Hiko-Hononinigi who was the child of Ame-no-Oshihomimi descended onto Earth from Heaven. After that, he married the Blossom-Deity, and gave birth to Howori.
Hereupon, Amaterasu-Ohomikami(**1) and Takagi-no-Kami(**2) commanded the Prince-Deity Masakatsu-Akatsu-Kachihayahi-Ame-no-Oshihomimi-no-Mikoto(**3), "Just now, he reported having finished pacifying the land of
Ashihara-Naka-tsu-Kuni(*1). So that, descend and rule over, as we have entrusted."
Then this Prince-Deity Masakatsu-Akatsu-Kachihayahi-Ame-no-Oshihomimi-no-Mikoto answered, "While preparing myself to descend, I have begotten the
child whose name is Amenikishi-Kuninikishi-Amatsuhiko-Hiko-Hononinigi-no-Mikoto(**4). We should make him descend."
This august child is --- He (Oshihomimi) had intercourse with Yorodzuhata-Toyo-Akitsushi-Hime-no-Mikoto(**5) who was the daughter of Takagi-no-Kami and gave birth to Ame-no-Hoakari-no-Mikoto(**6), next Hiko-Hononinigi-no-Mikoto. 2deities.
Wherefore, as he had said, they commanded Hiko-Hononinigi-no-Mikoto, "We entrust that this land of Toyo-Ashihara-no-Midzuho-no-Kuni(*1) should be ruled over by you. So that, descend from Heaven as our command."
| The notes | ||
| *1 | Ashihara-Naka-tsu-Kuni | The-Middle-Land-of-Reed-Plain. This is the ground-land. |
| (Toyo-Ashihara-no-Midzuho-no-Kuni) | The-Land-of-Fresh-Rice-Ear-of-Fertaile-Reed-Plain. | |
| The deities | ||
| **1 | Amaterasu-Ohomikami | The-Great-August-Deity-Shining-over-Heaven. (Refer to 02-8) |
| **2 | Takagi | The-Deity-of-High-Tree. (Refer to 05-2) |
| **3 | Masakatsu-Akatsu- Kachihayahi- Ame-no-Oshihomimi |
This is the child of Amaterasu. (Refer to 03-2) |
| **4 | Amenikishi-Kuninikishi- Amatsuhiko- Hiko-Hononinigi |
Ame-Nikishi-Kuni-Nikishi means ''prosperous Heaven and prosperous Earth''. The-Heavenly-Prince---Prince-of-Fertile(Rich)-Rice-Ear. |
| **5 | Yorodzuhata- Toyo-Akitsushi-Hime |
The-Numerous-Textile-Princess-of-Fertile-Crop. |
| **6 | Ame-no-Hoakari | The-Heavenly-(Deity-of)-Ripe-Rice-Ear or The-Heavenly-(Deity-of)-Bright-Fire. |
Hereupon, when Hiko-Hononinigi-no-Mikoto(**1) was about to descend from Heaven, there was the deity; shining upwards
over Takama-no-Hara (Plain-of-High-Heaven)(*1), and shining downwards over the land of Ashihara-Naka-tsu-Kuni(*2), on a eight-forked road.
Hereupon, Amaterasu-Ohomikami(**2) and Takagi-no-Kami(**3) commanded Ame-no-Uzume-no-Kami(**4), "Although you are a graceful maiden, you are the deity who
overwhelms the confronting deity without hesitation. So that, you will
go with yourself and ask, --- 'Whoever dwells, on the road which our august
child will descend from Heaven?' --- Ask so."
When she asked so, he answered, "I am a Kuni-tsu-Kami (earthly-deity), and my name is Saruta-Biko-no-Kami(**5). I have come out here, because I heard the august child of the heavenly
deity will descend, and wish to serve as his guide. And so I have come
to meet him."
| The notes | ||
| *1 | Takama-no-Hara | The-Plain-of-High-Heaven. |
| *2 | Ashihara-Naka-tsu-Kuni | The-Middle-Land-of-Reed-Plain. This is the ground-land. |
| The deities | ||
| **1 | Hiko-Hononinigi | The-Prince-of-Fertile(Rich)-Rice-Ear. (Refer to 06-1) |
| **2 | Amaterasu-Ohomikami | The-Great-August-Deity-Shining-over-Heaven. (Refer to 02-8) |
| **3 | Takagi | The-Deity-of-High-Tree. (Refer to 05-2) |
| **4 | Ame-no-Uzume | This is the female deity of the spiritualistic-medium. (Refer to 02-4) |
| **5 | Saruta-Biko | The meaning of this name has some theories. This is the deity of guide, and is also the deity of monkey. This deity is one of the Trickster in Kojiki. |
Thereupon, they made him descend from Heaven with five chiefs of companies;
Ame-no-Koyane-no-Mikoto(**1), Futodama-no-Mikoto(**2), Ame-no-Uzume-no-Mikoto(**3), Ishikoridome-no-Mikoto(**4) and Tama-no-Oya-no-Mikoto(**5) in all.
Then, they added the beads of Yasaka-no-Magatama(*1) and the mirror(*2), --- with which they had used in order to call Amaterasu out, --- and the sword of Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi(*3), moreover Omohikane-no-Kami(**6) of the Tokoyo-no-Kuni (Eternal-Land)(*4), Tadikarawo-no-Kami(**7) and Ame-no-Ihatowake-no-Kami(**8) to him, and she said, "Regard this mirror as my august soul,
and worship it as you worship me (my-soul). Next Omohikane-no-Kami, you will take charge of the worship of me (my-soul), and perform the
religious rite."
These two deities (mirror and Omohikane) are worshipped at the Shrine of Isuzu-no-Miya(*5).
Next Toyuuke-no-Kami(**9), this is the deity who dwells at the Shrine of Totsu-Miya, Watarahi(*6).
Next Ame-no-Ihatowake-no-Kami whose other names are Kushi-Ihamato-no-Kami and Toyo-Ihamato-no-Kami, this is the August-Gate-Deity.
Next Tadikarawo-no-Kami dwells at Sananagata(*7).
Next Ame-no-Koyane-no-Mikoto is the ancestor of the clan of Nakatomi-no-Muraji(*8) and others.
Next Futodama-no-Mikoto is the ancestor of the clan of Imibe-no-Obito(*8) and others.
Next Ame-no-Uzume-no-Mikoto is the ancestor of the clan of Sarume-no-Kimi(*8) and others.
Next Ishikoridome-no-Mikoto is the ancestor of the clan of Kagamitsukuri-no-Muraji(*8) and others.
Next Tama-no-Oya-no-Mikoto is the ancestor of the clan of Tamanooya-no-Muraji(*8) and others.
Thereupon, she said to Amatsuhiko-Hononinigi-no-Mikoto(**10), so that he left the heavenly divine-rock, and pushed his way through
the heavenly eight-fold clouds, and thrust and thrust his way [through
the clouds] majestically, and crossed over from the Ame-no-Uki-Hashi (heavenly-floating-bridge) to the floating-island and stood on it, and
descended from Heaven onto the peak of Kujifurutake of Takachiho in Himuka of Tsukushi(*9).
Then, two persons Ame-no-Oshihi-no-Mikoto(**11) and Ama-tsu-Kume-no-Mikoto(**12) served taking the lead; shouldering the heavenly-rock-quiver, and
girding on the great sword with the lump-shaped-hilt, and having the bow
of Ame-no-Haji-Yumi(*15), and holding the arrows of Ame-no-Makako-Ya(*10).
Incidentally, this Ame-no-Oshihi-no-Mikoto is the ancestor of the clan of Ohotomo-no-Muraji(*8) and others.
Next Ama-tsu-Kume-no-Mikoto is the ancestor of the clan of Kume-no-Atahi(*8) and others.
Thereupon, he said, "This place is opposite to the land of Kara-Kuni(*11), and lead straight to Kasasa Promontory(*12), and is the land that the morning-sun shines straight into, and is
also the land that the evening sun shines upon. So that this place is the
very good place," and sank the thick pillars of the palace in the
ground deeply, and raised the projecting-cross-beams above the Takama-no-Hara (Plain-of-High-Heaven)(*13), and dwelt there.
| The notes | ||
| *1 | Yasaka-no-Magatama | The-Comma-Shaped-Ornamental-Beads. This is commonly one of the Japanese Three-Imperial-Regalia (the three divine symbols of the Japanese Imperial throne). |
| *2 | mirror | This is Yaata-no-Kagami, and this is one of the Three-Imperial-Regalia. |
| *3 | Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi | The-Sword-Cut down-Grass. This is one of the Three-Imperial-Regalia. |
| *4 | Tokoyo-no-Kuni | The-Eternal-Land. |
| *5 | Isuzu-no-Miya | This is the Naikuu (inside-palace) of the Ise Shrine near the river of Isuzu. |
| *6 | Totsu-Miya, Watarahi |
Watarahi is a place-name. Totsu-Miya is the Kekuu (outside-palace) of the Ise Shrine |
| *7 | Sananagata | This is Sana-no-Agata, and is the place-name in Ise Province (now Mie Prefecture). |
| *8 | Nakatomi-no-Muraji | This clan was engaged in the rite of Court. Muraji is a title of clan. |
| Imibe-no-Obito | This clan was also engaged in the rite of Court. Obito is a title of clan. | |
| Sarume-no-Kimi | This was the female-line clan, and was engaged in the rite for the repose of the soul, and was engaged in the performance of the divine dance. | |
| Kagamitsukuri-no-Muraji | This clan was engaged in making mirrors. | |
| Tamanooya-no-Muraji | This clan was engaged in making beads. | |
| Ohotomo-no-Muraji | This clan was engaged in military affairs. | |
| Kume-no-Atahi | This clan was engaged in military affairs under Ohotomo-no-Muraji. | |
| *9 | Tsukushi | Now Kyushu. |
| Himuka (Hyuuga) | Now Miyazaki Prefecture [and Kagoshima Prefecture]. | |
| Takachiho | This is a mountain-name. There are two mountains of this same name in the southern Kyushu. | |
| Kujifurutake | This is a peak-name of the mountain. The meaning of this word has some theories. The-Mystic-Peak? | |
| *10 | Ame-no-Haji-Yumi | The-Heavenly-Bow-of-Haji (a wax tree). |
| Ame-no-Makako-Ya | The-Heavenly-Arrows-Shoot-True-Fawn. | |
| *11 | Kara-Kuni | This word means the ancient Korea. |
| *12 | Kasasa Promontory | Kasasa is the place-name in Kagoshima Prefecture. |
| *13 | Takama-no-Hara | The-Plain-of-High-Heaven. |
| The deities | ||
| **1 | Ame-no-Koyane | The-Heavenly-(Deity-of)-Little-Roof? (Refer to 03-4) |
| **2 | Futodama | The-Splendid-Bead-(Deity). (Refer to 03-4) |
| **3 | Ame-no-Uzume | This is the female deity of the spiritualistic-medium. (Refer to 03-4) |
| **4 | Ishikoridome | The-Aged-Female-(Deity)-of-Stone-Mold, to make a mirror. (Refer to 03-4) |
| **5 | Tama-no-Oya | The-Ancestor-(Deity)-of-Bead. (Refer to 03-4) |
| **6 | Omohikane | The-Deity-Having-Wisdom. (Refer to 03-4) |
| **7 | Tadikarawo | The-Heavenly-Male-Deity-of-Strong-Hand. (Refer to 03-4) |
| **8 | Ame-no-Ihatowake | The-Deity-of-Heavenly-Rock-Cavern. |
| **9 | Toyuuke | This is Toyouke-Bime, and is The-Deity-of-Fertile-Food. (Refer to 02-5) |
| **10 | Amatsuhiko- Hononinigi |
The-Heavenly-Prince-Prince-of-Fertile(Rich)-Rice-Ear. (Refer to 06-1) |
| **11 | Ame-no-Oshihi | Unknown. The-Heavenly-Many-Spirit? |
| **12 | Ama-tsu-Kume | This is the ancestral-deity of Kume-no-Atahi. |
Thereupon, he said to Ame-no-Uzume-no-Mikoto(**1), "You disclosed his name and reported, so you will escort respectfully
this Saruta-Biko-no-Ohokami(**2) who served taking the lead of us. And, you will be named after him
(his august name) and serve him respectfully."
Therefore, the clan of Sarume-no-Kimi(*1) and others were named after the male-deity of Saruta-Biko, and so the women of them are called Sarume-no-Kimi. This is the reason.
Thereupon, when this Saruta-Biko-no-Kami dwelt at Azaka(*2), he went fishing (gathering-shellfish), and got his hand pinched in
a shellfish, and was sunk into the sea and drowned.
Then, the name of him when he sank onto the bottom is called Sokodoku-Mitama.
And, the name of him when the sea-water foamed is called Tsubutatsu-Mitama.
And, the name of him when the foam split is called Awasaku-Mitama.
After that, she finished escorting Saruta-Biko-no-Kami and returned, and at once she drove all the fishes with the large caudal
fin and fishes with the small caudal fin and gathered them, and asked,
"Will you serve the august child of the heavenly deity respectfully?"
Then almost all of the fishes answered, "I will serve respectfully."
But a sea-cucumber (trepang) answered nothing among them. So Ame-no-Uzume-no-Mikoto said to the sea-cucumber, "Damn this mouth! The mouth that don't
answer!" and took the knife with a string and split the mouth with
it.
Therefore, the mouth of the sea-cucumber is with a slit now.
And therefore, whenever the early divine food (marine-products) of Shima Province(*3) is offered [to Emperor] at each reign, the clan of Sarume-no-Kimi and others are spared it.
| The notes | ||
| *1 | Sarume-no-Kimi | This was the female-line clan, and was engaged in the rite for the repose of the soul, and was engaged in the performance of the divine dance. |
| *2 | Azaka | This is a place-name, and there is the Azaka Shrine which enshrined Saruta-Biko in Mie Prefecture. |
| *3 | Shima Province | Now the southern part of Mie Prefecture. |
| The deities | ||
| **1 | Ame-no-Uzume | This is the female deity of the spiritualistic-medium. (Refer to 03-4) |
| **2 | Saruta-Biko (Sokodoku-Mitama) (Tsubutatsu-Mitama) (Awasaku-Mitama) |
The meaning of this name has some theories. This is the deity of guide, and is also the deity of monkey. |
| The three names means The-August-Soul-Reached-Bottom, The-August-Soul-Foamed-up-Bubbles, The-August-Soul-Spilit-Bubbles. | ||
Thereupon, Amatsuhiko-Hiko-Hononinigi-no-Mikoto(**1) went to Kasasa Promontory(*1) and came across the splendid maiden. Then he asked, "Whose daughter
are you?" and she answered, "I am a daughter of Oho-Yamatsumi-no-Kami(**2), and my name is Kamu-Atatsu-Hime(**3), and another name is Konohana-no-Sakuya-Bime (Tree-Blossom-Blooming-Princess)."
And he asked again, "Do you have a brother?" and she answered,
"I have a elder sister, Ihanaga-Hime (Rock-Eternal-Princess)(**4)." Then, he said, "I wish to marry
you. How about it?" and she answered, "I cannot answer. My father
Oho-Yamatsumi-no-Kami will answer."
Therefore, when he sent a messenger to her father Oho-Yamatsumi-no-Kami to ask, he took delight highly, and gave her the numerous things (gifts)
mounted on a table [to offer to him], and offered her with her elder sister
Ihanaga-Hime to him.
But, Hononinigi feared her elder sister and sent her to him back because she was very
ugly, and received the younger sister Konohana-no-Sakuya-Bime only, and had intercourse only one night.
Thereupon, Oho-Yamatsumi-no-Kami felt ashamed of himself because he had been sent Ihanaga-Hime back, and sent a messenger in order to explain to him. His words was ---
"I offered two daughters of mine, because I thought, if you keep Ihanaga-Hime, the life of the august child of the heavenly deity will be as a rock
always and will remain unmoved permanently, when it snows or blows. Moreover I thought, if you keep Konohana-no-Sakuya-Bime, you will prosper as the blossom of a tree prospers. I performed Ukehi (an oath)(*2) thus, and offered."
Therefore, the august life of the Sumeramikoto (Emperor)(*3) and others has been not long [from ancient] to now.
After that, Konohana-no-Sakuya-Bime came over to him and said, "I am expecting a baby, and the time for
my delivery has come now. I should not bear this august child of the heavenly
deity at my discretion. So that I beg to tell." Then he said, "Sakuya-Bime became pregnant in only one night! I think, this is not my child. This
must be the child of the Kuni-tsu-Kami (earthly-deity)."
Hereupon she answered, "If the child whom I am expecting is the child of the Kuni-tsu-Kami, I will not have an easy birth. If this is the august child of the heavenly
deity, I will have an easy birth," and at once she built the large palace without a door, and went
into the palace inside, and plastered the wall with clay to fill a hole.
And when the time for her delivery came, she set fire to the palace and
bore.
Then, the name of the child whom she bore when fire burned fiercely was
Hoderi-no-Mikoto(**5). This is the ancestor of the clan of Hayato-Ata-no-Kimi(*4).
Next, the name of the child whom she bore was Hosuseri-no-Mikoto(**6).
Next, the name of the child whom she bore was Howori-no-Mikoto(**7) whose another name was Amatsuhiko-Hiko-Hohodemi-no-Mikoto. 3deities.
| The notes | ||
| *1 | Kasasa Promontory | Kasasa is the place-name in Kagoshima Prefecture. |
| *2 | Ukehi | This means like ''an oath, a vow, a pledge''. This is the ancient divine judgment when judging truth or falseness and when telling [good or bad] fortune. It judges by whether or not a result fixed beforehand appears. In this tale, they judge by sex distinction of their children, but they did not fix a result beforehand. (Refer to 03-1) |
| *3 | Sumeramikoto | This is a tittle of Emperor, now Tenno. Sumera-Mikoto (Ten-no) means ''Heavenly-Emperor''. |
| *4 | Hayato-Ata-no-Kimi | Hayato is the generic name of the tribes in the southern part of Kyushu. This Hayato often rebelled against the Imperial Court of Yamato in ancient times. Ata is a place-name and a clan-name. Kimi is a tittle of clan. |
| -- | (under line) | These are the words of Ukehi. |
| The deities | ||
| **1 | Amatsuhiko- Hiko-Hononinigi |
The-Heavenly-Prince-Prince-of-Fertile(Rich)-Rice-Ear. (Refer to 06-1) |
| **2 | Oho-Yamatsumi | The-Deity-of-Great-Mountain-Spirit. (Refer to 02-5) |
| **3 | Kamu-Atatsu-Hime | The-Divine-Princess-of-Ata. Ata is a place-name and a clan-name. |
| (Konohana-no- Sakuya-Bime) |
The-Princess-of-Blooming-Tree(Cherry)-Blossom. | |
| **4 | Ihanaga-Hime | The-Princess-of-Eternal-Rock(Stone). |
| **5 | Hoderi | The-Shining-Fire or The-Shining-Rice-Ear. This deity appears as Umi-Sachi-Biko in the following tale. |
| **6 | Hosuseri | The-Vigorous-Fire or The-Vigorous-Rice-Ear. |
| **7 | Howori | The-Rice-Ear-Bent [by the weight of its ear bearing well]. |
| (Amatsuhiko- Hiko-Hohodemi) |
The-Heavenly-Prince-Prince-of-Fire-Fire or The-Heavenly-Prince-Prince-of-Rice-Ear-Ear. This deity also appears as Yama-Sachi-Biko in the following tale. |
|