Biographies XXXV: Takeuchi-no-Sukune and His Descendants

Takeuchi-no-Sukune

¶Takeuchi-no-Sukune was a descendant of Hikofutooshi-no-Makoto-no-Mikoto, a son of Emperor Kōgen. Hikofutooshi-no-Makoto begot Yanushioshi-o-takeogokoro-no-Mikoto. In the third year of Emperor Keikō, Yanushioshi-o-takeogokoro was ordered to make offerings to the gods of Kii province; he went to Kashiwabara in Abi and lived there for nine years. He took as his wife Kagehime, a daughter of Ujihiko, and had five children by her (Note: the Kojiki writes "sister" in place of "daughter"). In the twenty-fifth year, Takeuchi received a command to inspect the conditions of the provinces of the north-east and the state of their people. In the twenty-seventh year he returned and reported: "In the lands of the eastern Emishi there is a country called Hitakami. Men and women alike tattoo their bodies and bind their hair in a mallet-shaped knot; they are fierce in temper, and are called Emishi. Their land is fertile and broad, and it should be attacked and seized." In the fortieth year the eastern barbarians rose in revolt. The emperor accordingly ordered his son Prince Yamato-takeru to subdue them, and he pacified them. In the first month of the fifty-first year the emperor summoned his ministers to court and feasted them for several days, but Prince Wakatarashihiko and Takeuchi alone did not join the banquet; together they stood watch beneath the gate to guard against the unforeseen. The emperor was pleased. In the eighth month of that year he at last installed the prince as Crown Prince. This was the later Emperor Seimu. On that day Takeuchi was declared a minister who was a pillar of the state. Takeuchi and Emperor Seimu had in fact been born on the same day (Note: the Kuji Hongi says he was born on the same day as Emperor Keikō, but this is mistaken), and the two were on terms of great intimacy. When Emperor Seimu ascended the throne, Takeuchi was appointed Ōomi, Great Minister, and received exceptional favor (Note: following the Nihon Shoki). The office of Ōomi is said to have begun at this time (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin and the Jinnō Shōtōki).

¶When Emperor Chūai campaigned against the Kumaso and died in Tsukushi, Takeuchi conferred with the Empress and they kept the death secret and did not announce it. The Empress privately entrusted the emperor's coffin to Takeuchi, who moved it to Anato. At that time military and state affairs were so pressing that no funeral could be held; the coffin was laid temporarily in the Toyura Palace, and Takeuchi then returned to the capital. The Empress herself led a campaign against the Three Han of Korea, and on her way back, on reaching Tsukushi, she gave birth to Emperor Ōjin. In the second month of the Kanoto-Mi year, as she was returning to the capital bearing the emperor (Ōjin), Prince Kagosaka and Prince Oshikuma raised troops and lay in wait in Harima. Hearing this, the Empress led her fleet toward Naniwa and ordered Takeuchi to carry the emperor by the southern sea route. Takeuchi reached the harbor of Kii and joined the Empress at Hidaka. In the third month the Empress ordered Takeuchi and Takefurukuma to attack Oshikuma (Note: the Kojiki credits Takefurukuma with the achievement of defeating Oshikuma and does not record Takeuchi's name). Takeuchi led picked troops out from Yamashiro to the north of the Tamuro River at Uji and confronted Oshikuma. He had his entire army bind their hair in the mallet-shaped knot, hide their bowstrings in their topknots, and conceal the swords at their belts, distributing wooden swords instead. Then, claiming the Empress's command, he lured Oshikuma by having these words delivered: "I have no desire for the realm; I merely carry the young prince in my arms and serve you. Let us cut our bowstrings together, lay down our arms, and make peace. Then you will ascend the throne, rest easy with your pillow raised high, and take the government in hand as you please." Takeuchi's soldiers thereupon cut their bowstrings, laid down their weapons, and threw them all into the river. Oshikuma believed this and likewise cut his bowstrings and laid down his arms. Takeuchi then issued an order; the hidden swords and bowstrings were taken out, and the army crossed the river and fell on the enemy by surprise. Oshikuma was defeated and fled, and Takeuchi defeated him again in the chestnut grove at Ōsaka and Sasanami, killing and capturing many. Cornered, Oshikuma threw himself into the water and died.

¶In the Mizunoto-Mi year, Takeuchi received the edict of the Empress Dowager and escorted the emperor to worship the Great God Kehi at Tsunuga. On the return journey the Empress composed a song wishing the emperor long life, and Takeuchi, speaking in the emperor's stead, composed a song in reply. In the seventh year of the emperor's reign, Takeuchi supervised the Korean immigrants in digging a pond in Ōyamato, which was named the Karahito Pond. In the ninth year, by imperial command, he inspected Tsukushi. His younger brother Umashiuchi-no-Sukune slandered him to the emperor, saying: "Takeuchi holds Tsukushi as his base, summons the Three Han, and is plotting treason." The emperor believed this and sent a messenger to put Takeuchi to death. Hearing of it, Takeuchi lamented: "I have no divided heart; I have served my lord with loyalty. Why must I die when I am guiltless?" At that moment a man named Manegō urged Takeuchi: "All the world knows that you, Minister, have served your lord with a sincere heart. Go up secretly to the capital and clear yourself in person; there will be time to die afterwards. People say my features resemble the Minister's. Please let me take your place." Then he fell on his own sword and died. Takeuchi was deeply grieved and moved, and followed his advice: he slipped away from Tsukushi secretly, took the southern sea route to the capital, presented himself at the palace, and proved his innocence. The emperor questioned Takeuchi and Umashiuchi and had the two undergo the ordeal of boiling water (kukatachi) on the shore of the Shiki River, asking the gods to decide the truth. Umashiuchi was found guilty; Takeuchi struck him down to the ground with the sword at his side and was about to kill him. The emperor issued a special edict to stop him, and gave Umashiuchi as a slave to the ancestors of the Ki-no-Atai and others. Takeuchi took charge of the government as before.

¶In the fiftieth year of Emperor Nintoku, wild geese laid eggs and hatched young at the Mamuta embankment in Kawachi; the emperor made a song about it and put a question to Takeuchi in it, and Takeuchi answered likewise in song (Note: following the Nihon Shoki). In the fifty-fifth year Takeuchi died (Note: the Teiō Hennenki says he died in the seventy-eighth year). Takeuchi is said to have served five emperors, Keikō, Seimu, Chūai, Ōjin, and Nintoku, and to have held office for two hundred and forty-four years (Note: one account in the Kugyō Bunin, and the Mizukagami), but the age at which he died is not clear (Note: following one account in the Kugyō Bunin. The Kugyō Bunin states "year of death unknown" and also gives another account, "died at the age of two hundred and ninety-five". The Mizukagami says two hundred and eighty. The genealogy of the Iwashimizu shrine officials gives three hundred and sixty, or else two hundred and fifty-five. The other accounts are in confusion. On consideration: the Nihon-den, by an envoy of the Song, says "Ki-no-Takeuchi, aged three hundred and seven," and the Kaitō Shokokuki of the Korean Sin Sukchu says "Takeuchi died at the age of three hundred and forty, having served six reigns." These are added for reference). He was enshrined together with Emperor Ōjin in the latter's shrine (Note: following the Kyūreigūji Engishō).

¶Takeuchi had seven sons: Hata-no-Yashiro-no-Sukune, Kose-no-Okara-no-Sukune, Soga-no-Ishikawa-no-Sukune, Heguri-no-Tsuku-no-Sukune, Ki-no-Tsuno-no-Sukune (Note: the Ki clan's own book writes the character for "tree" in place of the first element; here the Nihon Shoki is followed), Katsuragi-no-Nagae-no-Sotsuhiko (Note: the Shinsen Shōjiroku writes "Sotsuhiko-no-Mikoto"), and Wakugo-no-Sukune (Note: following the Kojiki). Kose-no-Okara-no-Sukune had three sons. Hoshikawa-no-Takehiko (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi, third year of Tenpyō-shōhō; the Shinsen Shōjiroku writes "Hoshikawa-no-Takehiko-no-Sukune") served, in the reign of Emperor Ōjin, as the one who put on the cotton sash in place of Ōsazaki-no-Mikoto (the later Emperor Nintoku) and oversaw the imperial table, and for this he was given the surname Ōsazaki-no-Omi (Note: following the Shinsen Shōjiroku). The others were Ito-no-Sukune and Ori-no-Sukune (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi, third year of Tenpyō-shōhō). Soga-no-Ishikawa-no-Sukune (Note: according to the Sandai Jitsuroku, he took the name Ishikawa from having been born at Ishikawa in Kawachi, and was granted the surname Soga-no-Sukune because he lived in the Great House of Soga, which he was given; but it does not record when this took place) had a son named Machi-no-Sukune (Note: the Shinsen Shōjiroku says "the fourth-generation descendant of Soga-no-Ishikawa-no-Sukune was Inume", and the Kugyō Bunin says "Inume was a great-grandson of Machi-no-Sukune". From these it is clear that Machi was Ishikawa's son, and that is followed here). In the second year of Emperor Richū he took charge of the government together with Heguri-no-Tsuku and others (Note: following the Nihon Shoki). Machi's son was called Karako (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin). In the time of Emperor Yūryaku he was ordered, together with Ki-no-Oyumi and others, to campaign against Silla, and was killed in the camp by Ki-no-Ōiwa (Note: following the Nihon Shoki). This account is given in the "Biography of Oyumi."

Heguri-no-Tsuku-no-Sukune

¶Heguri-no-Tsuku-no-Sukune was born on the same day as Emperor Nintoku. At his birth a wren flew into Nintoku's birth chamber and an eared owl (tsuku) flew into Heguri's. Emperor Ōjin took this as an auspicious sign and ordered Takeuchi to have the two children exchange names, and that is why Heguri's was "Tsuku." In the sixteenth year of Emperor Ōjin he led troops together with Ikuha-no-Toda to attack Silla. Earlier, the emperor had sent Katsuragi-no-Nagae-no-Sotsuhiko to Kara to summon the people of Yuzuki, but Silla had held them back and for three years would not let them return. The emperor therefore issued an edict to Tsuku and the others to raise troops and call Silla to account. When Tsuku's army approached its borders, Silla was terrified, apologized, and at last returned together with Sotsuhiko, bringing the people of Yuzuki with them. When Prince Suminoe-no-Nakatsu rebelled, Tsuku and the others helped Emperor Richū to escape, followed Emperor Hanzei to Naniwa, and had Sashihire lured out and made to kill Prince Nakatsu. Tsuku reported to Emperor Hanzei: "Sashihire has done us a service, but he killed his own lord with his own hand. His crime cannot be forgiven." The emperor followed this advice and had Sashihire put to death. In the second year of Emperor Richū he took charge of the government together with Soga-no-Machi, Mononobe-no-Ikofutsu, and Katsuragi-no-Tsubura (Note: following the Nihon Shoki). He died at the age of one hundred and twenty-eight (Note: following the Genealogy of the Ki clan). His son Matori has a separate biography.

Ki-no-Tsuno-no-Sukune

¶In the third year of Emperor Ōjin, Ki-no-Tsuno-no-Sukune went to Paekche together with Hata-no-Yashiro, Soga-no-Ishikawa, and Heguri-no-Tsuku, and rebuked its king, Chinsa, for his discourtesy. The people of Paekche killed Chinsa, set up Ahwa as king in his place, and the envoys returned home. In the forty-first year of Emperor Nintoku, by imperial command he went to Paekche again, fixed for the first time the boundaries of its provinces and districts, and surveyed and recorded its products (Note: following the Nihon Shoki). His son Tatori became Kuni-no-miyatsuko of Tsunu in Emperor Nintoku's time (Note: following the Kuji Hongi).

Katsuragi-no-Nagae-no-Sotsuhiko

¶In the Kinoto-Tori year of Emperor Ōjin, Silla sent Urushibotsu, Momarishichi, and Horamochi to present tribute and made a false petition that Mishikochi, whom it had earlier given as a hostage, be allowed to return home. The Empress Dowager did not see through this and granted it, and ordered Sotsuhiko to escort him. The party lodged at the harbor of Sahi Bay on Tsushima. Momarishichi and the others conferred, sent Mishikochi ahead in secret to Silla, made a straw dummy and laid it in Mishikochi's bed, and deceived Sotsuhiko, saying: "Mishikochi has suddenly fallen gravely ill and is about to die." Sotsuhiko sent a man to look, and on learning that he had been tricked he was enraged; he seized the three, Momarishichi and the others, shut them in a cage, and burned them to death. He then marched on to Silla, reached Tatara-no-tsu, took the fortress of Sawara by storm, and carried its people home as captives. In the Mizunoe-Uma year, because Silla had not delivered its tribute, Sotsuhiko led an army to attack it. In the fourteenth year he was sent to Kara to summon the people of Yuzuki, but Silla held them back, and he returned after three years (Note: following the Nihon Shoki. The Kudara-ki, quoted in the note to the Jingū chronicle of that book, says: "In the Mizunoe-Uma year, Silla did not pay tribute to your honored country (Japan). Your country sent Sachihiko to attack it. The people of Silla sent two beautifully adorned women to meet him at the port. Sachihiko accepted them and instead attacked Kara. The king of Kara fled to Paekche with his whole clan and people, and the king of Paekche received him generously. The king of Kara's sister went to Ōyamato and made an appeal, saying: 'The emperor sent Sachihiko to attack Silla, but he accepted Silla's beautiful women, gave up the attack, and destroyed my country instead. My brothers and people have all been scattered. That is why I have come to make this appeal.' The emperor was greatly angered and ordered Mokurakonshi to lead troops and restore Kara. According to another account, Sachihiko feared that he would be punished if he returned. His younger sister served in the emperor's inner palace. Sachihiko secretly sent a messenger to ask whether the emperor's anger had abated. The sister falsely reported: 'Last night I dreamed of Sachihiko.' The emperor said angrily: 'How could Sachihiko dare to come?' When the sister told her brother this, Sachihiko understood that he would not be forgiven, entered a rock cave, and died." Consideration: Sachihiko would be Sotsuhiko. But the entry for the forty-first year of the Nintoku chronicle also says that the king of Paekche entrusted Sakenokimi to Sotsuhiko and presented him; by this, Sotsuhiko had not yet died in Paekche at that time, and the account in the Kudara-ki is probably mistaken).

¶His sons were Ashida-no-Sukune (Note: following the Kojiki), Koshimo-no-Sukune (Note: following the Shinsen Shōjiroku), and Kumajitari-no-Sukune (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi, tenth year of Enryaku. That book calls Omichi the sixth son of Sotsuhiko, so Sotsuhiko's sons and daughters cannot have been only these, but there is now no way to investigate this). His daughter Iwa-no-hime became the Empress of Emperor Nintoku. Ashida's granddaughter Haehime married Prince Ichinobe-no-Oshiwa and bore the two emperors Kenzō and Ninken (Note: from Ashida on, this follows the note to the Kenzō chronicle in this book). Sotsuhiko's grandson was called Tamada-no-Sukune (Note: this book does not record his father's name). In the fifth year of Emperor Ingyō he was in charge of the rites at the temporary shrine (mogari-no-miya) of Emperor Hanzei, when an earthquake occurred. The emperor sent Owari-no-Aso to observe the state of the mogari-no-miya, and Tamada was not there; Aso reported the situation to the emperor. The emperor sent Aso to Katsuragi to see what Tamada was doing, and Tamada was then holding a drinking party with a gathering of men and women. When Aso conveyed the emperor's wishes, Tamada was struck with fear; he gave Aso a horse, then had him secretly killed on the road and hid the body in Takeuchi's burial ground. When the emperor summoned Tamada, he came wearing armor, and the edge of the armor showed. To find out the truth, the emperor ordered Obarida-no-Uneme to bring him wine. The Uneme reported the whole matter in detail. The emperor was enraged and sought to put Tamada to death, but Tamada fled and hid in his own house. The emperor issued an edict, raised troops, surrounded the house, and seized and executed him (Note: following the Nihon Shoki. A note to the Yūryaku chronicle of that book says: "Kehime, wife of Tasa-no-Omi, was a daughter of Tamada-no-Sukune, son of Katsuragi-no-Sotsuhiko." By this Kehime would be a child of Sotsuhiko, but which is correct is not known. However, the story that Kehime was Tasa's wife conflicts with the main text of the Yūryaku chronicle, and so it is not adopted here. Details are given in the note to the biographies of Emperor Yūryaku's consorts). Tamada's son Tsubura has a separate biography.

Chikuma-no-Nagahiko

¶Ikuha-no-Toda-no-Sukune (Note: this book sometimes writes the "to" of his name with a different character) was at first called Tatebito-no-Sukune (Note: this book records Tatebito-no-Sukune as the ancestor of the Ikuha-no-Omi but does not record his father's name. According to the Shinsen Shōjiroku, the Ikuha-no-Omi were descendants of Katsuragi-no-Sotsuhiko-no-Mikoto. Reckoning the period now, he was probably a son of Sotsuhiko; it is therefore appended here). In the sixteenth year of Emperor Ōjin he led troops with Heguri-no-Tsuku to attack Silla. In the twelfth year of Emperor Nintoku, Koryŏ presented an iron shield and an iron target. The emperor entertained the Koryŏ envoys at court and assembled his ministers to shoot at the shield-target, but no one could pierce it. Toda shot and pierced it. The Koryŏ people were greatly astonished and all stood up and bowed. The emperor praised him, and the next day gave him his present name in place of the former one (Note: the title "Ikuha-no-Toda-no-Sukune" used in the Ōjin chronicle of this book was probably applied retrospectively). In the seventeenth year he went as an envoy to Silla together with Katano-no-Omi and rebuked it for failing to send tribute. Silla was terrified and obeyed the command. Katano-no-Omi had at first been called Sukune-ko, and was given his present name on the same day as Toda (Note: following the Nihon Shoki).

Arata-wake-no-Mikoto

¶Chikuma-no-Nagahiko is not known to have come from any particular place. According to one account he was a man of Musashi (Note: following a note in this book; that note also quotes the Kudara-ki as saying "there is a man called Shikimananakahiko, who is probably this person"). In the Hinoto-U year of Emperor Ōjin, Paekche and Silla both came to pay tribute. On the way Silla attacked Paekche's envoys, seized their tribute, substituted inferior goods, and presented them. The court questioned the Paekche envoys, and the Paekche envoy Kuti and his companions answered truthfully. The court then severely rebuked the Silla envoys and sought to send a messenger to investigate the matter. It prayed to the heavenly gods to choose a suitable envoy, and the god declared: "Let Takeuchi decide the matter, and let Chikuma-no-Nagahiko be the envoy." Nagahiko was accordingly sent to Silla to rebuke it. In the Tsuchinoto-Mi year Arata-wake and Kaga-wake were sent with troops to attack and defeat Silla, and the armies all returned home. Nagahiko alone went to Paekche, made a covenant with its king Shogo at Mount Hekishi, climbed Mount Kosa, and sat with him on a rock seat there. Shogo swore: "From now on our country will forever call itself your western bulwark, and will bring tribute every spring and autumn." He returned with Nagahiko to the Paekche capital and entertained him more generously still. He sent Kuti to escort Nagahiko back to Japan. In the Kanoto-Hitsuji year Kuti, his business done, returned home. The emperor again ordered Nagahiko to go to Paekche with Kuti and convey the imperial command. The following year Nagahiko came home. The king of Paekche once more sent Kuti to bring tribute, and that tribute was never again omitted in any year thereafter; this was due to Nagahiko's efforts (Note: following the Nihon Shoki).

Taji

¶Arata-wake-no-Mikoto was a descendant in the fourth generation of Toyokiirihiko-no-Mikoto (Note: following the Shinsen Shōjiroku. This book also writes his name "Ō-Arata-wake-no-Mikoto"). In the Tsuchinoto-Mi year of Emperor Ōjin he and Kaga-wake became generals and attacked Silla. With Kuti and others of Paekche he led troops to Takujun, intending to attack Silla. Someone said: "Our troops are few; even if we can win, we should send Sahaku and Gairyo to request reinforcements." Mokurakonshi, Sasanako, and others then joined them with picked troops, and together they attacked and defeated Silla and pacified seven countries: Hijihotsu, Minami-Kara, Toku, Ara, Tara, Takujun, and Kara. They advanced further west to Kokeitsu and destroyed Tomutare of the southern barbarians, giving that land to Paekche. King Shogo of Paekche came with his son Kuisu, leading an army. The four towns of Hiri, Hekichū, Homuki, and Hanko saw the force and surrendered. Arata-wake and his fellow commanders met Shogo at the village of Oru. Shogo was greatly pleased and sent them back with generous courtesy. In the second month of the following year Arata-wake returned to the capital. In the fifteenth year of the emperor's reign he went as envoy to Paekche, sought men of learning, obtained Wani and Shinsonō, and returned (Note: following the Nihon Shoki; for Shinsonō, following the Shoku Nihongi. Details are given in the "Biography of Fune-no-Tatsushin"). His sons were Takahase and Taji (Note: because the Nihon Shoki does not record their father's name, the Shinsen Shōjiroku is followed here. The Shinsen Shōjiroku writes Takahase as "Takihase"; the readings of Takihase and Takahase are interchangeable). Kuhi, a third-generation descendant of Takahase, went as envoy to Kure in the reign of Emperor Sushun and on his return presented various goods; among them was a Kure balance. When the emperor asked about it, Kuhi replied: "In the country of Kure, the weight of goods is fixed and trade is conducted by it. It is called 'hakari.'" Kuhi's son Munemaro was given the surname Akinoosa-no-Obito in the reign of Emperor Jomei (Note: following the Shinsen Shōjiroku).

¶Taji, in the fifty-third year of Emperor Nintoku, because Silla had failed to send tribute, his elder brother Takahase was sent to rebuke it, but on the way he obtained a white deer and returned and presented it. Taji was therefore sent in his place, and was given picked troops and the edict: "If Silla defies the command, attack it at once." Silla indeed resisted and repeatedly offered battle. Taji held his fortress firm and did not sally out; he took Silla soldiers prisoner and asked them about the enemy's condition. A prisoner answered: "There is a man called Hyakushō, very brave, who always leads the vanguard for the right wing. If you attack the left wing, you will surely defeat it." Taji then chose picked cavalry and attacked the left wing. The Silla army collapsed completely, and Taji pressed his victory, pursued them, killed or wounded several hundred, and carried back the people of four towns as captives. In the fifty-fifth year the Emishi rebelled, and Taji was ordered to attack them. He fought at the harbor of Iji, was defeated, and fell in battle. Afterwards the Emishi repeatedly raided, and in the end they dug open Taji's grave. A great serpent came out of the grave, glaring, and bit the Emishi bandits; all were affected by its poison and many died. People of the time said: "Taji, though dead, was still able to avenge himself. Who can say that the dead have no awareness?" (Note: following the Nihon Shoki). Earlier, when Taji went as envoy to Paekche, he had taken a woman of Kure from the village of Tomi and had a son, Mochi-no-Kimi. Mochi-no-Kimi stayed and lived in Paekche; his third-generation descendants were called Kumanami and Shiragi. In the reign of Emperor Kinmei they came from Paekche to Japan. Shiragi's son Yoshio was given the surname Tomi-no-Muraji (Note: following the Shinsen Shōjiroku).