Kojiki

THE KOJIKI

[R.H. Chamberlain, translator 1882]

PART I.- THE BIRTH OF THE DEITIES

THE BEGINNING OF HEAVEN AND EARTH

The names of the deities that were born in the Plain of High Heaven when the Heaven and Earth began were
the deity Master-of-the-August-Center-of-Heaven; next, the High-August-Producing-Wondrous deity; next, the
Divine-Producing-Wondrous deity. These three deities were all deities born alone, and hid their persons. The
names of the deities that were born next from a thing that sprouted up like unto a reed-shoot when the earth,
young and like unto floating oil, drifted about medusa-like, were the Pleasant-Reed-Shoot-Prince-Elder deity,
next the Heavenly-Eternally-Standing deity. These two deities were likewise born alone, and hid their persons.

The five deities in the above list are separate Heavenly deities.

THE SEVEN DIVINE GENERATIONS

The names of the deities that were born next were the Earthly-Eternally-Standing deity; next, the
Luxuriant-Integrating-Master deity. These two deities were likewise deities born alone, and hid their persons.
The names of the deities that were born next were the deity Mud-Earth-Lord; next, his Younger sister the deity
-Mud-Earth-Lady; next, the Germ-Integrating deity; next, his younger sister the Life-Integrating-Deity; next, the
deity of Elder-of-the-Great-Place; next, his younger sister the deity Elder-Lady-of-the-Great-Place; next, the
deity Perfect-Exterior; next, his younger sister the deity Oh-Awful-Lady; next, the deity Izanagi or the
Male-Who-Invites; next, his younger sister Izanami or the deity the Female-Who-Invites.

From the Earthly-Eternally-Standing deity down to the deity the Female-Who-Invites in the previous list are what
are termed the Seven Divine Generations.

THE ISLAND OF ONOGORO

Hereupon all the Heavenly deities commanded the two deities His Augustness the Male-Who-Invites and Her
Augustness the Female-Who-Invites, ordering them to “make, consolidate, and give birth to this drifting land.”
Granting to them a heavenly jeweled spear, they thus deigned to charge them. So the two deities, standing
upon the Floating Bridge of Heaven pushed down the jeweled spear and stirred with it, whereupon, when they
had stirred the brine till it went curdle-curdle, and drew the spear up, the brine that dripped down from the end of
the spear was piled up and became an island. This is the Island of Onogoro.

COURTSHIP OF THE DEITIES THE MALE-WHO-INVITES AND THE FEMALE-WHO-INVITES

Having descended from Heaven on to this island, they saw to the erection of a heavenly august pillar, they saw
to the erection of a hall of eight fathoms. Then Izanagi, the Male-Who-Invites, said to Izanami, the
Female-Who-Invites, “We should create children”; and he said, “Let us go around the heavenly august pillar,
and when we meet on the other side let us be united. Do you go around from the left, and I will go from the right.”
When they met, Her Augustness, the Female-Who-Invites, spake first, exclaiming, “Ah, what a fair and lovable
youth!” Then His Augustness said, “Ah what a fair and lovable maiden!” But afterward he said, ” It was not well
that the woman should speak first!” The child which was born to them was Hiruko (the leech-child), which when
three years old was still unable to stand upright. So they placed the leech-child in a boat of reeds and let it float
away. Next they gave birth to the island of Aha. This likewise is not reckoned among their children.

Hereupon the two deities took counsel, saving: “The children to whom we have now given birth are not good. It
will be best to announce this in the august place of the Heavenly deities.” They ascended forthwith to Heaven
and inquired of Their Augustnesses the Heavenly deities. Then the Heavenly deities commanded and found out
by grand divination, and ordered them, saying: “they were not good because the woman spoke first. Descend
back again and amend your words.” So thereupon descending back, they again went round the heavenly
august pillar. Thereupon his Augustness the Male-who-Invites spoke first: ” Ah! what a fair and lovely maiden!”
Afterward his younger sister Her Augustness the Female-Who-Invites spoke: ” Ah! what a fair and lovely youth! ”
Next they gave birth to the Island of Futa-na in Iyo. This island has one body and four faces, and each face has a
name. So the Land of Iyo is called Lovely-Princess; the Land of Sanuki is called Princess-Good-Boiled-Rice;
the Land of Aha is called the Princess-of-Great-Food, the Land of Tosa is called Brave-Good-Youth. Next they
gave birth to the islands of Mitsu-go near Oki, another name for which islands is Heavenly-Great-Heart-Youth.
This island likewise has one body and four faces, and each face has a name. So the Land of Tsukushi is called
White-Sun-Youth; the Land of Toyo is called Luxuriant-Sun-Youth; the Land of Hi is called
Brave-Sun-Confronting-Luxuriant-Wondrous-Lord-Youth; the Land of Kumaso is called Brave-Sun-Youth. Next
they gave birth to the Island of Iki, another name for which is Heaven’s One-Pillar. Next they gave birth to the
Island of Tsu, another name for which is Heavenly-Hand-Net-Good-Princess. Next they gave birth to the Island of
Sado. Next they gave birth to Great-Yamato-the-Luxuriant-Island-of-the-Dragon-fly, another name for which is
Heavenly-August-Sky-Luxuriant-Dragon-fly-Lord-Youth. The name of “Land-of-the-Eight-Great-Islands” therefore
originated in these eight islands having been born first. After that, when they had returned, they gave birth to the
Island of Koo-zhima in Kibi, another name for which island is Brave-Sun-Direction-Youth. Next they gave birth to
the Island of Adzuki, another name for which is Oho-Nu-De-Hime. Next they gave birth to the Island of
Oho-shima, another name for which is Oho-Tamaru-Wake. -Next they gave birth to the Island of Hime, another
name for which is Heaven’s-One-Root. Next they gave birth to the Island of Chika, another name for which is
Heavenly-Great-Male. Next they gave birth to the islands of Futa-go, another name for which is Heaven’s
Two-Houses. (Six islands in all from the Island of Ko in Kibi to the Island of Heaven’s-Two-Houses.)

BIRTH OF THE VARIOUS DEITIES

When they had finished giving birth to countries, they began afresh giving birth to deities. So the name of the
deity they gave birth to was the deity Great-Male-of-the-Great-Thing; next, they gave birth to the deity
Rock-Earth-Prince; next, they gave birth to the deity Rock-Nest-Princess; next, they gave birth to the deity
Great-Door-Sun-Youth; next, they gave birth to the deity Heavenly-Blowing-Male; next, they gave birth to the
deity Great-House-Prince; next, they gave birth to the deity Youth-of-the-Wind-Breath-the-Great-Male; next, they
gave birth to the sea-deity, whose name is the deity Great-Ocean-Possessor next, they gave birth to the deity of
the Water-Gates, whose name is the deity Prince-of-Swift-Autumn ; next they gave birth to his younger sister the
deity Princess-of-Swift-Autumn. (Ten deities in all from the deity Great-Male-of-the-Great-Thing to the deity
Princess-of-Autumn.) The names of the deities given birth to by these two deities Prince-of-Swift-Autumn and
Princess-of-Swift-Autumn from their separate dominions of river and sea were: the deity Foam-Calm; next, the
deity Foam-Waves; next the deity Bubble-Calm; next, the deity Bubble-Waves; next the deity
Heavenly-Water-Divider; next, the deity Earthly-Water-Divider; next, the deity
Heavenly-Water-Drawing-Gourd-Possessor; next, the deity Earthly-Water-Drawing-Gourd-Possessor. (Eight
deities in all from the deity Foam-Prince to the deity Earthly-Water-Drawing-Gourd-Possessor.) Next, they gave
birth to the deity of Wind, whose name is the deity Prince-of-Long-Wind. Next, they gave birth to the deity of
Trees, whose name is deity Stem-Elder; next, they gave birth to the deity of Mountains, whose name is the deity
Great-Mountain-Possessor. Next, they gave birth to the deity of Moors, whose name is the deity
Thatch-Moor-Princess, another name for whom is the deity Moor-Elder. (Four deities in all from the deity
Prince-of-long-wind to Moor-Elder.) The names of the deities given birth to by these two deities, the deity
Great-Mountain-Possessor and the deity, Moor-Elder from their separate dominions of mountain and moor
were: the deity Heavenly-Elder-of-the Passes; next, the deity Earthly-Elder-of-the-Passes; next, the deity
Heavenly-Pass-Boundary; next, the deity Earthly-Pass-Boundary; next, the deity Heavenly-Dark-Door; next, the
deity Earthly-Dark-Door next, the deity Great-Vale-Prince; next, the deity Great-Vale-Princess. (Eight deities in
all from the deity Heavenly-Elder-of-the-Passes to the deity Great-Vale-Princess.) The name of the deity they
next gave birth to was the deity Bird’s-Rock-Camphor-tree-Boat, another name for whom is the
Heavenly-Bird-Boat. Next, they gave birth to the deity Princess-of-Great-Food. Next, they gave birth to the
Fire-Burning-Swift-Male deity, another name for whom is the deity Fire-Shining-Prince, and another name is the
deity Fire-Shining-Elder.

RETIREMENT OF HER AUGUSTNESS THE PRINCESS-WHO-INVITES

Through giving birth to this child her august private parts were burned, and she sickened and lay down. The
names of the deities born from her vomit were the deity Metal-Mountain-Prince and, next, the deity
Metal-Mountain-Princess. The names of the deities that were born from her feces were the deity
Clay-Viscid-Prince and, next, the deity Clay-Viscid-Princess. The names of the deities that were next born from
her urine were the deity Mitsubanome and, next, the Young-Wondrous-Producing deity. The child of this deity
was called the deity Luxuriant-Food-Princess. So the deity the Female-Who-Invites, through giving birth to the
deity of Fire, at length divinely retired. (Eight deities in all from the Heavenly-Bird-Boat to the deity
Luxuriant-Food-Princess.) The total number of islands given birth to jointly by the two deities the Male-
Who-Invites and the Female-Who-Invites was fourteen, and of deities thirty-five. (These are such as were given
birth to before the deity the Princess-Who-Invites divinely retired. Only the Island of Onogoro was not given birth
to and, moreover, the Leech-Child and the Island of Aha are not reckoned among the children.)

So then His Augustness the Male-Who-Invites said: ” Oh! Thine Augustness my lovely younger sister’ Oh! that I
should have exchanged thee for this single child! ” And as he crept round her august pillow, and as he crept
round her august feet and wept, there was born from his august tears the deity that dwells at Konomoto, near
Unewo on Mount Kagu, and whose name is the Crying-Weeping-Female deity. So he buried the divinely retired
deity the Female-Who-Invites on Mount Hiba, at the boundary of the Land of Idzumo and the Land of Hahaki.

TIIE SLAYING OF TIIE FIRE-DEITY

Then His Augustness the Male-Who-Invites, drawing the ten-grasp saber that was augustly girded on him, cut
off the head of his child the deity Shining-Elder. Hereupon the names of the deities that were born from the
blood that stuck to the point of the august sword and bespattered the multitudinous rock-masses were: the deity
Rock-Splitter; next, the deity Root-Splitter; next, the Rock-Possessing-Male deity. The names of the deities that
were next born from the blood that stuck to the upper part of the august sword and again bespattered the
multitudinous rock-masses were: the Awfully-Swift deity; next, the Fire-Swift deity; next, the
Brave-Awful-Possessing-Male deity, another name for whom is the Brave-Snapping deity, and another name is
the Luxuriant-Snapping deity. The names of the deities that were next born from the blood that collected on the
hilt of the august sword and leaked out between his fingers were: the deity Kura-okami and, next, the deity
Kura-mitsuba.

All the eight deities in the above list, from the deity Rock-Splitter to the deity Kura-mitsuha, are deities that were
born from the august sword.

The name of the deity that was born from the bead of the deity Shining-Elder, who bad been slain, was the deity
Possessor-of-the-True-Pass-Mountains. The name of the deity that was next born from his chest was the deity
Possessor-of-Descent–Mountains. The name of the deity that was next born from his belly was the deity
Possessor-of-the-Innermost Mountains. The name of the deity that was next born from his private parts was the
deity Possessor-of-the-Dark-Mountains. The name of the deity that was next born from his left hand was the
deity Possessor-of-the-Densely-Wooded-Mountains. The name of the deity that was next born from his right
hand was the deity Possessor-of-the-Outlying-Mountains. The name of the deity that was next born from his left
foot was the deity Possessor-of-the-Moorland-Mountains. The name of the deity that was next born from his
right foot was the deity Possessor-of-the-Outer–Mountains. (Eight deities in an from the deity
Possessor-of-the-True-Pass-Mountains to the deity Possessor-of-the-Outer–Mountains.) So the name of the
sword with which the -Male-Who-Invites cut off his son’s head was Heavenly-Point-Blade-Extended, and another
name was Majestic-Point-Blade-Extended.

THE KOJIKI

PART II.- THE QUARREL OF IZANAGA AND IZANAMI

THE LAND OF HADES

Thereupon His Augustuess the Male-Who-Invites, wishing to meet and see his younger sister Her Augustness
the FemaleWho-Invites, followed after her to the Land of Hades. So when from the palace she raised the door
and came out to meet him, His Augustness the Male-Who-Invites spoke, saying: “Thine Augustness, my lovelv
younger sister! the lands that I and thou made are not yet finished making; so come back! ” Then Her
Augustness the Female-Who-Invites answered, saying: ” Lamentable indeed that thou camest not sooner! I
have eaten of the furnace of Hades. Nevertheless, as I reverence the entry here of Thine Augustness, my lovely
elder brother, I wish to return. Moreover, I will discuss it particularly with the deities of Hades. Look not at me!”
Having thus spoken, she went back inside the palace; and as she tarried there very long, he could not wait. So
having taken and broken off one of the end-teeth of the multitudinous and close-toothed comb stuck in the
august left bunch of his hair, he lit one light and went in and looked. Maggots were swarming, and she was
rotting, and in her head dwelt the Great-Thunder, in her breast dwelt the Fire-Thunder, in her left hand dwelt the
Young-Thunder, in her right hand dwelt the Earth-Thunder, in her left foot dwelt the Rumbling-Thunder, in her right
foot dwelt the Couchant-Thunder — altogether eight Thunder-deities had been born and dwelt there. Hereupon
His Augustness the Male-Who-Invites, overawed at the sight, fled back, whereupon his younger sister, “Her
Augustness the Female-Who-Invites, said: “Thou hast put me to shame,” and at once sent the
Ugly-Female-of-Hades to pursue him. So His Augustness the Male-Who-Invites took his black august
head-dress and cast it down, and it instantly turned into grapes. While she picked them up and ate them, he fled
on; but as she still pursued him, he took and broke the multitudinous and close-toothed comb in the right bunch
of his hair and cast it down, and it instantly turned into bamboo-sprouts. While she pulled them up and ate them,
he fled on. Again, later, his younger sister sent the eight Thunder-deities with a thousand and five hundred
warriors of Hades to pursue him. So he, drawing the ten-grasp saber that was augustly girded on him, fled
forward brandishing it in his back hand;” and as they still pursued, he took, on reaching the base of the
Even-Pass-of-Hades, three peaches that were growing at its base, and waited and smote his pursuers
therewith, so that they all fled back. Then His Augustness the Male-Who-Invites announced to the peaches:
“Like as ye have helped me, so must ve help all living people in the Central Land of Reed-Plains when they shall
fall into troublous circumstances and be harassed! “- and he gave to the peaches the designation of Their
Augustnesses Great-Divine-Fruit. Last of all, his younger sister, Her Augustness the Princess-Who-Invites,
came out herself in pursuit. So he drew a thousand-draught rock, and with it blocked up the
Even-Pass-of-Hades, and placed the rock in the middle; and they stood opposite to one another and
exchanged leave-takings ; and Her Augustness the Female-Who-Invites said: “My lovely elder brother, thine
Augustness! If thou do like this, I will in one day strangle to death a thousand of the folk of thy land.” Then His
Augustness the Male-Who-Invites replied: “My lovely younger sister, Thine Augastness! If thou do this, I will in
one day set up a thousand and five hundred parturition-house. In this manner each day a thousand people
would surely be born.” So Her Augustness the Female-Who-Invites is called the Great-Deity-of-Hades. Again it
is said that, owing to her having pursued and reached her elder brother, she is called the Road-Reaching-Great
deity.”‘ Again, the rock with which he blocked up the Even-Pass-of-Hades is called the
Great-Deity-of-the-Road-Turning-back, and again it is called the Blocking-Great-Deity-of-the-Door-of-Hades.
So what was called the Even-Pass-of-Hades is now called the Ifuya-Pass in the Land of Idzumo.

THE PURIFICATION OF THE AUGUST PERSON

Therefore the great deity the Male-Who-Invites said: “Nay! hideous! I have come to a hideous and polluted land
– I have! So I will perform the purification of my august person.” So he went out to a plain covered with altagi, at
a small river-mouth near Tachibana in Himuka in the island of Tsukushi, and purified and cleansed himself. So
the name of the deity that was born from the august staff which he threw down was the deity
Thrust-Erect-Come-Not-Place. The name of the deity that was born from the august girdle which he next threw
down was the deity Road-Long-Space. The name of the deity that was born from the august skirt which he next
threw down was the deity Loosen-Put. The name of the deity that was born from the august upper garment
which he next threw down was the deity Master-of-Trouble. The name of the deity that was born from the august
trousers which be next threw down was the Road-Fork deity. The name of the deity that was born from the
august hat which he next threw down was the deity Master-of-the-Open-Mouth. The names of the deities that
were born from the bracelet of his august left hand which he next threw down were the deity Offing-Distant, next,
the deity Wash-Prince-of-the-Offing; next, the deity Intermediate-Direction-of-the-offing. The names of the
deities that were born from the bracelet of his august right hand which he next threw down were: the deity
Shore-Distant; next, the deity Wash-Prince-of-the-Shore; next, the deity Intermediate-Direction-of-the-Shore.

The twelve deities mentioned in the foregoing list from the deity Come-Not-Place down to the deity
Intermediate-Direction-of-the-Shore are deities that were born from his taking off the things that were on his
person.

Thereupon saying: “The water in the upper reach is too rapid; the water in the lower reach is too sluggish,” he
went down and plunged in the middle reach; and, as he washed, there was first born the
Wondrous-Deity-of-Eighty-Evils, and next the Wondrous-Deity-of-Great-Evils. These two deities are the deities
that were born from the filth he contracted when he went to that polluted, hideous land. The names of the deities
that were next born to rectify those evils were: the Divine-Rectifying-Wondrous deity; next, the
Great-Rectictifying-Wondrous deity; next, the Female-Deity-Idzu. The names of the deities that were next born
as be bathed at the bottom of the water were: the deity Possessor-of-the-Ocean-Bottom and, next, His
Augustness Elder-Male-of-the-Bottom. The names of the deities that were born as he bathed in the middle of
the water were: the deity Possessor-of-the-Ocean-Middle and, next, His Augustness Elder-Male-of-the-Middle.
The names of the deities that were born as lie bathed at the top of the water were the deity
Possessor-of-the-Ocean-Surface and, next, His Augustness Elder–Male-of-the-Surface. These three
Ocean-Possessing deities are the deities held in reverence as their ancestral-deities by the Chiefs of Adzumi.
So the Chiefs of Adzumi are the descendants of His Augustness Utsushi-hi-gana-saku, a child of these
Ocean-possessing deities. These three deities His Augustness Elder-Male-of-the-Bottom, His Augustness
Elder-Male-of-the-Middle, and His Augustness Elder-Male-of-the-Surface are the three great deities of the Inlet
of Sumi. The name of the deity that was born as he thereupon washed his left august eye was the
Heaven-Shining-Great-August deity. The name of the deity that was next born as he washed his right august
eye was His Augustness Moon-Night-Possessor. The name of the deity that was next born as he washed his
august nose was His Brave-Swift-Impetuous-Male-Augustness.

The fourteen deities in the foregoing list from the Wondrous-Deity-of-Eighty-Evils down to His
Swift-Impetuous-Male-Augustness are deities born from the bathing of his august person.

THE KOJIKI

PART III. AMATERASU, THE SUN-GODDESS, AND THE STORM-GOD

INVESTITURE OF THE THREE DEITIES, THE ILLUSTRIOUS AUGUST CHILDREN

At this time His Augustness the Male-Who-Invites greatly rejoiced, saying: “I, begetting child after child, have at
my final begetting gotten three illustrious children.” With which words, at once jinglingly taking off and shaking
the jewel-string forming his august necklace, be bestowed it on Amaterasu, the Heaven-Shining-Great-August
deity. saying: “Do Thine Augustness rule the Plain-of-High-Heaven.” With this charge he bestowed it on her.
Now the name of this august necklace was the August-Storehouse-Shelf deity. Next he said to His Augustness
Moon-Night-Possessor: “Do Thine Augustness rule the Dominion of the Night.” Thus he charged him. Next he
said to His-Brave-Swift-Impetuous-Male-Augustness: “Do Thine Augustness rule the Sea-Plain.”

THE CRYING AND WEEPING OF HIS IMPETUOUS-MALE-AUGUSTNESS

So while the other two deities each assumed his and her rule according to the command with which her father
had deigned to charge them, the Storm-God, His-Swift-Impetuous-Male-Augustness, did not assume the rule of
the dominion with which he had been charged, but cried and wept till his eight-grasp beard reached to the pit of
his stomach. The fashion of his weeping was such as by his weeping to wither the green mountains into
withered mountains, and by his weeping to dry up all the rivers and seas. For this reason the sound of bad
deities was like unto the flies in the fifth moon as they all swarmed, and in all things every portent of woe arose.
So the Great August deity the Male-Who-Invites said to His Swift-Impetuous-Male-Augustness: “How is it that,
instead of ruling the land with which I charged thee, thou dost wail and weep?” He replied, saying: “I wail
because I wish to depart to my deceased mother’s land, to the Nether Distant Land.” Then the Great August
deity the Male-Who-Invites was very angry and said: If that be so,, thou shalt not dwell in this land, and forthwith
expelled him with a divine expulsion. So the great deity the Male-Who-Invites dwells at Taga in Afumi.

THE AUGUST OATH

So thereupon His-Swift-Impetuous-Male-Augustness said: if that be so I will take leave of the
Heaven-Shining-Great-August deity, and depart.” With these words he forthwith went up to Heaven, whereupon
all the mountains and rivers shook, and every land and country quaked. So the Heaven-Shining-Great-August
deity, alarmed at the noise, said: ” The reason of the ascent hither of His Augustness my elder brother is surely
of no good intent. It is only that he wishes to wrest my land from me.” And she forthwith, unbinding her august
hair, twisted it into august bunches; and both into the left and into the right august bunch, as likewise into her
august head-dress and likewise on to her left and her right august arm, she twisted an augustly complete string
of curved jewels eight feet long, of five hundred jewels, and, slinging on her back a quiver holding a thousand
arrows, and adding thereto a quiver holding five hundred arrows, she likewise took and slung at her side a
mighty and high sounding elbow-pad, and brandished and stuck her bow upright so that the top shook, and she
stamped her feet into the hard ground up to her opposing thighs, kicking away the earth like rotten snow, and
stood valiantly like unto a mighty man, and, waiting, asked: “Wherefore ascendest thou hither?” Then
His-Swift-Impetuous-Male-Augustness replied, saying: “I have no evil intent. It is only that when the Great August
deity our father spoke, deigning to inquire the cause of my wailing and weeping, I said: ‘I wail because I wish to
go to my deceased mother’s land’ — whereupon the Great-August deity said: ‘Thou shalt not dwell in this land,’
and deigned to expel me with a divine expulsion. It is therefore solely with the thought of taking leave of thee and
departing, that I have ascended hither. I have no strange intentions.” Then the Heaven-Shining-Great-August
deity said: ” If that be so, whereby shall I know the sincerity of thine intentions? ” Thereupon
His-Swift-Impetuous-Male-Augustness replied, saying: “Let each of us swear and produce children.” So as they
then swore to each other from the opposite banks of the Tranquil River of Heaven, the august names of the
deities that were born from the mist of her breath when, having first begged
His-Swift-Impetuous-Male-Augustness to hand her the ten-grasp saber which was girded on him, and broken it
into three fragments, and with the jewels making a jingling sound, having brandished and washed them in the
True-Pool-Well of Heaven, and having crunchingly crunched them, the Heaven-Shining-Great deity blew them
away, were Her Angustness Torrent-Mist-Princess, another august name for whom is Her Augustness
Princess-of-the-Island-of-the-Offing; next Her Augustness Lovely-Island-Princess another august name for
whom is Her Augustness Good-Princess; next Her Augustness Princess-of-the-Torrent. The august name of the
deity that was born from the mist of his breath when, having begged the Heaven-Shining-Great-August deity to
hand him the augustly complete string of curved jewels eight feet long – of five hundred jewels – that was twisted
in the left august bunch of her hair, and with the jewels making a jingling sound having brandished and washed
them in the True-Pool-Well of Heaven, and having cruncbingly crunched them,
His-Swift-Impetuous-Male-Augustness blew them away, was His Augustness
Truly-Conqueror-I-Conqueror-Conquering-Swift-Heavenly-Great-Great-Ears. The august name of the deity that
was born from the mist of his breath when again, having begged her to hand him the jewels that were twisted in
the right august bunch of her hair, and having crunchingly crunched them, he blew them away, was His
Augustness Ame-no-hohi. The august name of the deity that was born from the mist of his breath when again,
having begged her to hand him the jewels that were twisted in her august head-dress, and having crunchingly
crunched them, he blew them away, was His Augustness Prince-Lord-of-Heaven. The august name of the deity
that was born from the mist of his breath when again, having begged her to hand him the jewels that were
twisted on her left august arm, and having crunchingly crunched them, he blew them away, was His Augustness
Prince-Lord-of-Life. The august name of the deity that was born from the mist of his breath when again, having
begged her to band him the jewels that were twisted on her right august arm, and having crunchingly crunched
them,, be blew them away was His-Wondrous-Augustness-of-Kumanu. ( Five deities in all.)

THE AUGUST DECLARATION OF THE DIVISION OF THE AUGUST MALE CHILDREN A.ND THE AUGUST
FEMALE CHILDREN

Hereupon the Heavenly Shining-Great-August deity said to His-Swift-Impetuous-Male-Augustness: “As for the
seed of the five male deities born last, their birth was from things of mine; so undoubtedly they are my children.
As for the seed of the three female deities born first, their birth was from a thing of thine; so doubtless they are
thy children.” Thus did she declare the division. So Her Augustness Torrent-Mist-Princess, the deity born first,
dwells in the inner temple of Munakata. The next, Her Augustness Lovely-Island-Princess, dwells in the middle
temple of Munakata. The next, Her Augustness Princess-of-the-Torrent, dwells in the outer temple of Munakata.
These three deities are of the three great deities held in reverence by the dukes of Munakata. So His
Augustuess Brave-Rustic-Illuminator, child of His Augustness Ame-no-hohi, one of the five children born
afterward. This is the ancestor of the rulers of the land of Idzumo, of the rulers of the land of Muzashi, of the
rulers of the upper land of Unakami, of the rulers of the lower land of Unakami, of the rulers of the land of lzhimu,
of the departmental suzerains of the Island of Tsu and of the rulers of the land of Tobo-tsu-Afumi. The next, His
Augustness Prince-Lord-of-Heaven, is the ancestor of the rulers of the land of Ofushi-kafuchi, of the chiefs of
Nukatabe-no-yuwe, of the rulers of the land of Ki, of the suzerains of Tanaka in Yamato, of the rulers of the land
of Yamashiro, of the rulers of the land of Umaguta, of the rulers of the land of Kine in Michi-no-Shiri, of the rulers
of the land of Suhau, of the rulers of Amuchi, in Yamato, of the departmental suzerains of Takechi, of the
territorial lords of Kamafu, and of the rulers of Sakikusabe.

THE AUGUST RAVAGES OF HIS-IMPETUOUS-MALE-AUGUSTNESS

Then His-Swift-Impetuous-Male-Augustness said to the Heaven-Shining-Great-August deity: “Owing to the
sincerity of my intentions I have, in begetting children, gotten delicate females. Judging from this I have
undoubtedly gained the victory.” With these words, and impetuous with victory, he broke down the divisions of
the rice-fields laid out by the Heaven-Shining-Great-August deity filled up the ditches, and moreover strewed
excrements in the palace where she partook of the great food. So, though he did thus, the
Heaven-Shining-Great-August deity upbraided him not, but said: “What looks like excrements must be
something that His Augustness mine elder brother has vomited through drunkenness. Again, as to his breaking
down the divisions of the rice-fields and filling up the ditches, it must be because be grudges the land they
occupy that His Augustness mine elder brother acts thus.” But notwithstanding these apologetic words, he still
continued his evil acts, and was more and more violent. As the Heaven-Shining-Great-August deity sat in her
awful weaving-hall seeing to the weaving of the august garments of the deities, he broke a hole in the top of the
weaving-hall, and through it let fall a heavenly piebald horse which he had flayed with a backward flaying, at
whose sight the women weaving the heaveijy garments were so much alarmed they died of fear.

THE DOOR OF THE HEAVENLY ROCK-DWELLING

So thereupon the Heaven-Shining-Great-August deity, terrified at the sight, closed behind her the door of the
Heavenly Rock-Dwelling, made it fast and retired. Then the whole Plain of High Heaven was obscured and all
the Central Land of Reed-Plains darkened. Owing to this, eternal night prevailed. Hereupon the voices of the
myriad deities were like unto the flies in the fifth moon as they swarmed, and a myriad portents of woe all arose.
Therefore did the eight hundred myriad deities assemble in a divine assembly in the bed of the Tranquil River of
Heaven, and bid the deity Thought-Includer, child of the High-August-Producing-Wondrous deity, think of a plan,
assembling the long-singing birds of eternal night and making them sing, taking the hard rocks of Heaven from
the river-bed of the Tranquil River of Heaven, and taking the iron from the Heavenly Metal-Mountains, calling in
the smith Ama-tsu-ma-ra, charging Her Augtsness I-shi-ko-ri-do-me to make a mirror, and charging His
Augustness Jewel-Ancestor to make an augustly complete string of curved jewels eight feet long – of five
hundred jewels – and summoning His Augustness Heavenly-Beekoning-Ancestor-Lord and His Augustness
Great-Jewel, and causing them to pull out with a complete pulling the shoulder-blade of a true stag from the
Heavenly Mount Kagu, and take cherry-bark from the Heavenly Mount Kagu, and perform divination, and pulling
up by pulling its roots a true cleyera japonica with five hundred branches from the Heavenly Mount Kaga, and
taking and putting upon its upper branches the augustly complete string of curved jewels eight feet long – of five
hundred jewels – and taking and tying to the middle branches the mirror eight feet long, and taking and hanging
upon its lower branches the white pacificatory offerings and the blue pacificatory offering His Augustness
Grand-Jewel taking these divers things and holding them together with the grand august offerings, and His
Augustness Heavenly-Beckoning-Ancestor-Lord prayerfully reciting grand liturgies, and the Heavenly
Hand-Strength-Male deity standing hidden beside the door, and Her Augustness Heavenly-Alarming-Female
banging round her the heavenly clubmoss the Heavenly -Mount Kagu as a sash, and making the heavenly
spindle-tree her head-dress and binding the leaves of the bamboo-grass of the Heavenly -Mount-Kagu in a
posy for her hands, and laying a sounding-board before the door of the Heavenly Rock-Dwelling and stamping,
till she made it resound and doing as if possessed by a deity, and pulling out the nipples of her breasts, pushing
down her skirt-string “usque ad privates partes”. Then the Plain of High Heaven shook, and the eight hundred
myriad deities laughed together.

Hereupon the Heaven-Shining-Great-August deity was greatly amazed, and, slightly opening the door of the
Heavenly Rock-Dwelling, spoke thus from the inside: “Methought that owing to my retirement the Plain of
Heaven would be dark, and likewise the Central Land of Reed-Plains would all be dark: how then is it that the
Heavenly-Alarming-Female makes merry, and that likewise the eight hundred myriad deities all laugh? “Then
the Heavenly-Alarming-Female spoke, saving: “We rejoice and are glad because there is a deity more
illustrious than Thine Augustness.” While she was thus speaking, His Augustness
Heavenly-Beckoning-Ancestor-Lord and His Augustness Grand-Jewel pushed forward the mirror and
respectfully showed it to the Heaven-Shining-Great-August deity, whereupon the Heaven-Shining-Great-August
deity, more and more astonished, gradually came forth from the door and gazed upon it, whereupon the
Heavenly-Hand-Strength-Male deity, who was standing hidden, took her august hand and drew her out, and then
His Augustness Grand-Jewel drew the bottom-tied rope along at her august back, and spoke, saving: “Thou
must not go back further in than this”! So when the Heaven-Shining-Great-August deity had come forth, both the
Plain of High Heaven and the Central-Land-of-Reed-Plains of course again became light.

THE AUGUST EXPULSION OF HIS IMPETUOUS-MALE-AUGUSTNESS

Thereupon the eight hundred myriad deities took counsel together, and imposed on
High-Swift-Impetuous-Male-Augustness a fine of a thousand tables, and likewise cut his beard, and even
caused the nails of his fingers and toes to be pulled out, and expelled him with a divine expulsion. Again he
begged food of the deity Princess-of-Great-Food. Then the Princess-of-Great-Food took out all sorts of dainty
things from her nose, her mouth, and her fundament, and made them up into all sorts of dishes, which she
offered to him. But His-Swift-Impetuous-Male-Augustness watched her proceedings, considered that she was
offering up to him filth, and at once killed the deity Princess-of-Great-Food. So the things that were born in the
body of the deity who had been killed were as follows: in her head were born silkworms, in her two eyes were
born rice-seeds, in her two ears was born millet, in her nose were born small beans, in her private parts was
born barley, in her fundament were born large beans. So His Augustness the
Deity-Producing-Wondrous-Ancestor caused them to be taken and used as seeds.

THE EIGHT-FORKED SERPENT

So, having been expelled, His-Swift-Impetuous-Male-Augustness descended to a place called Tori-kami at the
headwaters of the River Hi in the Land of Idzumo. At this time some chopsticks came floating down the stream.
So His Swift-Impetuous-Male-Augustness, thinking that there must be people at the head-waters of the river,
went up it in quest of them, when he came upon an old man and an old woman – two of them – who had a young
girl between them, and were weeping. Then he deigned to ask: “Who are ye?” So the old man replied, saving:
“I am an Earthly deity, child of the deity Great-Mountain-Possessor. I am called by the name of
Foot-Stroking-Elder, my wife is called by the name of Hand-Stroking-Elder, and my daughter is called by the
name of Wondrous-Inada-Princess.” Again he asked: “What is the cause of your crying?” The old man
answered, saying: “I had originally eight young girls as daughters. But the eight-forked serpent of Koshi has
come every year and devoured one, and it is now its time to come, wherefore we weep.” Then he asked him:
“What is its form like?” The old man answered, saving: ” Its eyes are like akakagachi, it has one body with eight
heads and eight tails. Moreover, on its body grows moss, and also chamaecyparis and cryptomerias. Its length
extends over eight valleys and eight hills, and if one look at its belly, it is all constantly bloody and inflamed.”
(What is called here akakagachi is the modern hohodzuki.) Then His-Swift-Impetuous-Male-Augstness said to
the old man: “If this be tby daughter, wilt thou offer her to me?” He replied, saying: “With reverence, but I know
not thine august name.” Then be replied, saving: I am elder brother to the Heaven-Shining-Great-August deity.
So I have now descended from Heaven.” Then the deities Foot-Stroking-Elder and Hand-Stroking-Elder said:
“If that be so, with reverence will we offer her to thee.” So His-Swift-Impetuous-Male-Augustness, at once taking
and changing, the young girl into a multitudinous and close-toothed comb which he stuck into his august
hair-bunch, said to the deities Foot-Stroking-Elder and Hand-Stroking-Elder: ” Do you distil some eightfold
refined liquor. Also make a fence round about, in that fence make eight gates, at each gate tie together eight
platforms, on each platform put a liquor-vat, and into each vat pour the eightfold refined liquor, and wait.” So as
they waited after having thus prepared everything in accordance with his bidding the eight-forked serpent came
truly as the old man had said, and immediately dipped a head into each vat, and drank the liquor. Thereupon it
was intoxicated with drinking, and all the heads lay down and slept. Then His-Swift-Impetuous-Male-Augustness
drew the ten-grasp saber, that was augustly girded on him, and cut the serpent in pieces, so that the River Hi
flowed on changed into a river of blood. So when he cut the middle tail, the edge of his august sword broke.
Then, thinking it strange, he thrust into and split the flesh with the point of his august sword and looked, and
there was a great sword within. So he took this great sword, and, thinking it a strange thing, he respectfully
informed the Heaven-Shining-Great-August deity. This is the Herb-Quelling Great Sword.

THE PALACE OF SUGA

So thereupon His Swift-Impetuous-.Male-Augustness sought in the land of Idzumo for a place where he might
build a palace. Then he arrived at a place called Suga, and said:

On coming to this place my august heart is pure” – and in that place he built a palace to dwell in. So that place is
now called Suga. When this great deity, first built the palace of Suga, clouds rose up thence. Then he made an
august song. That song said:

“Eight clouds arise. The eightfold fence of Idzumo makes an eightfold fence for the spouses to retire within. Oh!
that eightfold fence.”

[This difficult song has been rather differently rendered by Mr. Aston in the Second Appendix to his ” Grammar
of the Japanese Written Language.” Mr. Aston translates it thus:

Many clouds arise:

The clouds which come forth are a manifold fence:

For the husband and wife to retire within

They have formed a manifold fence:

Oh! that manifold fence!”]

THE KOJIKI

PART IV.- THE BEAST-LEGENDS

THE WHITE HARE OF INABA

From His Swift-Impetuous-Male-Augustness was descended the deity Master-of-the-Great-Land. He had eighty
deities his brethren; but they all left the land to the deity Master-of-the-Great-Land. The reason for their leaving it
was this: Each of these eighty deities had in his heart the wish to marry the Princess of Yakami in Inaba, and
they went together to Inaba, putting their bag on the back of the deity Great-Name-Possessor, whom they took
with them as an attendant. Hereupon, when they arrived at Cape Keta, thev found a naked hare lying down.
Then the eighty deities spoke to the hare, saying: “What thou shouldest do is to bathe in the sea-water here,
and lie on the slope of a high mountain exposed to the blowing of the wind.” So the hare followed the
instructions of the eighty deities, and lay down. Then, as the sea-water dried, the skin of its body all split with the
blowing of the wind, so that it lay weeping with pain. But the deity Great-Name-Possessor, who came last of all,
saw the hare, and said: “Why liest thou weeping? ” The hare replied, saving: “I was in the Island of Oki, and
wished to cross over to this land, but had no means of crossing over. For this reason I deceived the crocodiles
of the sea, saying: ‘ Let you and me compete, and compute the numbers of our respective tribes. So do you go
and fetch every member of your tribe, and make them all lie in a row across from this island to Cape Keta. Then
I will tread on them, and count them as I run across. Hereby shall we know whether it or my tribe is the larger.’
Upon my speaking thus, they were deceived and lay down in a row, and I trod on them and counted them as I
came across, and was just about to get on land, when I said: ‘You have been deceived by me.’ As soon as I had
finished speaking, the crocodile who lay the last of all seized me and stripped off all my clothing. As 1 was
weeping and lamenting for this reason, the eighty deities who went by before thee commanded and exhorted
me, saying: ‘Bathe in the salt water, and lie down exposed to the wind.’ So, on my doing as they had instructed
me, my whole body was hurt.” Thereupon the deity Great-Name-Possessor instructed the hare, saying: ” Go
quickly now to the river-mouth, wash thy body with the fresh water, then take the pollen of the sedges growing at
the river-mouth, spread it about, and roll about upon it, whereupon thy body will certainly be restored to its
original state.” So the bare did as it was instructed, and its body became as it bad been originally. This was the
White Hare of Inaba. It is now called the Hare deity. So the hare said to the deity Great-Name-Possessor:
“These eighty deities shall certainly not get the Princess of Yakami. Though thou bearest the bag, Thine
Augustness shall obtain her.”

MOUNT TEMA

Thereupon the Princess of Yakami answered the eighty deities, saving: “I will not listen to your words. I mean to
marry the deity Great-Name- Possessor.” So the eighty deities, being enraged, and wishing to slay the deity
Great-Name-Possessor, took counsel together, on arriving at the foot of Tema in the land of Hahaki, and said to
him: “On this mountain there is a red boar. So when we drive it down, do thou wait and catch it. If thou do not
wait and catch it, we will certainly slay thee.” Having thus spoken, they took fire, and burned a large stone like
unto a boar, and rolled it down. Then, as they drove it down and he caught it, be got stuck to and burned by the
stone, and died. Thereupon Her Augustness his august parent cried and lamented, and went up to Heaven, and
entreated His Divine-Producing-Wondrous-Augustness, who at once sent Princess Cockle-Shell and Princess
Clam to bring him to life. Then Princess Cockle-Shell triturated and scorched her shell, and Princess Clam
carried water and smeared him as with mother’s milk, whereupon he became a beautiful young man, and
wandered off. Hereupon the eighty deities, seeing this, again deceived him, taking him with them into the
mountains, where they cut down a large tree, inserted a wedge in the tree and made him stand in the middle,
whereupon they took away the wedge and tortured him to death. Then on Her Augustness his august parent
again seeking him with cries, she perceived him, and at once cleaving the tree, took him out and brought him to
life, and said to him: “If thou remain here, thou wilt at last be destroyed by the eighty deities.” Then she sent him
swiftly off to the august place of the deity Great-House-Prince in the land of Ki. Then when the eighty deities
searched and pursued till they came up to him, and fixed their arrows in their bows, he escaped by dipping
under the fork of a tree, and disappeared.

THE NETHER-DISTANT-LAND

The deity Great-House-Prince spoke to him, saying: Thou must set off to the Nether-Distant-Land where dwells
His Impetuous-Male-Augustness. That great deity will certainly counsel thee.” So on his obeying her commands
and arriving at the august place of His Impetuous-Male-Augustness, the latter’s daughter the Forward-Princess
came out, and saw him, and they exchanged glances and were married, and she went in again, and told her
father, saying: ” A very beautiful deity has come.” Then the great deity went out and looked, and said: ” This is
the Ugly-Male-Deity-of-the-Reed-Plains,” and at once calling him in, made him sleep in the snake-house.
Hereupon his wife, Her Augustness the Forward-Princess, gave her husband a snake-scarf, saying: ” When the
snakes are about to bite thee, drive them away by waving this scarf thrice.” So, on his doing as she bad
instructed, the snakes became quiet, so that he came forth after calm slumbers. Again on the night of the next
day the Impetuous–Male deity put him into the centipede and wasp-house; but as she again gave him a
centipede and wasp-scarf, and instructed him as before, he came forth calmly. Again the Impetuous-Male deity
shot a whizzing barb into the middle of a large moor, and sent him to fetch the arrow, and, when be bad entered
the moor, at once set fire to the moor all round. Thereupon, while he stood knowing no place of exit, a mouse
came and said: ” The inside is hollow-hollow; the outside is narrow-narrow.” Owing to its speaking thus, he trod
on the place, whereupon he fell in and hid himself, during which time the fire burned past. Then the mouse
brought out in its mouth and presented to him the whizzing barb. The feathers of the arrow were brought in their
months by all the mouse’s children. Hereupon his wife the Forward-Princess came bearing mourning
implements, and crying. Her father the great deity, thinking that the deity Great-Name-Possessor was already
dead and done for, went out and stood on the moor, whereupon the deity Great-Name-Possessor brought the
arrow and presented it to him, upon which the great deity, taking him into the house and calling him into an
eight-foot spaced large room, made him take the lice off his head. So, on looking at the head, be saw that there
were many centipedes there. Thereupon, as his wife gave to her husband berries of the muku tree and red
earth, he chewed the berries to pieces, and spat them out with the red earth which he held in his mouth, so that
the great deity believed him to be chewing up and spitting out the centipedes, and, feeling fond of him in his
heart, fell asleep. Then the deity Great-Name-Possessor, grasping the great deity’s hair, tied it fast to the
various rafters of the house, and, blocking up the floor of the house with a five-hundred draught rock, and taking
his wife the Forward-Princess on his back, then carried off the great deity’s great life-sword and
life-bow-and-arrows, as also his heavenly speaking-lute, and ran out. But the heavenly speaking-lute brushed
against a tree, and the earth resounded. So the great deity, who was sleeping, started at the sound, and pulled
down the house. But while he was disentangling his hair which was tied to the rafters, the deity
Great-Name-Possessor fled a long way. So then, pursuing after him to the Even-Pass-of-Hades, and gazing on
him from afar, be called out to the deity Great-Name-Possessor, saying: “With the great life-sword and the
life-bow-and-arrows which thou carriest, pursue thy half-brethren till they crouch on the august slopes of the
passes, and pursue them till they are swept into the reaches of the rivers, and do thou, wretch! become the deity
Master-of-the-Great-Land; and moreover, becoming the deity Spirit-of-the-Living-Land, and making my
daughter the Forward-Princess thy consort, do thou make stout the temple-pillars at the foot of Mount Uka in the
nethermost rock-bottom, and make high the crossbeams to the Plain-of-High-Heaven, and dwell there, thou
villain! So when, bearing the great sword and bow, he pursued and scattered the eighty deities, be did pursue
them till they crouched on the august slope of every pass, he did pursue them till they were swept into every
river, and then he began to make the land.

THE WOOING OF THE DEITY-OF-EIGHT-THOUSAND-SPEARS

This Deity-of-Eight-Thousand-Spears, when he went forth to woo the Princess of Nuna-kaha, in the land of
Koshi, on arriving at the house of the Princess of Nunakaha sang, saying:

“I, The Augustness the Deity-of-Eight-Thousand-Spears, having been unable to find a spouse in the Land of the
Eight Islands, and having heard that in the far-off Land of Koshi there is a wise maiden, having heard that there
is a beauteous maiden, I am standing here to truly woo her, I am going backward and forward to woo her.
Without having yet untied even the cord of my sword, without having yet untied even my veil, I push back the
plank-door shut by the maiden; while I am standing here, I pull it forward. While I am standing here, the nuye
sings upon the green mountain, and the voice of the true bird of the moor, the pheasant, resounds; the bird of
the yard, the cock, crows. Oh! the pity that the birds should sing! Oh! these birds! Would that I could beat them
till they were sick! Oh! swiftly flying heaven-racing messenger, the tradition of the thing, too, this!”

Then the Princess of Nuna-kaba, without yet opening the door, sang from the inside, saying:

Thine Augustness, the Deity-of-Eight-Thousand-Spears! Being maiden like a drooping plant, my heart is just a
bird on a sand-bank by the shore; it will now indeed be a dotterel. Afterward it will be a gentle bird; so as for thy
life, do not deign to die. Oh! swiftly flying heaven-racing messenger! the tradition of the thing, too, this!

Second Song of the Princess

When the sun shall hide behind the green mountains, in the night black as the true jewels of the moor will I come
forth. Coming radiant with smiles like the morning sun, thine arms white as rope of paper-mulberry-bark shall
softly pat my breast soft as the melting snow; and patting each other interlaced, stretching out and pillowing
ourselves on each other’s jewel-arms – true jewel-arms – and with outstretched legs, will we sleep. So speak not
too lovingly, Thine Augustness the Deity-of-Eight-Thousand-Spears! The tradition of the thing, too, this!”

THE CUP PLEDGE

Again this deity’s Chief Empress, Her Augustness the Forward-Princess, was very jealous. So the deity her
husband, being distressed, was about to go up from Idzumo to the Land of Yamato; and as he stood attired,
with one august hand on the saddle of his august horse and one august foot in the august stirrup, he sang,
saying:

When I take and attire myself so carefully in my august garments black as the true jewels of the moor, and, like
the birds of the offing, look at my breast -though I raise my fins, I say that these are not good, and cast them off
on the waves on the beach. When I take and attire myself so carefully in my august garments green as the
kingfisher, and, like the birds of the offing, look at my breast -though I raise my fins, I say that these, too, are not
good, and cast them off on the waves on the beach. When I take and attire myself so carefully in my raiment
dyed in the sap of the dye-tree, the pounded madder sought in the mountain fields, and, like the birds of the
offing, look at my breast though I raise my fins, I say that they are good. My dear young sister, Thine
Augustness! Though thou say that thou wilt not weep – if like the Rocking birds, I flock and depart, if, like the led
birds, I am led away and depart, thou wilt hang down thy head like a single eulalia upon the mountain and thy
weeping shall indeed rise an the mist of the morning shower. Thine Augustness my spouse like the young
herbal The tradition of the thing, too, this!”

Then his Empress, taking a great august liquor-cup, and drawing near and offering it to him, sang, saying:

“Oh I Thine Augustness the Deity-of-Eight-Thousand-Spears! Thou, my dear Master-of-the-Great-Land indeed,
being a man, probably best on the various island-headlands that thou seest, and on every beach headland that
thou lookest on, a wife like the young herbs. But as for me alas! being a woman, I have no man except thee; I
have no spouse except thee. Beneath the fluttering of the ornamented fence, beneath the softness of the warm
coverlet, beneath the rustling of the cloth coverlet, thine arms white as rope of paper-mulberry bark softly patting
my breast soft as the melting snow, and patting each other interlaced, stretching out and pillowing ourselves on
each otber’s arms-true jewel-arms, and with outstretched legs, will we sleep. Lift up the luxuriant august liquor!”

She having thus sung, they at once pledged each other by the cup with their hands on each other’s necks, and
are at rest till the present time. These are called divine words.

THE KOJIKI

THE CHAMPION OF JAPAN

YAMATO-TAKE SLAYS HIS ELDER BROTHER

The Heavenly Sovereign said to His Augustness Wo-usu: “Why does not thine elder brother come forth to the
morning and evening great august repasts? Be thou the one to take the trouble to teach him his duty.” Thus he
commanded; but for five days after, still the prince came not forth. Then the Heavenly Sovereign deigned to ask
His Augustness Wo-usu, saying: “Why is thine elder brother so long of coming? Hast thou perchance not yet
taught him his duty?” He replied, saying: “I have been at that trouble.” Again the Heavenly Sovereign said: “How
didst thou take the trouble?” He replied, saying: ” In the early morning when he went into the privy, I grasped
hold of him and crushed him, and, pulling off his limbs, wrapped them in matting and flung them away.

YAMATO-TAKE SLAYS THE KUMASO BRAVOES

Thereupon the Heavenly Sovereign, alarmed at the valor and ferocity of his august child’s disposition,
commanded him, saying: ” In the West there are two Kumaso Bravoes – unsubmissive and disrespectful men.
So take them “-and with this command he sent him off. It happened that at this time his august hair was bound
at the brow. Then His Augustness Wo-usu was granted by his aunt Her Augustness Yamato-himeo her august
upper garment and august skirt; and, with a saber hidden in his august bosom, he went forth. So, on reaching
the house of the Kumaso braves, he saw that near the house there was a threefold belt of warriors, who had
made a cave to dwell in. Hereupon they, noisily discussing a rejoicing for the august cave, were getting food
ready. So Prince Wo-usu sauntered about the neighborhood, waiting for the day of the rejoicing. Then when the
day of the rejoicing came, having combed down after the manner of girls his august hair which was bound up,
and having put on his aunt’s august upper garment and august skirt, he looked quite like a young girl, and,
standing amidst the women, went inside the cave. Then the elder brother and the younger brother, the two
Kumaso bravoes, delighted at the sight of the maiden, set her between them, and rejoiced exuberantly. So,
when the feast was at its height, His Augustness Wo-usu, drawing the saber from his bosom, and catching
Kumaso by the collar of his garment, thrust the saber through his chest, whereupon, alarmed at the sight, the
younger bravo ran out. But pursuing after and reaching him at the bottom of the steps of the cave, and catching
him by the back, Prince Wo-usu thrust the saber through his buttock. Then the Kumaso bravo spoke, saying:
“Do not move the sword; I have something to say.” Then His Augustness Wo-usu, respited him for a moment,
holding him down as he lay prostrate. Hereupon the bravo said: ” Who is Thine Augustness?” Then he said: ” I
am the august child of Obo-tarashi-hiko-oshiro-wake, the Heavenly Sovereign who, dwelling in the palace of
Hishiro at Makimuku, rules the Land of the Eight Great Islands; and my name is King Yamata-woguna. Hearing
that you two fellows, the Kumaso bravoes, were unsubmissive and disrespectful, the Heavenly Sovereign sent
me with the command to take and slay you.” Then the Kumaso bravo said: ” That must be true. There are no
persons in the West so brave and strong as we two. Yet in the Land of Great Yamato there is a man braver than
we two-tbere is. Therefore will I offer thee an august name. From this time forward it is right that thou be praised
as the August Child Yamato-take.” As soon as he had finished saying this, the Prince ripped him up like a ripe
melon, and slew him. So thenceforward he was praised by being called by the august name of his Augustness
Yamato-take. When he returned up to the capital after doing this, he subdued and pacified every one of the
deities of the mountains and of the deities of the rivers and likewise of the deities of Anado, and then went up to
the capital.

YAMATO-TAKE SLAYS THE IDZUMO BRAVO

Forthwith entering the land of Idzumo, and wishing to slay the Idzumo bravo, he, on arriving, forthwith bound
himself to him in friendship. So, having secretly made the wood of an oak-tree into a false sword and augustly
girded it, he went with the bravo to bathe in the River Hi. Then, His Augustness Yamato-take getting out of the
river first, and taking and girding on the sword that the Idzumo bravo bad taken off and laid down, said: ” Let us
exchange swords! ” So afterward the Idzumo bravo, getting out of the river, girded on His Augustness
Yamato-take’s false sword. Hereupon His Augustness Yamato-take, suggested, saying: “Come on! let us cross
swords.” Then on drawing his sword, the Idzumo bravo could not draw the false sword. Forthwith His
Augustness Yamato-take drew his sword and slew the lclzumo bravo. Then he sang augustly, saying:

“Alas that the sword girded on the Idzumo bravo, and wound round with many a creeper, should have had no
true blade!”

So having thus extirpated the bravoes and made the land orderly, he went up to the capital and made his report
to the Heavenly Sovereign.

YAMATO-TAKE IS SENT TO SUBDUE THE EAST AND VISITS HIS AUNT AT ISE

Then the Heavenly Sovereign again urged a command on His Augustness Yamato-take, saying: “subdue and
pacify the savage deities and likewise the unsubmissive people of the twelve roads of the East”; and when he
sent him off, joining to him Prince -Mi-suki-tomo-mimi-take, ancestor of the Grandees of Kibi, he bestowed on
him a holly-wood spear eight fathoms long. So when he had received the imperial command and started off, he
went into the temple of the Great August Deity of Ise, and worshiped the deity’s court, forthwith speaking to his
aunt, Her Augustness Yamato-hine, saving: ” It must surely be that the Heavenly Sovereign thinks I may die
quickly – for after sending me to smite the wicked people of the West, I am no sooner come up again to the
capital than, without bestowing on me an army, he now sends me off afresh to pacify the wicked people of the
twelve circuits of the East. Consequently I think that he certainly thinks I shall die quickly.” When he departed
with lamentations and tears, Her Augustness Yamato-hine bestowed on him the “Herb-Quelling-Saber,” and
likewise bestowed on him an august bag, and said: “If there should be an emergency, open the mouth of the
bag.”

YAMATO-TAKE SLAYS THE RULERS OF SAGAMU

So reaching the land of Wohari, he went into the house of Princess Miyadzu, ancestress of the rulers of Wohari,
and forthwith thought to wed her; but thinking again that he would wed her when he should return up toward the
capital, and having plighted his troth, he went on into the Eastern lands, and subdued and pacified all the
savage deities and unsubmissive people of the mountains and rivers. So then, when he reached the land of
Sagamu, the ruler of the land lied, saying: “In the middle of this moor is a great lagoon, and the deity that dwells
in the middle of the lagoon is a very violent deity.” Hereupon Yamato-take entered the moor to see the deity.
Then the ruler of the land set fire to the moor. So, knowing that he had been deceived, he opened the mouth of
the bag which his aunt, Her Augustness Yamato-hine had bestowed on him, and saw that inside of it there was
a fire-striker. Hereupon he first mowed away the herbage with his august sword, took the fire-striker and struck
out fire, and, kindling a counter-fire, burned the herbage and drove back the other fire and returned forth, and
killed and destroyed all the rulers of that land, and forthwith set fire to and burned them. So that place is now
called Yakidzu.

YAMATO-TAKE’S EMPRESS STILLS THE WAVES

When be thence penetrated on, and crossed the sea of Hashiri-midzu, the deity of that crossing raised the
waves, tossing the ship so that it could not proceed across. Then Yamato-take’s Empress, whose name was
Her Augustness Princess Oto-tachibana, said:” Iwill enter the sea instead of the august child. The august child
must complete the service on which he has been sent, and take back a report to the Heavenly Sovereign.”
When she was about to enter the sea, she spread eight thicknesses of sedge rugs, eight thicknesses of skin
rugs, and eight thicknesses of silk rugs on the top of the waves, and sat down on the top of them. Thereupon the
violent waves at once went down, and the august ship was able to proceed. Then the Empress sang, saving:

“Ah I thou whom I inquired of, standing in the midst of the flames of the fire burning on the little moor of Sagamu,
where the true peak pierces!”

So seven days afterward the Empress’s august comb drifted on to the sea-beach – which comb was forthwith
taken and placed in an august mausoleum which was made.

YAMATO-TAKE SLAYS THE DEITY OF THE ASHIGARA PASS

When, having thence penetrated on and subdued all the savage Yemisi [Ainu] and likewise pacified all the
savage deities of the mountains and rivers, he was returning up to the capital, he, on reaching the foot of the
Ashigara Pass, was eating his august provisions, when the deity of the pass, transformed into a white deer,
came and stood before him. Then forthwith, on his waiting and striking the deer with a scrap of wild chive, the
deer was hit in the eye and struck dead. So, mounting to the top of the pass, he sighed three times and spoke,
saying: ” Adzuma ha ya!” [My Wife!] So that land is called by the name of Adzuma.

YAMATO-TAKE WOOS PRINCESS MIYAZU

When, forthwith crossing over from that land out into Kahi, he dwelt in the palace of Sakawori, he sang, saying:

“How many nights have I slept since passing Nihibari and Tsukuha?”

Then the old man, who was the lighter of the august fire, completed the august song, and sang, saying:

“Oh! having put the days in a row, there are of nights nine nights, and of days ten days!”

Therefore Yamato-take praised the old man, and forthwith bestowed on him the rulership of the Eastern lands.

Having crossed over from that land into the land of Shinanu and subdued the deity of the Shinanu pass, he
came back to the land of Wohari, and went to dwell in the house of Princess Miyazu, to whom he had before
plighted his troth. Hereupon, when presenting to him the great august food, Princess Miyazu lifted up a great
liquor-cup and presented it to him.

After this, placing in Princess Miyazu’s house his august sword “the Grass-Quelling Saber,” he went forth to
take the deity of Mount Ibuki.

YAMATO-TAKE MEETS THE DEITY OF MOUNT IBUKI

Hereupon he said: “As for the deity of this mountain, I will simply take him empty-handed”– and was ascending
the mountain, when there met him on the mountainside a white boar whose size was like unto that of a bull. Then
he lifted up words, and said: “This creature that is transformed into a white boar must be a messenger from the
deity. Though I slay it not now, I will slay it when I return”– and so saying, ascended. Thereupon the deity caused
heavy ice-rain to fall, striking and perplexing His Augustness Yamato-take. (This creature transformed into a
white boar was not a messenger from the deity, but the very deity in person. Owing to the lifting up of words, he
appeared and misled Yamato-take.) So when, on descending back, he reached the fresh spring of
Tamakura-be and rested there, his august heart awoke somewhat. So that fresh spring is called by the name of
the fresh spring of Wi-same.

YAMATO TAKE SICKENS AND DIES

When he departed thence and reached the moor of Tagi, he said: ” Whereas my heart always felt like flying
through the sky, my legs are now unable to walk. They have become rudder-shaped.” So that place was called
by the name of Tagi. Owing to his being very weary with progressing a little farther beyond that place, be leaned
upon an august staff to walk a little. So that place is called by the name of the Tsuwetsuki pass. On arriving at
the single pine-tree on Cape Wotsu, an august sword, which he had forgotten at that place before when
augustly eating, was still there, not lost. Then he augustly sang, saying:

“O mine elder brother, the single pine-tree that art on Cape Wotsu which directly faces Wohari! If thou, single
pine-tree! wert a person, I would gird my sword upon thee, I would clothe thee with my garments – O mine elder
brother, the single pine-tree!”

When he departed thence and reached the village of Mihe, he again said: ” My legs are like threefold crooks,
and very weary.” So that place was called by the name of Mihe. When he departed thence and reached the
moor of Nobe, he regretting his native land, sang, saying:

“As for Yamato, the most secluded of land – Yamato, retired behind Mount Awogaki encompassing it with its
folds, is delightful.”

Again he sang, saying:

“Let those whose life may be complete stick in their hair as a headdress the leaves of the bear-oak from Mount
Heguri -those children!”

This song is a land-regretting song. Again he sang, saying:

“How sweet! ah! from the direction of home clouds are rising and coming!”

This is an incomplete song. At this time, his august sickness very urgent. Then he sang augustly, saying:

The saber-sword which I placed at the maiden’s bedside, alas! that sword!”

As soon as he had finished singing, he died. Then a courier was dispatched to the Heavenly Sovereign.

YAMATO-TAKE TURNS INTO A WHITE BIRD

Thereupon his Empresses and likewise his august children, who dwelt in Yamato, all went down and built an
august mausoleum, and, forthwith crawling hither and thither in the rice fields encompassing the mausoleum,
sobbed out a song, saying:

The Dioscorea quinqueloba crawling hither and thither among the among the rice-stubble in the rice-fields
encompassing the Mausoleum..”

Thereupon the dead prince, turning into a white dotterel eight fathoms long, and soaring up to Heaven, flew off
toward the shore. Then the Empress and likewise the august children, though they tore their feet treading on the
stubble of the bamboo-grass, forgot the pain, and pursued him with lamentations. At that time they sang, saying:

“Our loins are impeded in the plain overgrown with short bamboo-grass. We are not going through the sky, but
oh! we are on foot.”

Again when they entered the salt sea, and suffered as they went, they sang, saying:

“As we go through the sea, our loins are impeded -tottering in the sea like herbs growing in a great river-bed.”

Again when the bird flew and perched on the seaside, they sang, saying:

“The dotterel of the beach goes not on the beach, but follows the seaside.”

These four songs were all sung at Yamato-take’s august interment. So to the present day these songs are sung
at the great interment of a Heavenly Sovereign. So the bird flew off from that country, and stopped at Shiki in the
land of Kafuchi. So they made an august mausoleum there, and laid Yamato-take to rest. Forthwith that august
mausoleum was called by. the name of the “August-Mausoleum of the White-Bird.” Nevertheless the bird
soared up thence to heaven again and flew away.