NIHONGI.
Ye men of Naniha, Haul along the bell-(hung) ship, Soaked as to your loins, Haul along that ship.
Haul along the great august ship.
Now the Empress did not anchor at the Great Harbour, but drew onwards again, and, ascending the river, went round by way of Yamashiro, in the direction of Yamato.'| The next day the Emperor sent an attendant named Toriyama to bring the Empress back, and made a song, saying:— In Yamashiro Overtake her, Toriyama.
Overtake her, overtake her, My beloved spouse— I wonder wilt thou overtake and join her.
The Empress would not come back, but continued her journey as far as the River of Yamashiro, where she made a song, saying:— Ascending the river— The River of Yamashiro— (Peak upon peak 2—) As I ascend it, By the river bend There stands luxuriant (Less-than-a-hundred) * An eighty-leaved tree.
Is it the Great Lord?
So she crossed over Mount Nara, and looking on Katsuraki, she made a song, saying:— Going up to Miya,* As I ascend THOH 2 Ki Wo 70s 2 Peak upon peak refers to yama, mountain, the first part of Yamashiro. It is a mere ornamental epithet.
3 Less than a hundred is a makura-kotoba of eighty. The luxuriant tree, with its plentiful foliage, reminds her of the Emperor.
4 Miya is probably short for Takamiya in the last line of the poem but one.
NINTOKU. 287 The River of Yamashiro (—Peak upon peak—) Nara I pass Of fertile soil; Yamato I pass, Shielded by its mountains; The land I long to see Is Takamiya of Katsuraki, For there is my home."
Returning again to Yamashiro, she built a Palace on the south side of the Hill of Tsutsuki, and dwelt there.
Winter, roth month, 1st day. Kuchi no Omi, ancestor of the Omi of Ikuba, was sent to fetch the Empress.
One version says:—‘‘ Kuchi no Omi, ancestor of the Omi of Wani.”
Now Kuchi no Omi went to the Palace of Tsutsuki, and wished to have audience of the Empress, but she remained silent and answered not. Then Kuchi no Omi prostrated him- self before the Empress’s hall, and remained there day and night drenched by the rain and snow, and did not move. Hereupon Kuchi no Omi’s younger sister, Kuniyori-hime, who was in the service of the Empress, and happened just then to be in attendance upon her, saw her elder brother wet with the rain, and shed tears and made a song, saying:— In the Palace of Tsutsuki, In Yamashiro, When I see my elder brother Delivering his message, My eyes fill with tears.
Then the Empress’ addressed Kuniyori-hime, saying:— ‘‘ Why weepest thou?” She answered and said:—‘‘ He that lies prostrate in the courtyard and begs an audience is thy handmaiden’s elder brother. He is wet with the rain, and XI. 20. does not flinch, but still lies prostrate in the hope of an audi- ence of thee. This is why I weep and am sorrowful.” Then the Empress addressed her, saying:—‘‘ Tell thy elder brother to. return with all speed. I will never go back.” Kuchi accordingly returned, and made his report to the Emperor.
11th month, 7th day. The Emperor made a progress by " Much of this poem is of doubtful interpretation. Compare Ch. K.. p. 275.
288 NIHONGI.
river to Yamashiro. At this time there was a mulberry branch floating down the stream. The Emperor looked at the mul- berry branch, and made a song, saying:— The mulberry tree?
Which Iha? no hime Will not listen to even absently May not reach (the bank), But by the bends of the river it seems to go tossing on— Oh! that mulberry tree! | On the next day the Imperial cortége arrived at the Palace of Tsutsuki. The Empress was sent for, but she refused to appear before the Emperor. Then the Emperor made a song, saying:— Like the radishes * dug up With the wooden hoes Of the women of Yamashiro (Peak upon peak), Purely, purely, Clamorously, clamorously, Because thou hast spoken I have come hither Like the flourishing trees Which I look over at.
1 Mulberry is ura-kuha. In modern Japanese kuha alone means mulberry. Ura also means heart, and as koha means hard, there seems an allusion to the Empress’s hard-heartedness.
The Emperor compares his condition to that of the mulberry branch drifting down the stream, and finding no rest anywhere. The metre is irregular.
2? Tha means rock. It has here a makura-kotoba prefixed to it, viz. tsuno-sahafu, creeper-clad, which is inappropriate to Iha, when taken as the Empress’s name, though suitable to it in its original meaning.
8 Radishes are at this day a staple food of the Japanese. When freshly washed they look very white and clean. The first four lines are a mere introduction to saha-saha, i.e. purely, and the author immediately goes on to exchange this meaning for another meaning of the same word, viz., clamorously, by a play of words common in Japanese poetry. The only bond of connection between the first and second halves of the poem is this double sense of saha-saha. ‘“ The flourishing trees” represent the Em- peror’s brilliant suite. The interpretation of this poem is more or less conjectural. Compare Ch. K., p. 279.
NINTORU. | 289 Again he made a song, saying:— Had I not had for my pillow Thine arm White as the whiteness of the roots Of the radishes dug up With the wooden hoes Of the women of Yamashiro (Peak upon peak), Then mightest thou say that thou knowest me not.
_ Then the Empress sent a message to the Emperor, saying: —‘ My lord has taken the Imperial Princess Yata and made her his concubine. Now I do not wish to be associated with the Princess as Consort.” So she refused to enter his presence, and the Imperial carriage returned to the Palace. The Em- peror hereupon resented the Empress’s great indignation, but yet continued to love her..
31st year, Spring, ist month, 15th day. Ohine-izaho-wake no Mikoto was appointed Prince Imperial.
35th year, Summer, 6th month. The Empress Iha no hime no Mikoto died in the Palace of Tsutsuki.
37th year, Winter, 11th month, 12th day. The Empress was buried on Mount Nara.
38th year, Spring, ist month, 6th day. The Imperial Princess Yata was appointed Empress.
Autumn, 7th month. The Emperor and Empress dwelt in a high tower to escape from the heat. At this time there was heard every night from the moor of Toga the cry of deer with a musical, yet melancholy sound, so that a feeling of pity arose in them both. But when the interlune came, the cry of the deer was no longer heard. Hereupon the Emperor addressed the Empress, saying:—‘‘ This evening the deer does not bell. Wherefore is this?” ‘The next day, a Saheki Be of the district of Wina presented a basket. The Emperor caused a steward to make inquiry of him, saying:—‘‘ What is this basket?” The answer was, “A buck.” He inquired—“<A deer of what place?” and was told, “‘Of Toga moor.” The Emperor. considered that this basket’ must be the deer which 1 The: basket is put for the contents (like the Latin: sportula), and. the word is used even when there may have been no basket at all. U 290 -NIHONGI.
- had belled, and he accordingly addressed the Empress, saying’: —‘‘ We have been soothed in the anxious thoughts which have of late possessed us by listening ‘to the belling of a deer. Now when the day or night, and the mountain or moor of the deer which has been caught are considered, they correspond to the deer which belled. It is true that that man was not aware of our feelings of affection, and that it was by chance that he came to take it. We nevertheless cannot resist a feeling of resentment. It is therefore our wish that the Saheki Be shall not approach the Imperial. Palace.” ‘So he made the officials remove his residence to Nuta in Aki. He was the ancestor of the present Saheki Be of Nuta in Aki.
There is a popular-story that a long time ago there was a man who went to Toga, and spent the night on the moor. Now there were two deer which lay down beside him. When it was on the point of cock-crow, the male deer addressed the female, saying:—‘‘ This night I had a dream in which I saw a white mist come down copiously and cover my body. What may this portend?”’ The female deer answered and said:— _ “Tf thou goest out, thou wilt certainly be shot by men and die, and so thy body will be smeared with white salt to correspond with the whiteness of the mist.” Now the man who was spending the night there wondered at this in his heart. Before it-was yet dawn, there came a hunter, who shot the male deer, and killed it. Hence the proverbial saying of the men of that day—‘‘ Even the belling male deer follows the interpretation of a dream.”
4oth year, Spring, 3rd month. The Emperor wished to take to himself the Imperial Princess Medori! as concubine, and made the Imperial Prince Hayabusa wake’ his middle man. Now the Imperial Prince Hayabusa secretly wedded her him- self, and for a long time made no report of his mission. Here- upon the Emperor, not knowing: that she had a husband, went in person to the Imperial Princess Medori’s chamber. At 1 Princess Medori was half-sister of the Emperor by a different mother, and full sister of the Empress.
4; Hayabusa wake was half-brother to. both Princess nate and: the Eee by a different mother.
NINTOKU,! 291: this time-the Imperial -Princess was weaving, and: ber. women madea pong Bayinel: —_ : *! ‘The‘metal loom of Heaven— The everlasting—? ate - The metal-loom where » Medori is weaving Stuff for an august. cloak For Hayabusa wake!
pom this ee Bansiee saw that the lanpévial Pree Biaiyae busa wake had secretly wedded her; and was angry. ‘But out of regard for what the Empress might say, and also. from respect for thé principle which governs the relation of: stem and. branches,” he was’ patient and did not punish him:;.Now the Imperial Prince’ Hayabusa wake was lying down: for: a little with his head pillowed on the Imperial Princess’s knee. Whereupon he addressed her, saying:—‘‘ Which is the swiftest, the wren or the falcon'?’’*® She said, ‘‘ The falcon.” Then the Imperial Prince said:—‘‘That means that I shall be first.” The Emperor heard these words, and his wrath was aroused again. At this time the Imperial Prince Hayabusa wake’s attendants made a song, saying:— The falcon Ascending to Heaven With soaring flight— Let him seize the wren On the top of the Tsuki trees. “Aaa ‘When the Piper heard this song, he flew into a. great rage, and said:—‘‘ We were unwilling for a private cause of hate to destroy one related to us, and we were patient. Why should a private cause of quarrel ps converted into a matter which affects the State?” ReG So he wished to kill the a Prince Hayabusa wake.
'-The word aametaiad everlasting is hisakata, lit. long-hard, an epithet involving a similar conception of the sky to our word “ firmament.” By metal is probably meant “adorned with metal fittings.”
-? 1.e, the head of the family and the junior members..
‘ In the original itsuki or idzuki. This the commentators explain as fifty (i) tsuki trees;..But how. would. “ sected: cidau) tree”, do—in. allusion to the Emperor's phn? f Aaow thet 292 NIHONGI.
Now the Imperial Prince fled with the Imperial Princess Medori, intending to place her in the Shrine of Ise. Hereupon the Emperor, hearing that the Imperial Prince Hayabusa wake had run away, straightway sent Wofuna of the Honchi Be of Kibi and Aganoko, Atahe of Saheki in Harima, saying:—“‘ Pursue them, and when you overtake them, slay them forthwith.” Here- upon the Empress addressed the Emperor, saying:—‘‘ Truly the Imperial Princess Medori is liable to severe punishment. But when she is killed I hope her body may not be exposed.”’ Accordingly he gave orders to Wofuna and his colleague not to take the Imperial Princess’s leg-jewels or arm-jewels. Wo- funa and his colleague pursued them as far as Uda, and.closed on them at Mount Soni. Here they hid in the herbage, and escaping by only a little, fled hastily, and crossed the moun- tain. Then the Imperial Prince made a song, saying: — Even this mountain, steep As a ladder, ~ When I cross over it With thee, my love, Seems a restful couch.
Hereupon Wofuna and the rest, seeing that they had escaped, followed after hastily, and-when they came to the moor of Komoshiro in Ise, slew them. Then Wofuna and the others searched for the Imperial Princess’s jewels, and took them from within her undergarments. So they. buried the bodies of the Prince and Princess on the bank of the River Ihoki, and then made their report to the Emperor. The Empress caused inquiry to be made of Wofuna and the others, saying:—‘ Did you see the Imperial Princess’s gael Bucs aPC answered and said, ‘“‘ We did not see them.”
_ That year during the month’ of the festival of tasting the first rice on the day of the banquet, sake was given to the princesses and ladies of the inner and outer circle. Thereupon, on the hands of two women, viz., the wife of Waka- mori-yama, Kimi of the mountains of Afumi, and Ihasakihime;: one of the Uneme,’ there were-éntwined excellent. jewels. ~ The Empress, 1 The rith.month. - as hie leriheyr fez - 2 Probably + for~yoné-me, ie. ricé-woman, wonien: attendants: “of” ‘the palace. They were selected for their Boe6 looks. mS NINTOKU. 293 observing that these jewels resembled those of the Impertal Princess Medori, straightway. became suspicious, and com- manded an official to inquire under what ‘circumstances they had come by these jewels. They answered and ‘said:—‘‘ They are the jewels of the wife of Aganoko, the Atahe of Saheki.” So Aganoko, being interrogated, answered ‘and’ said:—‘‘ On the day that the Imperial Princess was put to death I searched her and took them.” So they were about to put Aganoko to.
death. But he offered to the Emperor all his private lands, and prayed to escape from death. Therefore his land was confiscated, and the death penalty remitted. On this account that land was called Tama-de.’
41st year, Spring, 3rd month. Ki no arsiltias no Sukune was sent to Pékché. He was the first to distinguish the boundaries of provinces and districts, and to commit to writing in detail the productions of the soil in each locality. At this time Lord Chyu,” the grandson of the King of Pékché, was disrespectful, and accordingly Ki no Tsuno no Sukune remonstrated with the King of Pékché. The King of Pékché was afraid, and binding Lord Chyu in iron chains, delivered him up in charge of Sotsuhiko. Now Lord Chyu, when he came to Japan, straightway ran away, and concealed himself in the house of Koroshi, Obito of Nishikori in Ishikaha, deceiving him by saying:—‘‘ The Empress has pardoned thy servant’s offence. Therefore have I betaken myself to thee for.maintenance.”. A long time after the Emperor ultimately forgave him his offence.* 43rd year, Autumn, gth oe Ist ick Sete ones ‘Atle ? i.e. the price of jewels. ete ee ? The original has 74, i.e. sake. Chya is the ‘Corean pronunciation, but it is doubtful what his name really was.