2 A somewhat different version of this poem is given in the “ Resse: LARSEC Ch. K., p. 296. I have adopted one or two of Motowori’s emendations. See “ Kojikiden,” xxxix. 23. “ Foot-dragging” is a makura-kotoba or conven- tional epithet of mountain, used because in ascending a mountain we drag one foot painfully after the other. At least, that is the common interpretation. The metre is somewhat irregular naga-uta.
ie. mcest.
INGIO. 325 so the Imperial Princess Karu no Iratsume was banished to Iyo.! At this time the Heir Apparent made a song, saying:— I, the Great Lord, To an island am banished: Remaining behind in the ship, I will certainly come back again. NIII. 16. Let my bed be respected — (In words indeed I shall call it my bed) Let my spouse be respected.”
Again he made a song, saying:— The maiden of Karu (The Heaven-soaring), If she wept violently, Men would know of it— Like the doves of Mount Hasa, She weeps with a suppressed weeping.* 4and year, Spring, rst month, r4th day. The Emperor died. 4-p. 453. His years were many."
1 The “ Kojiki” makes the Prince to be banished, and Motowori thinks with some reason that this must be the true version of the story.. For one thing (he says), women have always been more lightly punished in Japan than men for the same offence, and the particular character of the fault in this case makes such a discrimination all the more reasonab'e. Moreover, t is hardly possible to construe the poem which follows otherwise than as composed by Prince Karu when about to be banished. An ancient note to the “ Nihongi” (see below) speaks of the Prince as having died by his own hand in Lyo.
2 The word for bed is tatami, now applied to the thick mats used to cover the floor of a Japanese house. At this time the tatami only covered the sleeping-place. There was a superstition forbidding people to meddle with the bed of an absent person, as to do so would bring down calamity on him. The word translated “respect” is yume, taboo, religious abstinence. The third line of this poem is literally “a ship-remainder,” by which is understood “ one who remains behind in a ship after the other passengers have landed.” There are, however, other explanations. See Ch. K., p. 3 3 The metre of this poem is irregular. ‘“ Heaven soaring” is a conven- tional epithet applied to Karu, which is the name of a place, because Kari means “a wild goose ”—hardly a sufficient reason to our Western minds.
4 Seventy-eight, says the “ Kojiki.” Another authority says eighty. But his mother, the Empress Iha no hime, died A.D. 347, and she had ceased to cohabit with her husband A.D. 342 (see above, p. 285), so that he would be at least 110 at the time of his death.
ee 326 NIHONGI, Now the King of Silla, when he heard that the Emperor had died, was shocked and grieved, and sent up eighty tribute ships with eighty musicians of all kinds. They anchored at Tsushima, and made great wail. When they arrived in Tsukushi they again made great wail. Anchoring in the harbour of Naniha, they all put on plain white garments, and bringing all the articles of tribute, and stringing their musical instruments of all kinds, they proceeded from Naniha to the capital." Sometimes they wept and wailed, sometimes they sang and danced, until at length they assembled at the Shrine of temporary interment.
Winter, roth month, roth day. The Emperor was buried in the misasagi of Naga-no no hara in Kahachi.
11th month. The Silla messengers of condolence, when the funeral ceremonies were concluded, returned home.
Now the men of Silla had always loved Mount Miminashi and Mount Unebi, which are hard bythe capital city. Accord- ingly, when they arrived at the Kotobiki Hill, they looked back, and said:—‘‘ Uneme haya! Mimi haya!’ This was simply because they were unpractised in the common. speech, and therefore corrupted Mount Unebi, calling it Uneme, and cor- rupted Mount Miminashi, calling it Mimi. Now the Yamato no. Mitma-kahi? Be, who were in attendance on the men of Silla, heard these words, and conceived a suspicion that the Silla men had had intercourse with the Uneme. So they made them go back, and gave information to the Imperial Prince Ohohatsuse. The Imperial Prince straightway threw the Silla messengers every one into prison, and put them to an examina- tion. Then the Silla messengers made a statement, saying:— *“We have done the Uneme no harm. Our words were simply expressive of our love for the two mountains close to the capital.” Upon this it was recognized that the charge was. groundless, and they were all released. But the people of Silla resented it greatly, and furthér reduced: the kinds of articles sent as tribute and the number of ships.
? Anaho in Yamato, * Horse-keepers.
NIHONGI.
Od re) (oe) THE EMPEROR ANAHO. (ANKO! TENNO.)
The Emperor Anaho was the second child of the Emperor Wo-asa-tsuma waku-go no Sukune.
One account says:—‘“‘ The third child.”
His. mother’s name was Osaka no Oho-nakatsu-hime no Mikoto. She was the daughter of the Imperial Prince Waka- nuke-futa-mata.’
The Emperor died in the 42nd year of his reign, Spring, the Ist month. In Winter, the roth month, the funeral cere- monies were completed. At this time the Heir Apparent was guilty of a barbarous outrage in debauching a woman. The nation censured him, and the Ministers would not follow him, but all without exception gave their allegiance to the Imperial Prince Anaho. Hereupon the Heir Apparent wished to attack the Imperial Prince Anaho, and to that end secretly got ready an army. The Imperial Prince Anaho also raised a force, and prepared to give battle. It was at this time that the terms ‘“‘ Anaho arrow-notch ” and “‘ Karu arrow-notch ”* began. Now the Heir Apparent, knowing that the Ministers would not follow him, and that the people were uncompliant, went away and hid in the house of the Mononobe, Ohomahe no Sukune. The Imperial Prince Anaho, hearing this, forthwith surrounded it. Ohomahe no Sukune came forth from the gate to meet him, upon which the Imperial Prince Anaho made a song, saying:— To Oho-mahe Thus let us repair, And wait till the rain stops.
1 Anko means peace.? A son of Ojin. See Ch. K., p. 242.
’ The parallel passage of the “ Kojiki” (Ch. K., p. 298) has “inside” for “notch,” and an ancient note explains that in the case of Prince Karu’s arrows, the “notch” or “inside” was of copper,.whereas those of Prince Anaho were “ like those of the present time,” i.e. presumably ofiron. Moto- wori thinks that the arrow-points are intended.
* It is a question whether Oho-mahe and Wo-mahe are one person or two brothers. The metre of this poem is imperfect Tanka.
ANKo. 329 Ohomahe no Sukune made a song in answer, saying:—— Because the courtier’s Garter-bell Has fallen off, The courtiers make a noise: Ye country-folks also beware! (of making: a noise) * So he addressed the Imperial Prince, saying:—‘‘ I beseech thee, harm not the Heir Apparent. Thy servant will advise with him.” Accordingly the Heir Apparent died by his own hand in the house of Ohomahe no Sukune.
One account says that he was banished to the Land of Iyo.”
12th month, 14th day. The Imperial Prince Anaho assumed the Imperial Dignity, and the Empress was honoured with the title of ‘‘Grand Empress.” The capital was forthwith removed to Isonokami.*? It was called the Palace of Anaho.
At this time the Imperial Prince Ohohatsuse wished to betroth to him the daughters of the Emperor Midzuha- wake.’ } [The names of these daughters are not found in any of the recoras. |: Hereupon the Imperial Princesses answered and _ said:— “Thou, my Lord, art much given to violence, and to sudden fits of anger, so that he who sees thee in the morning is slain in the evening, and he who sees thee in the evening is slain in the morning. Now, thy handmaidens’ countenances are not dis- tinguished for beauty, nor their minds for cleverness. If in manners and speech we should be no whit agreeable to the princely expectation, how shouldst thou receive us to thy intimacy? For this reason we are unable to obey thy com- 1 This is supposed to contain a remonstrance addressed to Prince Anaho’s party for making a fuss about such a small matter as the escape of Prince Karu, which is compared to the loss of the grélot of a courtier’s garter.
* This is the “ Kojiki” version, 3 In Yamato.
* He died A.D. 411, at the age of 60, so these princesses were now (A.D. 453) not exactly young. They were his cousins by the father’s side.
XIII. 19.
330 NIHONGI.
mands.” To the last they kept out of his way, and would not give ear to him.'
Ist year, Spring, 2nd month, 1st day. On behalf of the Imperial Prince Ohohatsuse the Emperor desired to betroth to him the Imperial Princess Hata-hi, a younger sister of the Imperial Prince Ohokusaka,’ and for this purpose sent Ne no Omi, ancestor of the Omi of Sakamoto, to request her of the Imperial Prince Ohokusaka, saying:—‘‘I beseech thee let me have the Imperial Princess Hata-hi, whom I desire to espouse unto the Imperial Prince. Ohohatsuse.’’ Hereupon the Imperial Prince Ohokusaka answered and said:—‘‘ Thy servant has for some time suffered from a severe illness, which cannot be healed. He may be compared to a ship which has taken in its cargo and is waiting for the tide. Death, however, is our destiny; and there is no sufficient reason for regret. Only I cannot die in peace because my younger sister, the Imperial Princess Hata-hi, will be left alone and unprotected. If now Your Majesty will not loathe her for her ugliness, and will allow her to complete the number of the duckweed flowers,* it will be a matter for the deepest gratitude. How should I decline the favour of thy commands? In order, therefore, to show my ' This and many other stories in the ‘‘ Nihongi” show that the position of women in these times was by no means one of abject dependence on their male relatives.: * They were children of the Emperor Nintoku, who died A.D. 399, aged 122. The “Shukai” suggests that the Prince and Princess here named were grandchildren, and not children of Nintoku, but the more obvious explanation of the difficulty is that the chronology is entirely untrustworthy.
% “ An aquatic plant with peltate floating leaves, probably a Lemnanthe- mum, or marsh-flower.” Williams. The allusion is to the opening stanzas of the first ode of the She-king, translated by Dr. Legge as follows.:— Kwan, Kwan go the ospreys On the islet in the river.
The modest, retiring, virtuous, young lady:— For our prince a good mate is she.
Here long, there short, is the duckweed To the left, to the right, borne about by the current. The modest. retiring, virtuous, young lady:— Waking and sleeping he sought her.
ANKO. oat sincerity, I offer thee my private treasure, called the Oshiki' jewel head-dress [others say ‘ standing head-dress,’ and others, again, Ihaki (rock-tree) head-dress], which I make so bold as to present to thee by the hand of Ne no Omi, the minister whom thou didst send to me. I beg thee to accept of it, although it is an object of no value, as a token of my good faith.”
Hereupon Ne no Omi, when he saw the Oshiki jewel head- dress, was struck with its beauty, and the thought occurred to him of stealing it and making it his owntreasure. So he falsely represented to the Emperor, saying:—‘‘ The Imperial Prince Ohokusaka refused to obey thy orders, and spake to thy servant, saying:—‘ Shall he, though of the same house, have my younger sister to wife?’’? Having done so, he retained the jewel head-dress, and did not present it to the Emperor, but made it his own.
Hereupon the Emperor believed Ne no Omi’s slanderous words, and was greatly wroth. He raised an armed force, with which he surrounded the house of the Imperial Prince Oho- kusaka and slew him..
At this time the Hikakas, Kishi of Naniha, father and sons, were all in the service of the Imperial Prince Ohokusaka, and they were all grieved that their lord should die without a crime. Accordingly the father took in his arms the Prince’s head and the two sons took up each one of the Prince’s legs and cried aloud, saying:—‘*‘ Alas! Our Lord has died without a crime. Were we three, father and sons, who served him in life, not to follow him in death, we should be no true retainers.” So they cut their throats, and died beside the Imperial corpse. The army, to a man, all wept tears. Upon this the Emperor took Nakashi hime,? the Imperial Prince Ohokusaka’s wife, and bestowing her within the Palace, made her his concubine. Ultimately he sent for the Imperial Princess Hata-hi and gave her to the Imperial Prince Ohohatsuse to wife.
This year was the year Kinoye Mtima (31st) of the Cycle.
and year, Spring, ist month, 17th day. Nakashi hime no ‘ Oshiki means literally “ push-wood” or “ push-tree.” Its application here is uncertain. * The ‘“ Kojiki” gives here a different name.
>. Ol raed Neis2: 332! NIHONGI.
Mikoto was appointed Empress. The Emperor loved her exceedingly.
Before this time Nakashi hime no Mikoto bore Prince Mayu- wa to the Imperial Prince Ohokusaka. On his mother’s account he escaped punishment, and was always brought up within the Palace.
' 3rd year, Autumn, 8th month, 9th day. The Emperor was assassinated by Prince Mayuwa [a detailed account is given in the history of the Emperor Ohohatsuse’s reign}. After three years he was buried in the misasagi of Fushimi at Sugahara.
BOOK OTN. THE EMPEROR OHO-HATSUSE WAKATAKE.' (YU-RIAKU? TENNO.)
Tue Emperor Oho-hatsuse Waka-take was the fifth child * of the Emperor Wo-asa-tsuma Waku-go no Sukune. When the Emperor was born, a supernatural radiance filled the building.* When he grew to manhood, he was distinguished for sturdy strength..
In the 8th month of the 3rd year of his reign, the Emperor Anaho went to the Mountain Palace with the intention of taking the hot baths. At length he went up into a lofty tower and was enjoying the prospect. Accordingly he commanded sake to be brought and a banquet to be held. So then, whilst his mind was at ease and his pleasure at its height, in the course of conversation he turned to the Empress and addressed her, saying:— ‘The daughter of the Emperor Izahowake was called the Imperial Princess Nakashi hime. She was also called the Imperial Princess Nagata no Oho-iratsume. The Imperial Prince Ohokusaka, a child of the Emperor Oho- sazaki, took to wife the Imperial Princess Nagata, who bore to him Prince Mayuwa. Afterwards the Emperor * Hatsuse is the name of a place in Yamato. Waka-take means young - brave.
* Yu-riaku means manly stratagem or counsel. The events related in this Book read more like genuine history, and the chronology, though it stiil leaves much to be desired, is not so wildly inaccurate as before.
> He was really the fifth son. See above, p. 315.
* The same thing in nearly the same words is related of one of the Later Han Emperors of China.
Anaho, giving heed to the slander of Ne no Omi, put to death the Imperial Prince Ohokusaka and appointed the Imperial Princess Nakashi hime Empress. An account of this is given in the history of the reign of Anaho Tenno.’ ‘“‘ Our younger sister ”’ [it seems to have been the ancient custom to address one’s wife as “younger sister”], ‘although thou art Our friend, We fear Prince Mayuwa.” Now Prince Mayuwa —who was only a boy—was playing below the tower, and heard everything that was said. Afterwards the Emperor Anaho, making a pillow of the Empress’s knees, fell asleep in daylight drunkenness. Hereupon Prince Mayuwa, watching the time when he was sound asleep, stabbed and murdered him. On this day one of the Oho-toneri ran [his name and surname are wanting'], and said to the Emperor’®:—‘*‘The Emperor Anaho has been murdered by Prince Mayuwa.” The Emperor was greatly shocked, and straightway being suspicious of his elder brothers, put on his armour and girded himself with his sword. Taking command of his troops in person, he urgently questioned the Imperial Prince Yatsuri no Shiro-hiko. The Imperial Prince, seeing that he wished to do him a mischief, sat silent and said not a word. So the Emperor drew his sword and slew him. Next he urgently questioned the Imperial Prince Sakahi no Kurohiko. But this Imperial Prince also knew that he was about to do him a mischief, and sat silent, saying not a word.* The Emperor’s rage became still more violent, so with the further object of killing Prince Mayuwa as well, he examined him as to the reason of his conduct. Prince Mayuwa said:—‘‘ Thy servant has never sought the Celestial Dignity. He has only revenged himself on his father’s enemy.” The Imperial Prince Sakahi no Kurohiko, who feared pro- foundly the suspicion in which he was held, communicated secretly with Prince Mayuwa, and they at last found an oppor- tunity of getting away together. They fled to the house of the Oho-omi* Tsubura. The Emperor sent a messenger to ask * This note is rejected by the “ Shukai” edition. It is certainly frivolous. 2 i.e. to the Emperor Yiriaku.
3 The “ Kojiki” relates these events quite differently.
* Oho-omi is written with the characters read in later times Daijin, i.e.
Great Minister or Prime Minister.
YURIAKU. 335 for them. The Oho-omi replied by a messenger, saying:— ‘I may possibly have heard of a vassal in time of trouble taking refuge in a Royal chamber, but I had never seen Princes con- ceal themselves in the house of a vassal. At this very time the Imperial Prince Sakahi no Kurohiko and Prince Mayuwa, trusting profoundly in thy servant’s heart, have come to thy servant’s house. How can I have the heart to send them to thee?” In consequence of this the Emperor raised a still greater army and surrounded the Oho-omi’s house. The Oho- omi came out, and standing in the courtyard, tied his garters. At this time the Oho-omi’s wife brought the garters, and heart- broken, alas! madea song, saying’:— The Omi child Cloth trousers Nine-fold having put on— Standing in the courtyard His garters he adjusts!
The Oho-omi, when he had finished dressing, advanced to the gate of the camp, where he knelt down and said:—‘‘ Thy servant cannot obey thy orders, even though his refusal costs him his life. There is a saying of a man of old, ‘ The will of even a common man cannot be taken from him.’* This is precisely thy servant’s case. I humbly beseech the Great Prince to allow thy servant’s daughter, Kara-hime, and the seven build- ings * of Katsuraki, which I now offer thee, to be received as a ransom for their offences.” The Emperor would not permit it, but set fire to the houses and burnt them. MHereupon the Oho-omi with the Imperial Prince Kurohiko and Prince Mayuwa were all burnt to death together. Now Nihe no Sukune, Muraji of the Sakahi Be, took in his arms the Imperial Prince’s dead body and so was burnt to death. His household [the names are wanting *] took up that which was burnt, but were never able to sort out the bones. They were deposited in one coffin and " This poem seems intended to express wonder at her husband’s care for his appearance at a moment when his life was at stake.
2 “Confucian Analects,” Book IX. chap. xxv. 1. * Granaries, as the “ Kojiki” informs us. * A silly note. No wonder the “Shukai” edition rejects it.
XCM Ay XIV. 5.
XIV. 6.
pete) NIHONGI.
buried together on the hill south of Tsukimoto in Imaki no Aya."
Winter roth month, 1st day. The Emperor resented the Emperor Anaho’s having formerly wished to transfer the king- dom to the Imperial Prince Ichinobe no Oshiha,* and to commit the succession definitively to his charge. So he sent a man to the Imperial Prince Ichinobe. no Oshiha, and treacherously arranged with him to go a-hunting. Inviting him to go on an excursion to the moors, he said:—Kara- -bukuro,* the Kimi of the Sasaki mountain in Ohomi, tells me that now on the Kaya moor in Kutawata in Ohomi, there are wild boars and deer in plenty. The horns they bear are like the twigs of withered trees, their legs are thick together like a grove of bushes, the breath which they breathe resembles the mists of morning. Along with the Imperial Prince, I wish in the first month of winter, when the sky is cloudy and the cold wind blows keenly, to go for an excursion to the moors, where we may somewhat divert our minds by running archery.” * The Imperial Prince Ichinobe no Oshiha accordingly followed the hunt. Hereupon the Emperor Ohohatsuse drew his bow and putting his horse to a gallop, called out falsely, saying, ‘‘ There is a wild boar!”’ and shot the Imperial Prince Ichinobe no Oshiha dead. A man of the Imperial Prince’s household named Uruwa, of the Saheki Be [another name is Nakachiko], took the dead body in his arms. In his consternation he knew not what to do, but writhed on the ground and called aloud upon his master, going to and fro. The Emperor put him to death also.
In this month the Imperial Prince Mimtima,’ who had formerly been pleased with Musa, a place belonging to the Kimi of Miwa, and wishing to shake off his cares, went thither. While on his way he unexpectedly fell in with a force which had been sent against him.’ He joined battle with them at the 1 This means literally the new-comer Aya or Han. See below, xix. 22.
2 The eldest son of Richiu Tenno. Seep. 306. He was, no doubt, thought too young to succeed to the throne at his father’s death in 405.
3 Kara bag. There is also a name Yamato-bukuro.
4 ie. shooting animals with the bow and arrow while one’s horse is at-a gallop.
5 The Prince of the august horses. A son of Richiu Tenno.
6 By the Emperor.
YURIAKU. BAF well of Iha in Miwa, but was soon taken prisoner. When about to be executed, he pointed to the well and pronounced a curse, saying:—‘‘ This water may be drunk by the people only: royal persons alone may not drink of it.”
r1th month, 13th day. The Emperor ordered commissioners to erect a lofty pavilion at Asakura in Hatsuse,! in which he assumed the Imperial Dignity, and at last established the Palace. He appointed Matori, Heguri no Omi as Oho-omi and Muruya, Oho-tomo no Muraji and Me,.Mononobe no Muraji he made Ohomuraji.
Ist year, Spring, 3rd month, 3rd day. The Imperial Princess Kusaka no Hatahi hime was appointed Empress. [Another name for her is Tachi-bana-hime. ] In this month three concubines were appointed. The senior of these, named Kara-hime, daughter of the Oho-omi of Tsubura in Katsuraki, was the mother of the Emperor Shiraga take-hiro-kuni-oshi Waka-Yamato-neko, and of the Imperial Princess Waka-tarashi-hime. [Also called the Imperial Princess Taku-hata no Iratsume.] This Imperial Princess attended to the sacrifices of the Great Deity of Ise.*: Next there was Waka-hime, daughter of the Omi of Kibi no:‘Kamutsumichi.*. [One book says she was the daughter of Kibi no Kuboya no Omi.] She bore two sons. The elder was called the Imperial Prince Ihashiro, and the younger the Imperial Prince Hoshikaha no Waka-miya. Next there was Woguna Kimi, daughter of Fukame, Omi of Wani in Kasuga. She was the mother of Princess Kasuga no Oho-iratsume [also called Princess Takahashi.] Woguna Kimi was originally an Uneme. The Emperor gave one night to her and she became pregnant. Ultimately she gave birth toa girl. The Emperor had suspicions and would not bring her up. When the girl was able to walk, the Emperor was in the great hall with the Oho- muraji Me, of the Mononobe, in attendance on him. The girl * The interlinear kana gloss has Hase.
* The “Shokugensh6é ” says:—“ The Prime Minister (Oho-omi or Daijin) conducts the Government in conjunction with the Ohomuraji.” Another authority says that the Oho-omi was a civil and the Ohomuraji a military officer. The titles were hereditary in these Houses. They became extinct towards the end of the sixth century.
* The Sun-Goddess. * The upper province of Kibi, now Bizen.
Z AT: B57 XIV. 7.
XIV. 8.
338 NIHONGI.
crossed the courtyard. Me, the Ohomuraji, looking round, said to the Ministers:—‘‘ What a pretty girl! There is a saying of the men of old, ‘ Thou art like thy mother.’! [This ancient saying is not clear.]|_ Whose little girl is she said to be who is walking with leisurely pace in the pure court?” The Emperor said:-—‘‘ Why dost thou ask?” Me no Ohomuraji answered and said:—‘‘ When thy servant looks at this little girl walking, she appears to him strongly to resemble the Emperor.” The Emperor said:—‘‘ Every one who sees her makes the same remark. Sed insolitum est, quum ei unam solum noctem dederim, eam concepisse et filiam peperisse. Quam ob rem suspiciones mihi excitatae sunt.” Ohomurayji dixit:—‘‘ Sed in hac una nocte quoties cum ead rem habuisti?’’ ‘‘ Septies,”’ in- quit Imperator. Ohomuraji loquitur:—‘‘ Si haec femina puro corpore et pura mente recepit unam noctem quam ei dedisti, cur tam facile concipis suspiciones et nolis fidere alterius castitati? Servus tuus audivit feminas quae facile praegnantes fiant vel tactu braccarum concipere. Multo magis, quum totam noctem dederis, sine justé ratione non debes suspiciones concipere.”’
The Emperor, by order to the Ohomuraji, made the little girl an Imperial Princess, and appointed her mother to be a concubine. | This year was. the year Hinoto Tori (34th) of the Cycle.
2nd year, Autumn, 7th month. Iketsu hime of Pekché,’? in despite of the Emperor’s intention to favour*® her, had an amour with Tate of Ishikaha.
In an old book it is said:—‘‘ Tate, the ancestor of the Obito of Momoahi in Ishikaha.” The Emperor was greatly enraged, and giving his commands to the Ohomuraji Muruya, of the Ohotomo House, sent some Kume Be who stretched the four limbs of the woman on a tree. The tree was placed over a cuphoandyy which was set fire to, and she was burnt to death. The “‘Shinsen ” * of Péekché says:—‘‘ In the 6th year of 1 These words are in Japanese..
* Corea has been hardly mentioned for fifty years or so. Probably some of the events allotted to the previous period really belong to this interval. Ae aris > i.e. wed. * 1.e. new compilation, the name of a book.
YURIAKU. 339 the Cycle ' King Kero ascended the throne. The Emperor sent Aretoku hither to ask fora nyérang. Peékche adorned the daughter of the Lady Moni, called the Nyérang Chékké, and sent her as tribute to the Emperor.”? Winter, roth month, 3rd day. The Emperor made a pro- gress to the Palace of Yoshino, and on the 6th he proceeded to Mimase. Giving orders to the wardens, he indulged in the chase. They climbed the towering peaks, they crossed the: wide jungles. Before the shadows fell, out of ten, seven or eight had been caught. Every time they hunted, they caught many, so that the birds and beasts were almost exhausted. At length they rested by the springs and groves, and sauntered together in the thickets and meadows. Halting his footmen, the Emperor counted the chariots and horses. Then he in- quired of the Ministers, saying:—‘‘ It is a pleasure of the hunt- ing-field to make the stewards cut up the fresh meat. Suppose that you and We cut it up ourselves?’’ The Ministers were XE EO taken aback and could find no answer. Hereupon the Emperor.
became very wroth, and drawing his sword, slew one of the stewards named Mumakahi of Ohotsu. On this day the Imperial cortege arrived from the Yoshino Palace. The people of the province all shook with fear. In consequence the Grand Empress and the Empress, hearing of this, were full of apprehension, and sent to meet him Hi-no-hime, the Uneme of Yamato,* to offer him sake. The Emperor, seeing the beauty | of the Uneme’s countenance,’ and the elegance of her appear- ance, softened his looks, and with a pleased expression, said:— ** How should I not wish to behold thy pleasing smile?” So * Corresponding to A.D. 429. The “Tongkam” places this event in A.D. 455. -? The use of the words “ Emperor” and “tribute” shows that this “ new compilation,” like the “ Pékché record” already mentioned, was probably the work of Corean literati domiciled in Japan. Nydérang is in the Chinese Z% Bi (lady), which in modern Japanese means a harlot. The Interlinear Kana is Yehashito, which probably means “ beautiful person.” The nyorang were no doubt concubines of inferior rank. The word rendered lady is 3¢ J\, a title of the wives of officials above a certain rank. Aretoku is not like a Japanese name.
3 The Atahe of Yamato was her father.
* She was of a marriageable age before the accession of Richiu Tenno-1 in A.D. 400, and we are now at 458.
EXCL VE <FOr SAV it.
340 NIHONGI.
hand in hand with her, he entered the hinder palace, where he addressed the Empress Dowager, saying:—‘‘ In to-day’s hunt we took many birds and beasts. We wished along with the Ministers to cut up the fresh meat and to have a banquet on the moor. But having proposed this to them, not one of them gave us an answer. Therefore did We get angry.” The Empress Dowager, knowing the feeling which dictated these words of the Emperor, mollified him, saying:—‘‘ The Ministers did not understand that your Majesty, in connection with the sport on the hunting-field, was establishing a Fleshers’ Be, and therefore did condescend to ask their opinion, so that their silence was reasonable, and it was hard for them to reply. But even now it is not too late to offer them.’ I will make a beginning with myself. My steward Nagano is good at making mince meat.’ I beg permission to present him to thee.” The Emperor knelt down and accepted him, saying:—“‘ It is good.” This is what the rustic means when he says:—‘‘ The nobles understand each other’s hearts.’”’ The Empress Dowager saw the Emperor’s gratification, and pleasure filled her bosom. She further wished to offer men, and said:—‘‘ There are my two scullions, Masakida and Takame,* of the Mito Be of Uda. I beg leave to add these two men to the others to form a Fleshers’ Be.’ From this time forward Akoko no Sukune, the Miyakko of the province of Yamato, sends some of the Kotori Wake of Saho to form the Fleshers’ Be. The Omi, the Muraji, the Tomo no Miyakko, and the Kuni no Miyakko also, following (the Empress’s example), presented some, one after another.
In this month the Fumubito* Be, and the Toneri® Be of Kahakami, were instituted.
The Emperor, taking his heart for guide, wrongfully slew many men. The Empire censured him, and called him “ The greatly wicked Emperor.” The only persons who loved him 1 Men to serve as fleshers.
2 It must be remembered that the Japanese having no table-knives, all flesh is cut up small before it is served.
3 A curious name! It means “High Heaven.” Uda is the name of a Kori of Yamato. There is a village there called Mitobe, which means Imperial House Be. It probably was an appanage of the Empress.
4 Scribes. > Palace attendants.
YURIAKU. 34F were Awo Musa no Suguri’ of the Scribes’ Be and Hakatoko, Hinokuma no Tami-tsukahi.’
3rd year, Summer, 4th month. Kunimi, Abe no Omi [His other name was Shikotohi], uttered a slander respecting the Imperial Princess Taku-hata and Takehiko, [hoki Be no Muraji, the bath-official, saying:—‘‘ Takehiko has had illicit intercourse with the Imperial Princess.’”’ Takehiko’s father, Kikoyu, hear- ing this rumour, was afraid lest calamity might overtake him- self, and persuaded Takehiko to come with him to the River Ihoki. There, pretending to make cormorants dive into the water to catch fish, he took him unawares and slew him. When the Emperor heard this, he sent messengers to question the Imperial Princess. The Imperial Princess answered and said:— ‘“Thy handmaiden knows nothing.” Suddenly the Imperial Princess took a divine mirror and went to Isuzu no Kahakami,’ and watching for a time when no one was passing, buried the mirror, and hanged herself. The Emperor became suspicious on account of the Imperial Princess’s absence, and constantly sent persons in the dead of night to search in all directions. When they came to Kahakami, a rainbow appeared, like unto a serpent, four or five rods in length. When they dug the place from which the rainbow sprang they found the divine mirror, and no great distance off, they discovered the Imperial Princess’s body. On ripping her open and making examina- tion, there was in her belly something like water, and in the water there was astone. Kikoyu was thus enabled to establish