Founding Merit Retainers

Umashimade-no-Mikoto

¶Umashimade-no-Mikoto (Note: the Sendai Kuji Hongi writes the name as Umashimaji-no-Mikoto, or alternatively as Umamimi). His father was Kushitama-Nigihayahi-no-Mikoto (Note: according to the Kuji-ki, Amateru-Kuniteru-Hiko-Ama-no-Hoakari-Kushitama-Nigihayahi-no-Mikoto was an elder brother of Ninigi-no-Mikoto by the same mother. But when the Nihon Shoki is examined, Amateru-Kuniteru-Hiko-Hoakari-no-Mikoto is a brother of Ninigi-no-Mikoto by the same mother and is held to be the first ancestor of the Owari-no-Muraji and others, yet the name Kushitama-Nigihayahi does not appear there. Nigihayahi is called merely a child of a heavenly deity; his origin is not set out in detail, and although he is regarded as a remote ancestor of the Mononobe clan, he is not linked with titles such as Amateru. Moreover, the origins of the Owari-no-Muraji and the Mononobe-no-Muraji recorded in the Shinsen Shōjiroku agree with this. It is therefore clear that the two were different persons. That the Kuji-ki confuses them and treats them as one man appears to be a forced construction of later times, and so it is not adopted here). He was also called Kami-Nigihayahi-no-Mikoto (Note: following the Shinsen Shōjiroku). Nigihayahi once rode the Ama-no-Iwafune, the Heavenly Rock Boat, and descended to Takerugamine on the upper reaches of the river in Kawachi province, and then reached Shiraniwayama in Tomi in Ōyamato (Note: the account of the Nihon Shoki, supplemented with reference to the Kuji-ki). Nigihayahi took as his wife Mikashikiya-hime, younger sister of Nagasunehiko, the powerful chieftain of that land (Note: a note in the present work says she was also called Nagasune-hime, or again Toriyahime). Umashimade was born to them, and for this reason Nigihayahi came to dwell in that land. Nagasunehiko revered Nigihayahi as a divine man and served him as his lord.

¶When Emperor Jinmu set out on his eastern expedition, Nagasunehiko led all his forces and met the emperor's army at Kusaenosaka. The imperial army fared badly in the battle, and the emperor drew his troops back. Advancing further, he came to Uda, put to death the chieftain Eukashi and others, and at last attacked Nagasunehiko. Even so, the fighting still did not go as he wished. Then, as the sky clouded over and rain mixed with hail fell, a golden kite appeared and settled on the emperor's bow, shining with a light like lightning. The rebel army was dazzled by it and could no longer fight with strength. Nagasunehiko sent a messenger to say: "Formerly a child of a heavenly deity descended to this land, and he was called Kushitama-Nigihayahi-no-Mikoto. He took my sister as his wife and had a child by her, and so I have served him as my lord. There cannot be two kinds of child of a heavenly deity. Why, then, do you also call yourself a child of a heavenly deity and seek to take my land?" The emperor replied: "There are many children of heavenly deities. If the one you serve as your lord is truly a child of a heavenly deity, there must surely be a token of it." Nagasunehiko then brought out Nigihayahi's Ama-no-Hahaya arrow and his walking quiver as proof. The emperor said, "It is no falsehood," and he in turn displayed his own Ama-no-Hahaya arrow and walking quiver as proof. Seeing this, Nagasunehiko was struck with awe and reverence. But the battle had already been joined and its momentum could no longer be checked. Nagasunehiko had in the end no intention of submitting. Nigihayahi had known from the first that the will of the heavenly deities lay wholly with the heavenly grandson, but Nagasunehiko was obstinate and could not be persuaded by any means. Nigihayahi therefore killed Nagasunehiko and, leading his followers, submitted to the emperor. The emperor praised him. This man is the remote ancestor of the Mononobe clan (Note: all the above follows the Nihon Shoki. ◎ According to the Sendai Kuji Hongi, Nigihayahi-no-Mikoto had already died in Ōyamato, and Nagasunehiko set up Umashimaji as his lord. Umashimaji killed Nagasunehiko and, leading his followers, submitted, whereupon the emperor approved and bestowed on him a divine sword. This differs somewhat from the present work, and is added for reference).

¶Umashimade presented to the emperor the ten kinds of heavenly auspicious treasures that had been handed down in his family. The emperor was greatly pleased and showed him special favor. Before long Umashimade led the Ama-no-Mononobe, the Heavenly Mononobe, against the rebels and won merit. In the first year, in the first month, when the emperor ascended the throne, Umashimade first offered the heavenly auspicious treasures, set up a divine shield and made reverent observance, and also enshrined the Futsunushi divine sword within the palace hall, storing the ten treasures there and performing the rite of pacification on the emperor's behalf. The emperor was pleased and commanded him to keep night watch inside the hall, and for this he was given the title Sukune. The title Sukune began at this time. After the emperor had taken his seat in the main hall, Umashimade led the Uchi-no-Mononobe, the Inner Mononobe, who stood up spears and shields and guarded him closely. In the eleventh month of that year he offered the heavenly auspicious treasures on behalf of the emperor and empress to pacify their spirits and to pray for long life. The Mitama-shizume-no-Matsuri, the Rite of Spirit Pacification, began here. In the second month of the following year, the emperor issued an edict praising his loyal service, entrusted him with the weighty office of a right-hand and left-hand pillar of state, and decreed that his descendants should inherit that office generation after generation.

¶Umashimade had two sons, Umashinigita-no-Mikoto and Hikoyuki-no-Mikoto (Note: the Shinsen Shōjiroku also writes Umashinigita as Umashinigihi and Hikoyuki as Hikoyuyu). Hikoyuki-no-Mikoto was also called Konohiraki. In the reign of Emperor Suizei he took charge of the rites of the Futsunushi sword, and his descendants succeeded to that office in every generation. Among the grandsons of Hikoyuki was Ōkigui-no-Mikoto, whose son was called Ōheso-ki-no-Mikoto. Ōheso-ki's son was called Ikagashikoo-no-Mikoto (Note: following the Sendai Kuji Hongi). In the seventh year of Emperor Sujin, when it was proposed to worship Ōmononushi-no-Kami and Ōkunitama-no-Kami, divination determined that Ikagashikoo should distribute the offerings to the deities, and the result of the divination was auspicious. For this reason Ikagashikoo took charge of the matter (Note: following the Nihon Shoki). Ikagashikoo moved the shrine of Futsu-no-Ōkami to Isonokami village in Yamato and worshipped the god with the ten treasures that had been stored within the hall; he gave the deity the name Isonokami-no-Ōkami, making it a god protecting the state and also the tutelary god of the Mononobe clan. Ikagashikoo's sons were called Ōniikawa-no-Mikoto and Tōchine-no-Mikoto (Note: following the Sendai Kuji Hongi. ◎ The present work writes the name Toichine, but here the Nihon Shoki is followed).

¶Mononobe-no-Tōchine. In the reign of Emperor Suinin, Tōchine became a Daibu, Great Minister, and his name was listed alongside Takenunakawawake, Hikokunibuku, Nakatomi-no-Ōkashima, Ōtomo-no-Takehi, and others. Before this, the emperor had repeatedly sent envoys to inspect the divine treasures of Izumo, but none of them obtained the true facts. He therefore commanded Tōchine to carry out the inspection as well. Tōchine went to Izumo, investigated the facts thoroughly, and returned to report. The emperor was satisfied with his report and put Tōchine in charge of the divine treasures (Note: following the Nihon Shoki). In the eighty-first year he was granted the title Mononobe-no-Muraji-no-Kimi (Note: following the Sendai Kuji Hongi. ◎ In the Nihon Shoki the name Mononobe-no-Tōchine-no-Ōmuraji already appears in the entry for the twenty-sixth year, but may this have been written in later by retrospective addition? There is no way of confirming it at present). In the eighty-seventh year, Ōnakatsu-hime recommended Tōchine and had him put in charge of the divine treasures of Isonokami. From this time on, the Mononobe clan managed them in every generation (Note: following the Nihon Shoki).

¶Mononobe-no-Takemorosumi-no-Mikoto. The son of Ōniikawa was called Takemorosumi-no-Mikoto (Note: following the Sendai Kuji Hongi. ◎ A note in the Nihon Shoki gives his other name as Ōhozumi. The present work makes Ōhozumi a younger brother of Takemorosumi-no-Mikoto). In the sixtieth year of Emperor Sujin he was sent to Izumo, took the divine treasures, and presented them (Note: following the Nihon Shoki). Takemorosumi's son was called Tajima-no-Muraji-no-Kimi. Tajima's sons were called Inba-no-Muraji-no-Kimi, Iyo-no-Muraji-no-Kimi, Ogami-no-Muraji-no-Kimi, and Ōwake-no-Muraji-no-Kimi.

¶His other descendants also flourished, serving the court in every generation and prospering (Note: following the Sendai Kuji Hongi). They divided according to their places of residence and their duties, and are said to have branched into one hundred and eighty clans (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi, the annals of Emperor Kanmu).

Michi-no-Omi-no-Mikoto

¶Michi-no-Omi-no-Mikoto was at first called Hi-no-Omi-no-Mikoto (Note: following the Nihon Shoki). He was a fifth-generation descendant of Takamimusubi-no-Mikoto and a later descendant of Ame-no-Oshihi-no-Mikoto (Note: following the Shinsen Shōjiroku). Formerly, when Hikoho-no-Ninigi-no-Mikoto descended to the peak of Takachiho in Hyūga, Ame-no-Oshihi carried the Ama-no-Iwayuki quiver on his back, wore the Kabutsuchi-no-Tsurugi sword at his side, and bore bow and arrows, and led the Ōkume as vanguard (Note: the account of the Nihon Shoki, supplemented with reference to the Kojiki and the Man'yōshū). On this account the Ōkume-be was made the Yugei-be, the quiver-bearers. The title Ama-no-Yugei began here (Note: following the Shinsen Shōjiroku).

¶Hi-no-Omi followed Emperor Jinmu on the eastern expedition and reached Kumano. The emperor wished to advance toward the Central Land, but the mountain paths were steep and cut off, and he could not go forward. One night the emperor dreamed of Amaterasu-Ōmikami (Note: the Kojiki makes it a dream of Takagi-no-Ōkami). The great goddess said: "I will send the eight-span-long crow, Yatagarasu, to be your guide." When he awoke, the Yatagarasu did indeed come. The emperor said: "This is exactly as the dream foretold. The imperial ancestress Amaterasu-Ōmikami must wish to help the great undertaking to its completion." Hi-no-Omi therefore led the Ōkume, cutting a way through the mountains, followed the direction the crow flew, and at last reached Shimotsu-agata of Uda. The emperor praised his loyal courage and his merit in opening the road, and bestowed on him the name Michi-no-Omi, "Minister of the Way."

¶The emperor summoned Eukashi and Otokashi, the chieftains of Uda district. Eukashi did not come, but Otokashi at once presented himself at the army camp and reported: "My elder brother Eukashi, hearing that the heavenly grandson was coming, raised troops intending to attack you. But when he saw the imperial army he took fright and did not dare to oppose it. He has therefore secretly set an ambush, built what he pretends is a new palace, and rigged devices inside it. Under cover of a banquet in your honor he means to do you harm. I beg you to make ready quickly." The emperor immediately ordered Michi-no-Omi to scout the situation (Note: the Kojiki says that the two, Michi-no-Omi-no-Mikoto and Ōkume-no-Mikoto, were ordered to scout). Having examined the rebels' situation in detail, Michi-no-Omi flew into a great rage, raised his voice, and rebuked Eukashi, saying: "You villain, the house you built, you may live in yourself!" Then, laying his hand on his sword and drawing his bow taut, he drove Eukashi into the house. Eukashi could not escape; he stepped on the trap, was crushed, and died. The emperor had the corpse cut up further.

¶When the emperor was about to attack Yasotakeru and his band, he worshipped the various deities at Niukawakami. At this time the Itsube, sacred jars, were first set up. The emperor commanded Michi-no-Omi: "I wish to worship Takamimusubi-no-Mikoto. I make you the Iwainushi, the officiant of the rite," and gave him the title Itsuhime. The emperor himself led the troops, attacked Yasotakeru at Kunimi Hill, and cut them down. For this battle, the emperor, determined on victory, composed a song. Its meaning was that the sea-snails creeping round and round a great stone in the sea of Ise were his own warriors, who would encircle the enemy and strike until they were finished. The song likened the great stone to Kunimi Hill, but remnants of the enemy had still not been pacified. The emperor secretly ordered Michi-no-Omi to lead the Ōkume against them, and gave him a plan.

¶Michi-no-Omi dug an earthen chamber at Osaka and lured the rebels in by holding a banquet. He selected stout soldiers to sit among the rebels and warned them: "When the wine has gone round, I will stand up and sing. As soon as you hear my song, cut them down." When the throng of rebels had become drunk and fallen helpless, Michi-no-Omi stood up and sang. The song told of the great house at Osaka, which many men had entered, and declared that even if the men inside were many, the young men of Kume, with their mallet-headed swords and stone mallets, would strike until the enemy was done. At the sound of the song the stout soldiers drew their mallet-headed swords and fell on the rebels all together, killing them, so that not one survived. The whole army rejoiced greatly and laughed, looking up to heaven. Then he sang again, in a song that rejoiced that the moment had come at last and called on his men to rejoice now at least. The custom in later ages of the Kumebe laughing loudly when their song ends comes from this. He also sang another song, which said that men called the eastern barbarians a hundred men strong, yet they had not put up any resistance. These songs were all sung on the emperor's secret command. In this way Michi-no-Omi accomplished his merit by means of soeuta, allusive song, and sakashimagoto, inverted speech. The use of sakashimagoto began here (Note: the Kojiki says that when the emperor reached the great chamber at Osaka, the eighty brave men of the tailed Tsuchigumo would not submit, so the emperor held a banquet to entertain them and had each of the kitchen attendants hold a sword, instructing them, "When you hear the song, cut them down." Then, when the song was sung beginning "Osaka no...", the attendants all drew their swords at once and killed them; the song is the same as the one recorded here).

¶When the emperor ascended the throne at the Kashihara Palace, Michi-no-Omi led the Kumebe and guarded the palace gate (Note: following the Sendai Kuji Hongi and the Kogo Shūi). In the following year the emperor distributed rewards according to merit, granting Michi-no-Omi a residence site in Tsukisaka village and treating him with special favor. He settled the Ōkume to the west of Mount Unebi, and that place was later called Kume village (Note: following the Nihon Shoki). The emperor issued an edict praising Michi-no-Omi's loyalty and courage and decreed that his line should take charge of military affairs in every generation (Note: following the Sendai Kuji Hongi).

Shiinetsuhiko

¶Shiinetsuhiko (Note: the Kojiki writes "Shii" with a different character, that for "dry stalk"). He was also called Kamishiritsuhiko (Note: following the Shinsen Shōjiroku). His first name was Uzuhiko. When Emperor Jinmu, on his eastern expedition, came to Hayasuinoto, a fisherman came in a small boat (Note: the Kojiki says that Saonetsuhiko met the emperor at Tōnosuinoto, fishing while riding on a turtle). The emperor asked, "Who are you?" He answered: "I am a deity of this land, and my name is Uzuhiko. I was fishing in the bay of Wada when I heard that a child of a heavenly deity had come, and so I have come to meet you." The emperor asked further, "Can you guide us?" He answered, "I can." The emperor then handed him the tip of a pole of shii wood to hold, drew him into the imperial ship, and ordered him to guide them by sea. He bestowed on him the special name Shiinetsuhiko.

¶In the year Tsuchinoe-Uma, the emperor advanced his army to Uda, but Yasotakeru, Eshiki, and others held the strategic points with their troops. At this time, following a dream oracle, the emperor wished to take earth from Ama-no-Kaguyama, make from it the Ame-no-Hiraka and the Itsube, sacred vessels, worship the deities with them, and so subdue the rebels. But the rebel army filled the land and blocked the roads so that no one could pass. The emperor therefore had Shiinetsuhiko put on a tattered straw cape and hat, disguising him as an old man, and had Otokashi cover himself with a winnowing basket, disguising him as an old woman, and commanded them: "You two are to climb Ama-no-Kaguyama and secretly take earth from its summit. By this we shall divine whether the undertaking will succeed or fail. Do your best." As he set out, Shiinetsuhiko prayed on his own behalf: "If our sovereign is to pacify this land, the road I travel will open of itself. If not, the rebels will surely bar my way." When he had finished speaking he set off straight ahead. The rebels saw them, laughed at them as ugly old people, and stood aside to let them pass, and in the end the two were able to bring back the earth.

¶The emperor was greatly pleased, made the Hiraka and Itsube, worshipped the deities, and afterwards himself led troops out to battle. He first cut down Yasotakeru and then, raising his whole army, went on to subdue Shiki. Otoshiki submitted, but Eshiki and his men refused to surrender to the end. Shiinetsuhiko then offered a stratagem, saying: "Now let us first send out our women's army by the Osaka road. The enemy will surely send out their picked troops to meet it. Meanwhile I shall lead a separate force of stout soldiers to Sumisaka, and use the water of the Uda River to put out the blazing charcoal fires. If we then strike when they are not expecting it, we are sure to defeat them." The emperor approved. When the women's army was sent out to confront the enemy, the rebels believed that the main force had arrived and resisted it with all their strength. The men's army then came out behind them from Sumisaka, caught them in a pincer, defeated them, and cut down Eshiki and his men. When the emperor ascended the throne, Shiinetsuhiko was appointed Yamato-no-Kuni-no-Miyatsuko for this merit (Note: following the Nihon Shoki).

Otokashi

¶Otokashi was a man of Uda district. Together with his elder brother Eukashi he was a chieftain of the district. In the year Tsuchinoe-Uma, Emperor Jinmu reached Shimotsu-agata of Uda and sent an envoy to summon them. But Eukashi did not come and secretly plotted rebellion (Note: the Kojiki says that the emperor first sent the Yatagarasu to ask the two brothers, "A child of a heavenly deity has now come to this land. Can you serve him?" and that Eukashi shot at the crow with a humming-bulb arrow).

¶Otokashi came at once and reported the circumstances in detail. The emperor ordered Michi-no-Omi to put Eukashi to death. Otokashi presented beef and wine to reward the imperial army. The emperor then composed a song, which is the so-called Kume-uta. At that time the bands of rebels had not yet been pacified and, holding the strategic points, kept the roads closed. The emperor was troubled by this. One night a heavenly deity appeared to him in a dream and said: "Take earth from Ama-no-Kaguyama, make eighty Ame-no-Hiraka and an Itsube, and reverently worship the deities of heaven and earth. Also perform solemn imprecation. Then the rebels will be pacified of themselves." The emperor thought this marvelous and was about to follow the dream oracle when Otokashi reported: "The eighty Yasotakeru of Shiki village and the eighty Yasotakeru of the red copper of Takaowari village (Note: the Sendai Kuji Hongi writes "copper" with the character for "sea bream") are all ready to fight, and I am secretly troubled. If we now take the clay of Ama-no-Kaguyama, make the Ame-no-Hiraka, worship the shrines of the heavenly and earthly deities, and then attack the rebels, we can easily remove them." The emperor was greatly pleased and sent Otokashi and Shiinetsuhiko to Ama-no-Kaguyama to take the earth. At this time rebel troops were blocking the road, but Otokashi and his companion changed their appearance, advanced in secret, and at last obtained the earth and returned. When the emperor ascended the throne, Otokashi was granted the fief of Takeda village for this merit and became Takeda-no-Agatanushi (Note: following the Nihon Shoki).

Otoshiki

¶Otoshiki, whose name was Kurohaya, was a man of Shiki village in Yamato. His elder brother was called Eshiki. When Emperor Jinmu made his eastern expedition, Eshiki raised troops at Iware village and tried to block him. The emperor led his army and attacked Shiki. He first sent an envoy to summon Eshiki, but Eshiki did not obey the command. He then sent the Yatagarasu to summon him. The Yatagarasu came to Eshiki's camp and called out: "A child of a heavenly deity summons you. Come, come!" but Eshiki still would not obey and, in anger, drew his bow and shot at the Yatagarasu. The crow avoided the arrow and escaped harm.

¶The crow then went to Otoshiki's house and called: "A child of a heavenly deity summons you. Come, come!" Otoshiki was startled and, his expression changing, said: "When I heard that a heavenly deity had come, I was fearful and cautious morning and evening. How gracious it is, this call of yours!" He then made eight leaf-plates, filled them with food, and entertained the crow. Soon afterwards he came with the crow and reported to the emperor: "My elder brother Eshiki, hearing that a child of a heavenly deity has come, has gathered the Yasotakeru and means to fight a decisive battle. I beg you to make plans quickly."

¶The emperor gathered his generals and asked, "Eshiki does not obey the command. What should be done?" The generals answered: "He is a cunning rebel. First let Otoshiki explain the right course to him, and if he still does not submit, it will not be too late to send troops." The emperor ordered Otoshiki to set out for him the advantages and dangers, but Eshiki would not listen. The emperor therefore used Shiinetsuhiko's stratagem, attacked and defeated Eshiki, and cut him down. When the emperor ascended the throne, he recorded Otoshiki's merit and made him Shiki-no-Agatanushi.

Kumano-no-Takakuraji

¶At this time the Yatagarasu also shared in the rewards (Note: following the Nihon Shoki). The Yatagarasu was named Kamo-no-Takegitsumi-no-Mikoto and was a grandson of Kamimusubi-no-Mikoto. Because he transformed himself into a great crow, flew, and served as guide, he received the title Yatagarasu (Note: following the Shinsen Shōjiroku). His descendants became the Kamo-no-Agatanushi (Note: following the Kogo Shūi). In the second year of Keiun, in the reign of Emperor Monmu, a shrine was built in Uda district in Yamato province to worship him (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi).

¶Kumano-no-Takakuraji (Note: according to the Sendai Kuji Hongi, his first name was Ame-no-Kagoyama-no-Mikoto and he was also called Taguri-hiko-no-Mikoto; he is said to have been an elder half-brother of Umashimaji. But according to the present work and the Shinsen Shōjiroku, Ame-no-Kagoyama-no-Mikoto was a son of Ame-no-Hoakari-no-Mikoto and a remote ancestor of the Owari-no-Muraji. Since the Sendai Kuji Hongi has already confused Ame-no-Hoakari and Nigihayahi as a single person, this too is probably a forced construction of later times. It is not adopted here). He was a man of Kumano village in Kii province. When Emperor Jinmu made his eastern expedition and reached Kumano, he put Niishikitobe to death. At this time the soldiers were struck by the poisonous breath of a malevolent deity, and all fell dazed so that none could rise (Note: the Kojiki mentions a figure clad in the pelt of a great bear, who may be the malevolent deity spoken of here).

¶Takakuraji dreamed of Amaterasu-Ōmikami (Note: the Kojiki makes it a dream of Amaterasu-Ōmikami and Takagi-no-Kami). The great goddess said to Takemikazuchi-no-Kami: "In the Central Land of Reed Plains I still hear a clamor of voices. Go and subdue it." Takemikazuchi answered: "Even if I do not go myself, if I send down my sword that pacified the land (Note: the Kojiki writes 'blade'; likewise below), the land will be pacified of itself." The great goddess said, "Very well." Takemikazuchi then said to Takakuraji: "I have a sword, named Futsu-no-Mitama. I shall now place it in your storehouse; take it out and present it to the heavenly grandson." Takakuraji respectfully accepted, but then awoke. The next morning he went into the storehouse and saw that the sword was indeed standing there upside down. He went at once to the army camp and presented it. The emperor was asleep at the time, but as soon as the sword arrived he woke suddenly, the others soon rose as well, and the malevolent deities all fell prostrate (Note: following the Nihon Shoki. The Sendai Kuji Hongi says that the emperor approved this and made him a close retainer). Futsu-no-Mitama is also called Sajifutsu-no-Kami and Mikafutsu-no-Kami. It is said that it was afterwards deposited at Isonokami Shrine (Note: following the Kojiki).