with him. A leg-rest' broke of itself. They both recognized that this was a bad omen, and swore to one another to proceed no further. The Imperial Prince returned home, where he was staying for the night, when at midnight Akaye sent Shibi, Mononobeno Yenowi no Muraji, in command of the labourers engaged in building the Palace, to surround the Imperial Prince Arima in his house at Ichifu, and straightway despatched a mounted courier to inform the Empress.
gth day. The Imperial Prince Arima, with Oho-ishi, Mori no Kimi, Kusuri, Sakahibe no Muraji, and Konoshiro, Shihoya no Muraji, were arrested, and sent to the hot springs of Ki. His toneri Yonemaro, Nihitabe? no Muraji, followed him.
Thereupon the Prince Imperial in person questioned the Imperial Prince Arima, saying:—‘‘ Why didst thou plot treason?”’ He answered and said:—‘‘ Heaven and Akaye know. I do not at all understand.”.
11th day. Kuniso, Tajihi no Wosaha no Muraji, was sent to strangle the Imperial Prince Arima at the Fujishiro acclivity. On this day Konoshiro, Shihoya no Muraji, and the toneri Yonemaro, Nihitabe no Muraji, were executed at the Fujishiro acclivity. When Konoshiro, Shihoya no Muraji, was about to be executed, he said:—‘‘ I request that my right hand may be made a national treasure.” Oho-ishi, Mori no Kimi, was banished to the province of Kamitsukenu,’ and Kusuri, Sakahibe no Muraji, to the province of Wohari.
Kyosoku.
1 The Chinese characters mean ‘‘ something inserted between the knees,” in hot weather, when in bed, for coolness. A pillow is used for this pur- pose at Singapore, where it is called “a Dutch wife.” The corresponding Chinese term means “a bamboo wife.” But the Japanese interlinear gloss has oshimadzuki, something which is usually put for a sort of stool to lean the arm on when sitting on the mats, also called kyosoku. The ‘ Wamydsho ” has also oshimadzuki, but this word has probably a wider meaning, and includes both objects. See illustration.
2 Or Nittabe.
3 Now Kodzuke, SAIMEI. 257 One book says:—‘‘ The Imperial Prince Arima, with Akaye, Soga no Omi, Konoshiro,' Shihoya no Muraji, Oho-ishi, Mori no Kimi, and Kusuri, Sakahibe no Muraji, divined the future of their treasonous conspiracy by draw- ing slips of paper.” One book says:—‘ The Imperial Prince Arima said:—‘ First of all we will burn the Palace. Then with five hundred men for a day and two nights we will waylay (the Empress) at the harbour of Muro, and . speedily with a fleet cutting off the Land of Ahaji, makeas it were a prison. This can be easily accomplished.’ Some one objected, saying:—‘It cannot be so. For all your plans, the faculty (of carrying them out) is wanting. At the present time, Your Imperial Highness is only nineteen years of age, and has not yet attained to manhood, You must first reach manhood and then you will gain the faculty.’”. Another book says:—‘‘ When the Imperial Prince Arima was plotting treason along with a judicial officer, the leg of the Imperial Prince’s arm-rest broke of itself without cause, but he did not cease from conspiring, and was eventually executed.”
In this year, Hirafu, Abe no Hikida no Omi, Warden of the Land of Koshi, went on an expedition against the Su-shén.? He presented to the Emperor two live white bears.’
1 The “Shikai” is clearly right in thinking that 3€ of the text is a mistake for f{. The name is therefore Konoshiro, as above, and not Wohoko.
* See above, Vol. II. p. 58. It may be inferred from the narrative given below, XXVI. 16, that the Manchus here referred to were not resident on the mainland, but occupied a trading-post in Yezo or some of the adjoining islands..
3 The character used here, viz. A, is read shiguma by the Japanese, and the description of this animal given in Yamada’s dictionary and in the “Sansaidzuye” refers plainly to the Polar Bear. Dickins, in Murray’s “ Handbook of Japan,” says that the Polar Bear is sometimes found on the shores of the Hokkaido, but it is rare. Seventy pe skins are mentioned below (XXVI. 15), a number which: makes one suspect that the animal here referred to may be after all not the Polar Bear, but the Ursus Arctos, a large brown bear which abounds in all these northern regions from Yezo to Kamtchatka, and which is quite distinct from the much smaller black bear of the Japanese islands. It is possible, however, that the Polar Bear may have been more abundant in Yezo at this time.
wt” It. s OXOVE 10; XXXVI. It 259)" NIHONGI.
The Buddhist priest Chiyu made a south-pointing chariot.’ pes AD | It was reported from the province of Idzumo:— “On the shore of the northern sea the fish are dying in heaps three feet in depth. In size they resemble the globe-fish” They have the beaks of sparrows and thorny scales several inches long. The common people say that they are sparrows which have gone into the sea and become changed into fish, and give them the name of ‘ sparrow-fish.’ ” One book says:— “In the seventh month ots the: “sixth year, Péekché sent Envoys with the following message to the Empress:—‘ Great Thang and Silla have joined their powers for an attack upon us. They have taken away as prisoners King Wicha, his Queen,’ and the Heir to the Throne. Our Government has therefore stationed troops on the north-western frontier and repaired 1 ie.a compass. For some curious learning about the compass, wide “ The Night of the Gods,” Vol. I. p.97, by John O’Neill. Tradition says that a south-pointing chariot was made in the days of the Emperor Hoang, so that his troops might find their way surely in foggy weather. Vzde Mayers, p. 21, where the tradition of a south-pointing chariot being made in B.€. 1110 is referred to.
2 The Tetraodon Hyxtris, or fugu,a poisonous fish, which has the power of puffing out its belly, a kind of globe-fish. There is a pretty conflict of authority as to the fish intended by fie, the character heré used. One Japanese dictionary gives same or shark, and hata, the terranus moara, while the interlinear gloss is yebi or prawn.
3 The interlinear version has Koniworu for Queen, and Konikishi for Heir to the Throne, I cannot identify these with any modern Corean words.
SAIMEI. 259 the fortifications as an indication that the mountains and rivers are blocked.’ ’”’?
Moreover Tsuratari, Adzumi no Muraji, of Lower Shokwa rank, who had gone as Envoy to the Western Sea, returned from Pekché and reported that Pékché had returned after a successful expedition against Silla. At this time a horse of his own accord went round the Golden Hall* of a temple night and day without ceasing, and only stopping to graze.
One book says:—‘*‘ This was an echo * of its destruction by the enemy in the year Kanoye Saru.”’ * 5th year, Spring, rst month, 3rd day. The Empress arrived from the hot springs of Ki.
3rd month, rst day. The Empress visited Yoshino® and held a banquet there.
3rd day. The Empress visited Hira-ura in Afumi.
roth day. The man of Tukhara® with his wife, a woman of S‘ravasti, arrived..
17th day. A Mount Sumi was constructed on the river-bank east of Amakashi no Oka, and the Yemishi of Michinoku and Koshi were entertained.
1 This entry comes in awrong place. Pékché’s destruction took place later —in A.D. 660. Vide “ Tongkam,” VII. 25.
2 The Hallin which the image of Buddha is enshrined. The Chinese characters for “went round” are ff 34, a term which is applicable to any religious procession. But doubtless the interlinear gloss meguri, “to go round,” is right here. It is clearly a case of religious circumambulation. This term is also applied to the “ orbit” of heavenly bodies.
The more usual characters for “ circumambulation” are J Hs. The Sanskrit word is pradakchina, which is defined by Eitel as “the (Brahmanic and Buddhist) ceremony of circumambulating a holy object with one’s right side turned to it.” This practice is still kept up. Rockhill mentions it in his travels in Thibet, and during Lord Dufferin’s viceroyalty of India, Lady Dufferin was on one occasion “‘circumambulated” by some tribesmen as a mark of the very highest respect.
. > Le. an omen.
* a.D. 660. Under this year, the “Tongkam” has the following:—-“ The wells in the Royal capital of Pékché turned red as blood, multitudes of fish on the coast of the Western Sea died, so that the people could not eat them, and the waters of a river turned red like blood.”
* A beautiful spot in Southern Yamato. See Murray’s “ Handbook,” 3rd ed, p. 336, et seqq.
6 See above, XXV. 57.
BOX De 2 XXVI. 13.
260 NIHONGI.
In this month, Abe no Omi was sent in command of 180 ships on an expedition against the Yemishi country. Abe no Omi assembled a selection of the Yemishi of the two districts of Akita and Nushiro to the number of 241 persons with 31 of their captives, 112 Yemishi of the district of Tsugaru with 4 captives, and 20 Yemishi of Ifurisahe, in one place, feasted ‘them and gave them presents.
Accordingly he made an offering to the Gods of that Land of a boat and silk stuffs of various colours, and proceeded to Shishiriko. Then two Yemishi of Tohiu, named Ikashima and Uhona, came forward and said:—‘‘ You ought to make Shiribeshi' your seat of Government.” In accordance with the advice of Ikashima and his companion, a district-governor was ultimately established there, after which he (Abe no Omi) returned. The provincial governors of Michinoku and Koshi were each granted two grades of rank, while the district- governors and administrators received each one degree.
One book says:—‘‘ Hirafu, Abe no Hikida no Omi, fought with the Su-shén, and on his return presented to the Empress forty-nine captives.”
Autumn, 7th month, 3rdday. IThashiki, Sakahibe no Muraji, of Lower Shokin rank, and Kiza, Tsumori no Muraji, of Lower Daisen rank, were sent on a mission to the Land of Thang. They took with them a Yemishi man and woman of Michinoku to show to the Thang Emperor.
In the writing of Hakatoko, Yuki no Muraji, it is stated:—‘‘In the reign of this Empress, Sakahibe no Ihashiki no Muraji, of Lower Shokin rank, Tsumori no Kiza no Muraji, of Lower Daisen rank, and others, in two ships, received orders to go on a mission to Thang of Wu.’ In the year Tsuchinoto Hitsuji (659), the 7th month, and the 3rd day of the month, they started from the Bay of Mitsu in Naniha. On the 11th day of the 8th month, they left the Bay of Ohotsu*® in Tsukushi. On the 13th day of the gth month, they arrived at an island on the southern border of Pékché. Thename of the island is not known. At four am. on the r4th, the two ships put out to sea in company. On the 15th day, at sunset, the ship ' On the west coast of Yezo. 2 Wu is here a geographical designation. 3’ Hakata in Chikuzen, Chekiang.? Nanking.
SAIMEI. 261 of Ihashiki no Muraji met crosswise with a contrary wind and was driven to an island in the Southern Sea, named Erh-kia-wei, where it was destroyed by the islanders. Arima, Yamato no Aya no Wosa no Atahe, with Inadzumi, Sakahibe no Muraji, and three others, stole a ship belonging to the islanders, and embarking in it, escaped to Kwa- chow. The officials of this district sent them under escort to the capital, Loh-yang. At midnight on the 16th day, the ship of Kiza no Muraji arrived at Mount Hsu-an near Kuei-chi in the Yueh district,) when a north-east wind sprang up and blew with such violence that on the 23rd they reached the district of Yii-yao. The great ship on which they were embarked, with allits gear, was left behind at this place, and on the Ist day of the 11th intercalary month, they arrived at the seat of Government of the Yueh district. On the 15th they entered the capital,’ riding on post-horses. On the 2gth, travelling with all speed, they reached the Eastern capital,* where the Emperor had then his residence. On the 30th they had an audience of the Emperor, who inquired of them, say- ing:—‘‘ Is the Empress of your country in good health?” The Envoys answered respectfully:—‘‘ Her virtue is in harmony with Heaven and Earth, and she therefore naturally enjoys good health.”” The Emperor inquired of them:—‘‘ And the Ministers in charge of affairs—is it well with them?” The Envoys answered respectfully:—‘ As they enjoy the favour and esteem of our Empress, it is well with them also.” The Emperor inquired of them, saying:—‘‘Is there peace within your country or not?” The Envoys answered respectfully, saying:—‘‘ The Govern- ment accords with Heaven and Earth, and therefore there is nothing untoward among the multitude.” The Em- peror inquired of them, saying:—‘“‘ In what quarter is the Land of these Yemishi situated?’ The Envoys answered respectfully, saying:—‘‘ It lies to the north-east.” The Emperor inquired of them, saying:—‘‘ How many tribes of Yemishi are there?’’ The Envoys answered respect- fully, saying:—‘‘ There are three kinds. The most distant are called Tsugaru, the next Ara-Yemishi, ahd the nearest 3 Lohyang, near Honanfu.
XXVI. 14.
XXVL 15.
NIHONGI.
Nigi-Yemishi." These now here are Nigi- Yemishi—they bring tribute yearly to our country’s Court.” The Em- peror inquired of them, saying:—‘‘In their country are there the five kinds of grain?” The Envoys answered respectfully, saying:-—“‘ No, they sustain life by eating flesh?’’ The Emperor inquired of them, saying:—‘‘ Have they houses in their country?” The Envoys. answered respectfully, saying:—‘‘No, they have their dwelling under trees in the recesses of the mountains.” The Emperor went on to say:—‘‘ When We look at the unusual bodily appearance of these Yemishi, it is strange in the extreme.. You Envoys must have suffered greatly on. your long voyage hither. Now retire and abide in your official residence. We shall meet again.” On the 1st day of the 11th month the festival of the Winter Solstice was celebrated at Court. On the festival day, they again saw the Emperor. Amongst the various frontier states who attended the Court, the Japanese’ visitors were the most distinguished. Thereafter, by reason of the confusion caused by a conflagration, the matter was neglected and not further attended to. On the 3rd day of the rath month, Kahachi no Aya no Ohomaro, a servant of Han Chi-hung, slandered our visitors, who were found guilty by the Court of Thang, and were already condemned to banishment. Previously Chi-hung was banished to a distance of 3000 li. Among the visitors was one, Hakatoko, Yuki no Muraji, who made representations to the Emperor in consequence of which their punishment was remitted. When everything was concluded, the Emperor decreed as follows:—‘‘ This Government has determined next year to take administrative measures in regard to the lands east of the sea,* and you, the visitors from Wa, may not return to the east.” In the end they were detained in the Western capital. They were placed 1 Ara and Nigi mean respectively rough and soft or gentle. The reference is to their greater or less degree of civilization. The Yezo Ainos are not mentioned.
2 The character used is {&, i.e. Wa, but possibly the writer meant it to be read Yamato, 3 The campaign against Pékché is no doubt meant. 4 Féng-hsiang, in the province of Shensi.
SAIMEI, 263 in separate seclusion, their door was closed and prohibited, and they had no liberty of movement. In such misery they passed the year. The writing of Wobito, Naniha no Kishi, says:—‘‘ The Chief Envoy to Great Thang struck on an island and was overturned.' The Associate Envoy had a personal audience of the Emperor and showed him some Yemishi. Upon this the Yemishi presented to the Emperor a white deer-skin, three bows, and eighty arrows.”
15th day. - By a decree to the Ministers, the Empress had the Urabon’ Sutra expounded in all the Temples of the capital, and requital made to the ancestors for seven generations.
In this year, the Kuni no Miyakko of Idzumo was com- manded to repair the shrine of the Itsuki*® God.
A fox bit off the end of a creeper which a labourer of the district of Owi held in his hand, and went off with it. Moreover a dog brought in his mouth a dead man’s hand and forearm and laid it in the Ifuya shrine. [Signs that the Empress was about to die. | Again, the Koryé6 Envoys had a bear-skin,* on which they put a price of sixty pounds of floss silk. The market com- missioner laughed and went away.
A Koryo painter, named Komaro,’ on the day on which he entertained guests of his own surname in his private house, borrowed seventy official Polar bear-skins for them to sit upon. The guests were ashamed and astonished and went away.
6th year, Spring, 1st month, 1st day. The Koryo Envoys, the Eul-syang, Ha Chhyu-mun, and his suite, numbering over one hundred persons, anchored in Tsukushi.
3rd month. Abe no Omi was sent on an expedition with a fleet of 200 ships against the land of Su-shén. Abe no Omi made some Yemishi of Michinoku embark on board his own ship. They arrived close to a great river.’ Upon this over a 1 Sze in original. 2 Ullambana in Sanskrit.
3 The character rendered Itsuki (with several variants) means stern, severe, and at first sight would seem a general epithet’ for the Gods of Idzumo. But there was a Temple of Itsuki in this province, so that the word seems to have become a proper name. The same root occurs in Itsuku-shima, the sacred island in the Inland Sea, near Hiroshima, 4 A shiguma skin. See above, XXVI. Io.
> Obviously a Japanese name. 6 Perhaps the Ishikari river.
XXVI. 16 XXVI. 17.
264 NIHONGI.
thousand Yemishi of Watari-shima’ assembled on the sea- shore and made a camp facing the river. Two men of this camp came forward and called out hurriedly, saying:—‘‘ The Su-shén fleet has arrived in great force and threatens to slay us. We pray, therefore, to be allowed to cross the river and to serve the Government. Abe no Omi sent a boat to go and fetch these two Yemishi, and inquired from them where the enemy were concealed and the number of their ships. The two Yemishi accordingly pointed out the place of their con- cealment, saying:—‘‘ There are over twenty ships.” There- upon he sent messengers to summon them, but they refused to come. Abe no Omi accordingly heaped up on the beach coloured silk stuffs, weapons, iron, etc., to excite their cupidity. The Su-shén people thereupon drew up their fleet in order, and tying feathers to poles, raised them aloft by way of flags. They approached with equal oars and came to a pause ina shallow place. Then from one of the ships they sent forth two old men who went round the coloured silk stuffs and other articles which had been piled up, examining them closely. They then changed the single garments they had on, and each taking up one piece of cloth in his hand, went on board their ship and departed. Presently the old men came back again, took off the exchanged garments, and laying them down along with the cloth they had taken away, went on board their ship and departed.? Abe no Omi sent several ships to fetch them, but they refused to come, and returned to the island of Herobe. [ Herobe is a separate part of Watari-shima.] After some time they asked for peace, but Abe no Omi refused altogether to listen to them. So they betook themselves to their own palisades and fought. At this time Mamukatsu, Noto no Omi, was slain by the enemy. While the battle was still going on, and was not yet fought out, the enemy, finding that they were being beaten, put to death their own wives and children.
Summer, 5th month, 8th day. The Koryéd Envoy, the Eul-syang, Ha Chhyu-mun, and his suite arrived at the official residence of Naniha.
In this month, the officials, by order of the Empress, prepared LVero * This passage reads like a distorted account of the “ unseen trade” which was carried on in these parts up till a comparatively recent period.
SAIMEI. 265 one hundred raised seats! and one hundred Nokesa,’ and held a Ninwo Hanya * meeting.
Moreover, the Prince Imperial for the first time made a clepsydra,* by which he caused the people to know the hours.
Again, Abe no Hikida no Omi presented to the Empress more than fifty savages.’
Again, a Mount Sumi was built near the pond of Iso no Cm Clepsydra.
Kami, as high as a pagoda. On this occasion forty-seven men of Su-shén were entertained.
A sort of square dais from which the priests delivered their lectures.
? A kind of Buddhist priestly garment.
’ Hanya is the Sanskrit Pradjfia, defined by Eitel as the “highest of the six Paramita (cardinal virtues), intelligence, the principal means of attaining to Nirvana.” The meeting was to hear the reading of the Ninwo Hanya Sutra. Ninw6 means “ benevolent king.”
4 Vide Florenz for particulars as to clepsydra.
* No doubt Ainos or Yemishi are meant.
XXVI. 18.
XXVI. 19.
266 NIHONGI.
Again, the people of the whole country carried arms without reason when passing to and fro on the highways. The old people of the country. said:—‘ This perhaps denotes the destruction of the Land of Pékché.”!
Autumn, 7th month, 16th day. The Koryé Envoy, the Eul-syang, Ha Chhyu-mun, and his suite took their departure.
Again, the man of Tukhara, Kendzuhashi Tatsua, desired to return to his native country, and asked for an escort officer, saying:—‘‘I intend later to pay my respects to the Court of the Great Country, and therefore, in token of this, I leave my wife behind. Accordingly, he took the way of the Western Sea with several tens of men.
In the “ Record of the reigns of Japan,”? written by the Koryé priest To-hyén, it is said:—‘*‘ In the seventh month, etc., Chhyun-chhyu-chi,* by the aid of the General-in- Chief, Su Ting-fang, caused Pékché to be invaded and destroyed.’ One account says:—‘‘ Pékché brought ruin upon itself, owing to the feminine want of principle of the Royal Consort, who arbitrarily usurped the helm of Government and slew the wise and good, thus inviting the calamity which came upon them. Ought one not to be watchful? Ought one not to be watchful?” In a note it is stated:—‘‘ Chhyun-chhyu-chi, of Silla, was unable to accomplish his wishes by the Minister Keé-kim.* There- fore he again served Thang, and, putting off the national garb, made a fawning appeal to the Son of Heaven, with the object of bringing disaster on a neighbouring kingdom and preparing the accomplishment of his ends.”
The writing of Hakatoko, Yuki no Muraji, says:—‘‘ In the year Kanoye Saru, the 8th month, Pékché was reduced to submission. After this, on the 12th day of the gth month, the visitors’ were dismissed to their own country. On the 19th day they started from the Western capital. On the 16th day of the 1oth-month, they arrived back at the Eastern capital, and then for the first time met Which took place in this year. 2 H *. 3 King of Silla. His historical name is Thé-chong.
4 A Koryo statesman, 5 i.e. the Japanese Envoys to Thang. See above, XXVI. 15.
SSAIMEL 267 Arima and his four companions. On the ist day of the 11th month, the thirteen royal persons captured by General Su Ting-fang and his men, from the King of Pékché down to the Crown Prince Nyung and others, with the Prime Minister Sa-chhéek, Chhyén-pok-kuk, Pyoén-syoéng, and others of lower rank, thirty-seven persons, making in all fifty persons, were delivered up to the Govern- ment. They were at once led before the Emperor, who spoke kindly to them and released them on the spot. On the 19th the Emperor bestowed presents,’ and on the 24th we started from the Eastern capital.”
gth month, 5th day. Pekché sent a Talsol, the Buddhist novice,’ Kak-chyong, and others with the following message to the Empress [one book says, “They escaped hither and gave information of their hard case”’|:—‘‘ In the 7th month of this year, Silla, relying on its strength and assuming a bluster- ing attitude, picked a quarrel with its neighbour, and drawing the Thang people into it, overturned Pekché. Sovereign and Ministers were all captured, and scarce a living soul* was left.”
In one book it is said:—‘‘On the roth day of the 7th month of the present year, Su Ting- fang, of Great Thang, drew up the fleet under his command in the harbour of XXVI.20. Micha, while Chhyun-chhyu-chi, King of Silla, with his horse and foot occupied Mount No-syu-ri, and so they attacked Pékché from both sides. The fighting went on for three days. Our Royal city was taken. On the 13th day of the same month, they began to demolish the Royal city. Mount No-syu-ri is on the eastern border of Pékché.”
Upon this Kwisil Pok-sin, Eunsol of the Western Division, was mightily enraged, and betook himself to Mount Im-sya-ki [one book says, ‘‘ Northern Mount Im-kém-li”], while Yo Cha-chin, Eunsol of the Central Division, occupied the walled city of Kumanori* [one book says, ‘‘ Mount To-to-ki- nyu’’]. They each formed a camp and assembled the scattered troops. Their weapons had become exhausted in the previous 1 On the Japanese Envoys. 2 S‘ramanéra.
4 No doubt identical with Kumanare mentioned above, the present Ung- chon. See above, Vol. I. p. 367.
MMVI. 22, 268 NIHONGI, campaign, and therefore they fought with flails.!. The Silla army was beaten, and Pekché made booty of their arms, so that the Pekché weapons were as efficient as ever, and Thang did not dare to come in. Pok-sin and the others at length got together their countrymen, and with them held the Royal city. The people of the land paid honour to them, saying:—‘‘ The Minister Pok-sin! The Minister Cha-chin!” It was only Pok-sin who, by the admirable military expedients which he invented, raised up the country, which was already ruined.
Winter, roth month. Kwisil Pok-sin, Minister of Pékché, sent the Minister Kwi-chi and others with a present to the Empress of over one hundred Thang prisoners. These are now the men of Thang of the two districts of Fuha and Kata- agata in the province of Mino. They also asked for troops and requested assistance. At the same time they prayed that the Prince Y6 Phung-chyang? might be given back [one book says:—‘‘ Minister Kwi-chi is the Talsol, Chyéng-chin ”], saying:—‘‘ The men of Thang, leading after them our maggot- pests,* came and wasted and harassed our territory. They overturned our Government and took prisoners our Sovereign and his Ministers.
King Wicha, of Pékché, his wife Eun-ko, his son Nyung, etc., and his Ministers, viz. the Prime Minister, Chhyé6n Pok-kuk, Py6n-sy6ng, Son-teung, and others, over fifty persons in all, were captured by General Su on the 13th day of the 7th month, autumn, and sent away to the Land of Thang. This was perhaps'what was denoted by the causeless bearing of arms.* Now the people of the Land of Peékché, putting their trust afar off in the Emperor’s protecting care, have assembled together anew, and formed a kingdom. We now humbly beg that we may be allowed to wait upon the Prince Phung- chyang, who was sent by Pékché to be in attendance at the Celestial Court, and to make him the Ruler of the Country, etc., etc.” - The Empress made an order, saying:—‘‘ We learn that in 1 Or clubs. 2 See above, A.D. 631.
3 The “maggot pest” is a kind of grub destructive to grain. But the word for pest also means “enemy.” Silla is obviously intended.
+ See above, XXVI. 17.
: SAIMEI. 269 ancient times there have been cases of troops being asked for and assistance requested: to render help in emergencies, and to restore that which has been interrupted, is a manifestation of ordinary principles of right. The Land of Pekché, in its extremity, has come to us and placed itself in our hands. Their own country having been brought to ruin, having no- where to betake themselves for help and none to apply to, making spears their pillows, tasting gall,’ and holding firmly to the hope of aid, they have come from afar and made a memorial to us. Our’ resolution in this matter is unshakeable. We shall give separate orders to Our generals to advance at the same time by a hundred routes, and then, like gathering clouds with thunderous commotion, meeting together at Satok, to massacre the monsters, and afford relief to the sufferers. Let the proper officials supply them with everything they require, and let them be dismissed with all due ceremony, etc., etc.” Prince Phung-chyang, with his wife and children, and his uncle, Chhyung-seung, etc., were dismissed home. The actual time of their being sent off may be seen in Year VII. One book says:—‘‘ The Empress established Phung-chyang as King, and made Sé-syang his assistant. They were sent off with all due ceremony.” 12th month, 24th day. The Empress proceeded to the Palace of Naniha. The Empress, in order to comply with the _request of Pok-sin, thought of going to Tsukushi and thence despatching a force in aid, and she therefore went there * in the first place and made provision of weapons of all kinds.
This year, with a view to the invasion of Silla in the interest of Pékché, an order was given to the province of Suruga to build a ship. When it was finished, and had been hauled as far as Womino, that ship, during the night, without cause, changed its bow foritsstern. By this people knew that in the end there would be defeat.* 1 To taste gall at every meal or to be always looking at gall—as the Prince of Yueh did in order not to forget his grievance against the Wu State. Giles. Gall in China does not represent bitterness, as with us, but courage.
2 Or their. 3 To Naniha.
4 The commentators suggest that Womino was a place in Shinano, but Shinano is an exclusively inland province, and it is not probable that a vessel destined for use in an invasion of Corea should have been dragged overland.
XXVI. 23.
XXXVI. 24.
270 NIHONGI.
It was reported from the province of Shinano:—‘‘ A swarm of flies has flown in a westerly direction, crossing the Oho- saka hill. It was ten fathoms in thickness, and in height reached the azure sky.” Some people gathered that this por- tended the defeat of the army of relief. There was a popular song which said:— | The little rice-field Cultivated by my wife The wild geese devour— The wild geese of Mitowada— The woman’s rice-field The wild geese devour: My eldest son and I make a noise (But still) the woman’s rice-field The wild geese devour.!
7th year, Spring, rst month, 6th day. The Imperial ship first put to sea for the expedition against the West. | 8th day. The Imperial ship arrived at the sea of Ohoku.? At this time the Imperial Princess Ohota-hime* gave birth to a daughter, to whom accordingly the name was given of the Imperial Princess Ohoku.
14th day. The Imperial ship came to an anchor at the temporary Palace of Nigitatsu no Ishiyu in the province of Iyo.
3rd month, 25th day. The Imperial ship returned to Una no Ohotsu, where the Empress occupied the temporary Palace of - Ihase, the name of which the Empress altered to Nagatsu.
1 The text of this poem is extremely corrupt and obscure, and the above interpretation is highly conjectural. I have followed pretty closely the “ Shiki” version, the writer of which had before him a somewhat different text from that now given in editions of the “ Nihongi.” To arrive at the meaning he transposes a number of syllables, which may appear a rather violent proceeding, his idea apparently being that the original author of the poems had purposely transposed these syllables so as to render hiscomposition unintelligible to those who had not the clue. The wild geese are the Chinese and Silla men, who, in spite of the protests of Japan, continue to lay waste the Land of Pékché, whose weakness is alluded to by the words wife and woman. Dr. Florenz gives a detailed critical examination of the various versions of this poem.
2 In Bizen, ’ Daughter of Tenchi Tenno, and consort of Temmu Tenno.
SAIMEI. 271 Summer, 4th month. Pok-sin, of Pékché, sent an Envoy to present a memorial requesting gauss to wait upon (and bring away) their Prince Kyu-he.
In the ‘‘ Record of the reigns of Japan,” written by the Priest To-hyén,' it is said:—‘‘ Pok-sin, of Pékche, pre- sented a writing in which he begged the Eastern Court to give up his Lord Kyu-he.” One book says:—‘‘In the fourth month the Empress transferred the capital to the Palace of Asakura.” f 5th month, 9th day. The Empress removed her residence to the Palace of Asakura? no Tachibana no Hironiha.
At this time trees belonging to the Shrine* of Asakura were cut down and cleared away in order to build this Palace. Therefore the Gods were angry and demolished the building. Some were also struck,* and in consequence the Grand Treasurer * and many of those in waiting took ill and died.
23rd day. Tamna,° for the first time, sent Prince A-pha-ki and others with tribute.