Biographies · Vol. 109
Biographies XXXVI: The Ōtomo, Mononobe, and Ki Houses and Other Early Retainers
Machine-assisted draft translation, checked for readability. For the classical Chinese text and the modern Japanese translation, see this volume in Japanese.
Ōtomo-no-Muroya
¶Ōtomo-no-Muroya (Muroya) was a seventh-generation descendant of Michi-no-Omi-no-Mikoto (Note: following the Shōjiroku. The Kugyō Bunin, however, makes Takemochi the seventh-generation descendant, which would make Muroya the eighth. Which is correct is unclear). His great-grandfather was Toyohi-no-Mikoto (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin). His grandfather was Takehi-no-Mikoto (Note: following the Sandai Jitsuroku, entry for the third year of Jōgan, and the Kugyō Bunin. This work writes Takehi with different characters, but here the Nihon Shoki is followed). In the reign of Emperor Keikō, he accompanied Yamato-takeru-no-Mikoto and helped pacify the eastern lands (Note: following the Nihon Shoki and the Sandai Jitsuroku, entry for the third year of Jōgan). Yamato-takeru rewarded him by granting him the Yugei-be, the quiver-bearers' corps (Note: following the Nihon Shoki). The court further praised his merit and granted him Sanuki province as a private estate (Note: following the Sandai Jitsuroku, entry for the third year of Jōgan). His father Takemochi (Note: this work writes the name with other characters, and the Sandai Jitsuroku likewise writes it differently, but here the Nihon Shoki is followed) became Ōmuraji, Great Muraji, in the first year of Emperor Chūai. The office of Ōmuraji began at this point (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin). He followed the emperor on his campaign to the west, and when the emperor died he received the Empress's command and, together with Nakatomi-no-Ikatsu and others, led the hundred officials in guarding the palace. Muroya became Ōmuraji at the accession of Emperor Yūryaku (Note: the Kugyō Bunin also records Ōtomo-no-Muroya as Ōmuraji under the two reigns of Emperors Ingyō and Ankō, but this is mistaken). When the emperor died, Muroya, together with Yamato-no-Aya-no-Tsuka, received his dying edict and assisted the Crown Prince. When Prince Hoshikawa rebelled, Muroya said to Tsuka, "What the dying edict warned us against has now come to pass." He raised troops in support of the Crown Prince and put down the rebellion. Then, leading the Omi and Muraji, he presented the regalia to the Crown Prince. This was Emperor Seinei. Muroya served through seven reigns: Ingyō, Ankō, Yūryaku, Seinei, Kenzō, Ninken, and Buretsu (Note: following the Nihon Shoki). In the Yūryaku reign, he was once made to carry the Ama-yuki, the heavenly quiver. Muroya submitted a memorial: "The duty of opening and closing the palace gates is by its office already a heavy one, and no single man can bear it well. Together with my son Katari, I wish to divide the left and right and guard them." This was granted. From this time the Ōtomo and Saeki, two houses descended from him, held charge of opening and closing the left and right gates respectively. Muroya had two sons, Mimono-no-Sukune and Hikatari (Note: following the Shōjiroku. This work writes Katari with a different character, but here the Nihon Shoki is followed). In the ninth year of Emperor Yūryaku, Katari, on imperial command, joined Ki-no-Oyumi and others in attacking Silla. The army was defeated, and he died fighting hard. His retainer Ōtomo-no-Tsumaro had lost sight of Katari and searched for him through the army without finding him. When he asked and learned that Katari had fallen in battle, he was roused to fury and cried out, "My lord is already dead. How could I alone live on?" and at last charged into the midst of the enemy and died (Note: following the Nihon Shoki). Katari's son was Kanamura.
Ōtomo-no-Kanamura
¶Kanamura served in the reign of Emperor Ninken. When Emperor Ninken died, the Crown Prince had not yet taken the throne. The Ōomi, Great Minister, Heguri-no-Matori secretly plotted treason, and his son Shibi happened to incur the Crown Prince's anger. Kanamura, on command, executed Shibi. He then petitioned: "Matori is a rebel. He should be removed as well." The Crown Prince said, "The realm is on the verge of disorder. Only a hero rare in the world can save it. The one who can pacify it is surely the Muraji." He had Kanamura lead troops to surround Matori's residence, set it on fire, and attack. The rebels collapsed without a fight, and Matori submitted to execution. Thereupon Kanamura escorted the Crown Prince to the throne. This was Emperor Buretsu. The emperor made Kanamura Ōmuraji. When the emperor died without an heir, Kanamura first proposed welcoming Prince Yamatohiko in Tanba. But Prince Yamatohiko fled and hid and would not come out. So he welcomed Prince Ōdo from Mikuni and set him on the throne. This was Emperor Keitai. Kanamura petitioned that Princess Tashiraka be taken into the palace and made Empress. When Emperor Ankan made a progress to Mishima, Kanamura accompanied him, and the emperor commanded Kanamura to seek good fields from the Agatanushi, Head of the District, Iibo. Iibo thereupon presented forty chō of fine fields and, in addition, offered his son Toriki as a household servant of Kanamura. In the first year of Emperor Kinmei, the emperor made a progress to the Hafuri-tsu Palace at Naniwa and asked the assembled ministers about a campaign against Silla. Mononobe-no-Okoshi said, "That Silla harbors resentment is truly because the four districts of Mimana were given to Kudara," and blamed this as Kanamura's failure. Kanamura, ashamed and afraid, withdrew to Sumiyoshi, claimed illness, and did not appear at court. The emperor sent Aomi-no-Fuhito Magarikō to console him. Kanamura answered, "My illness is nothing other than this. Now all the ministers say, 'That Mimana was lost is his fault.' For that reason I am afraid and do not attend," and he presented Magarikō with a saddle and horse. Magarikō returned and reported. The emperor issued an edict to Kanamura: "You have long served with loyalty. Do not let people's idle talk trouble you." He treated him with ever greater favor and never questioned him again. Kanamura served six emperors, Ninken, Buretsu, Keitai, Ankan, Senka, and Kinmei, and was Ōmuraji for five reigns. His sons were Iwa, Sadehiko (Note: following the Nihon Shoki), and Abefuko, and Abefuko succeeded his father as Ōtomobe-no-Muraji-no-Kimi (Note: following the Sandai Jitsuroku, entry for the third year of Jōgan).
Ōtomo-no-Sadehiko
¶Sadehiko. In the second year of Emperor Senka, Silla invaded Mimana. His father Kanamura, on imperial command, sent Sadehiko and his elder brother Iwa to aid Mimana. Iwa remained in Tsukushi to govern its affairs and guard against the Three Han. Sadehiko went to Mimana, pacified it, and also rescued Kudara. In the twenty-third year of Emperor Kinmei he became Daishōgun, Great General, led several tens of thousands of troops against Koma, and, using Kudara's strategy, defeated it decisively. The king of Koma fled over a wall (Note: in one account in this work, Sadehiko joined forces with Kudara and drove back the Koma king Yōshun at Hitsurutsu). Pressing his victory, Sadehiko entered the royal palace, took all the precious treasures together with the seven-woven curtain and the iron house, and returned. He presented the seven-woven curtain to the emperor. In addition he presented to Soga-no-Inume two suits of armor, two gold-decorated swords, three bronze bells, two staffs of five-colored banners, and a beautiful woman, Mihime (Note: a note in this work says that Mihime is a personal name), together with her maidservant Atako. The iron house he placed in the temple Chōanji (Note: following the Nihon Shoki). Earlier, when Sadehiko was about to set out from Hizen to pacify Mimana, his concubine, Matsura-no-Sayohime, grieved at their parting, climbed a high mountain and watched his ship. Unable to bear her sorrow, she at last took off her scarf and waved it. None who saw it failed to weep. For this the mountain was named Hirefuri-no-Mine, Scarf-Waving Peak (Note: following the Man'yōshū. This work says he crossed the sea on an imperial mission and does not record when. The monk Sengaku's Man'yōshū Shō cites the Hizen Fudoki: "Thirty ri east of Matsura district is Hirefuri Peak, and at its summit is a pond about half a chō across. Long ago, in the reign of Emperor Senka, Ōtomo-no-Sadehiko was sent to pacify Mimana. When Sadehiko passed through this place, in the village of Shinohara there was a woman of national beauty named Otohime, and Sadehiko took her as his wife. At the parting, Otohime climbed this peak, looked out, and raised her scarf to beckon him. From this the peak was named." Kenshō's Shūchūshō likewise records the Hizen Fudoki as cited in the Dōmōshō, and places the event in the reign of Emperor Senka. That is followed here. The Shūchūshō further cites the Chikuzen Fudoki: "It is handed down that the Matsura Myōjin is none other than Sayohime." This is recorded together for the purposes of verification). Kanamura's grandson was Kui (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin. This work does not record his father's name, and there is now no way to determine it).
Ōtomo-no-Kui
¶Kui (Note: the Shoku Nihongi and the Kugyō Bunin both write Kuiko; the Nihon Shoki writes simply Kui, using either of two different characters for it. I believe the "ko" was a common appellation of the time. As evidence, Nakatomi-no-Mikeko-no-Muraji is recorded in the Nihon Shoki as Nakatomi-no-Muraji Mike, and Abe-no-Tori is also recorded as Toriko). When Soga-no-Umako took up arms against Mononobe-no-Moriya, Kui, together with Abe-no-Hito, Heguri-no-Kamite, and others, led an army and advanced from Shiki district to attack Moriya's house at Shibukawa. In the fourth year of Emperor Sushun, the recovery of Mimana was debated, and Kui, together with Ki-no-Omaro, Kose-no-Hirabu, Sao-no-Omi, Katsuragi-no-Onara, and others, became Daishōgun. With the Omi and Muraji of their respective clans as subordinate generals and units, they led twenty thousand troops to Tsukushi and encamped there, sending men to Silla and Mimana to learn the situation. In the ninth year of Empress Suiko, an edict sent Kui to Koma to rescue Mimana urgently. In the fourteenth year, the Sui envoy Pei Shiqing arrived and presented his state letter. Abe-no-Tori received the letter in the courtyard and passed it to Kui. Kui placed it on a table in front of the great gate and reported to the throne. In the eighteenth year, Silla and Mimana came to pay tribute and enter the court. Kui, together with Soga-no-Emishi and others, went out into the courtyard to receive them, took their credentials, and relayed them to the Ōomi Umako (Note: following the Nihon Shoki). Kui's rank reached the cap of Daitoku (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi. However, in the entry for Silla's punitive expedition in the thirty-first year of Empress Suiko, the Nihon Shoki names an Ōtomo-no-Muraji of Shōtoku rank as deputy general but omits his name. Probably Kui was then of Shōtoku rank and later advanced to Daitoku). Kui had three sons: Chōtoku (Note: neither the Nihon Shoki nor the Shoku Nihongi records his father. The Kugyō Bunin says "great-grandson of Kanamura, son of Kuiko-no-Muraji," and that is followed here), Makuta (Note: the Nihon Shoki and the Shoku Nihongi do not record his father. The Nihon Shoki says "Makuta was the elder brother of Fukei," and that is followed here), and Fukei (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi. This work writes Ofukei. The explanation appears in the biography of Fukei). Chōtoku, styled Umakai, in the fourth year of Emperor Jomei, when the Tang envoy Gao Biaoren and others came to anchor at Naniwa-tsu, was sent by the court (Note: this entry in this work records him as Ōtomo-no-Muraji Umakai. the two different writings of the name, Umakai, share the same reading) to meet them at Eguchi with thirty-two decorated ships. In the fifth year of Taika he was appointed Udaijin, Minister of the Right, and granted the rank of Daishi (Note: following the Nihon Shoki). Fukei, and Chōtoku's sons Miyuki and Yasumaro, each have separate biographies (Note: according to the Shoku Nihongi, Yasumaro was his sixth son. If so, Chōtoku's sons must have been more than these, but there is now no way to determine it).
Mononobe-no-Me
¶Mononobe-no-Me was a great-great-grandson of Tōchine (Note: following the Sendai Kuji Hongi). His great-grandfather Ikui became a Daibu, Great Minister, in the reign of Emperor Chūai and followed the emperor on his western campaign. When the emperor died he received the Empress's command and, together with Nakatomi-no-Ikatsu and others, led the hundred officials in guarding the palace (Note: following the Nihon Shoki. The statement about the great-grandfather follows the Sendai Kuji Hongi). His grandfather was Ikoto and his father Ikofutsu (Note: following the Sendai Kuji Hongi). Ikofutsu held the reins of government in the reign of Emperor Richū. Me became Ōmuraji at the accession of Emperor Yūryaku. At that time a man named Hatane-no-Mikoto secretly committed adultery with a court lady, Yamanobe-no-Oshimako. The emperor commanded Me to seize and examine him. Hatane admitted his guilt and asked to atone with eight swords and eight horses, and he sang a song, saying that for the sake of Oshimako of Yamabe he did not begrudge the eight horses' worth of goods that would be forfeited. Me reported this to the throne, and the emperor pardoned him. Because Hatane had openly set out his goods beneath a tachibana tree beside the Eka market, the emperor granted Me the villages of Eka and Nagano. In the eighteenth year, Me, together with Mononobe-no-Ushiro, received an edict to subdue the rebel of Ise, Asake-no-Iratsuko. When Asake heard that the imperial army was coming, he met it at Aohaka in Iga; boasting of his skill at archery, he loosed arrows that pierced layered armor, and the army was seized with fear, so that Ushiro dared not attack. After two days of confrontation, Me himself took up a great sword and, having Tsukushi-no-Kiki-no-Mononobe-no-Ōonote hold a shield, advanced side by side with him. Asake shot at Ōonote, and the arrow pierced the shield, passed through the layered armor, and entered his flesh to the depth of an inch. Ōonote shielded Me with his shield. Me at once seized Asake and beheaded him. Ushiro, ashamed of his own cowardice, did not report his results for seven days. The emperor asked his attendants, "Why has Ushiro not returned to report?" Sanuki-no-Tamushiwake told him the true circumstances. The emperor heard this and was angry, and he took away the Nashiro-be, which Ushiro governed, and gave it to Me (Note: following the Nihon Shoki). His son was Arayama, and Arayama's son was Okoshi (Note: following the Sendai Kuji Hongi and the Kugyō Bunin).
Mononobe-no-Okoshi
¶Okoshi. In the first year of Emperor Ankan, Hatahime, a daughter of Iokibe-no-Kikoyu, stole Okoshi's necklace of beads and presented it to the Empress Kasuga. The matter came to light, and Kikoyu offered Hatahime as a court lady and also presented the Iokibe Miyake, the imperial granary, at Sugito in Aki, in atonement for his daughter's offense. Okoshi, holding that the affair had arisen through himself and unable to rest easy, presented his Tochibe, Ise-no-Kusasaka, Toi, the Nie-no-Hajibe, and the Isayamabe of Tsukushi province as an apology (Note: a note in this work says that Kusasaka and Toi are the names of two villages). When Emperor Kinmei took the throne he became Ōmuraji. In the ninth month of the following year, when the emperor made a progress to the Hafuri-tsu Palace at Naniwa, he asked the assembled ministers, "We are now about to attack Silla; how many troops should be used?" Okoshi and the others replied, "It is not right to attack lightly with a small force. Formerly, in the time of Emperor Ōdo (Emperor Keitai), Kudara sent envoys to ask for the four districts of Mimana. The Ōmuraji Ōtomo-no-Kanamura readily granted the request, and so Silla has long stored up resentment. Now we should not attack lightly." The emperor followed this. In the thirteenth year, Kudara presented a gilt-bronze image of Shaka, the Buddha, together with sutras and treatises, and offered a memorial praising their merit. The emperor was greatly pleased and told the envoys, "We have never before heard such a subtle teaching." He then asked the ministers, "The Buddha presented by the western neighbors has a dignified and solemn countenance such as we have never seen. Should we now worship him?" The Ōomi, Great Minister, Soga-no-Inume urged the emperor to worship it. Okoshi and Nakatomi-no-Kamako replied, "Our country has always made it its work to revere the shrines of heaven and earth and the one hundred eighty deities, and to hold rites in spring, summer, autumn, and winter. If we now worship a foreign deity, we fear that we will bring down the wrath of the kami of our land." The emperor said, "Let it be given to the one who wishes for it," and gave it to Inume. After this a plague spread and many of the people died young, and as time passed it grew ever worse. Okoshi and Kamako again memorialized: "Because Your Majesty did not heed our words before, this disaster has been brought on. If you correct it now without delay, there will surely be good fortune. The Buddha image should be cast away so that later blessings may be sought." The emperor accepted this and ordered the officials to throw the Buddha image into the Horie canal at Naniwa and burn down the temple buildings (Note: the Mizukagami and the Teiō Hennenki say that "Okoshi died soon afterwards," but what the Mizukagami records borders somewhat on wild fabrication. It is not adopted here). His son Yuge-no-Moriya has a separate biography.
Mononobe-no-Arakahi
¶Mononobe-no-Arakahi (Note: the Kojiki writes the name Arakai with other characters. Here the Nihon Shoki is followed). He was a great-great-grandson of Ikofutsu. His father was named Masara (Note: following the Sendai Kuji Hongi). Arakahi served through five reigns, Ninken, Buretsu, Keitai, Ankan, and Senka, and was Ōmuraji (Note: the Keitai annals in this work say "In the first year, Mononobe-no-Arakahi became Ōmuraji, as before," but his first appointment is not to be found. The Kugyō Bunin likewise says that "the year and month of his first appointment are unknown"). At the accession of Emperor Keitai he had merit in settling the succession. In the sixth year, Kudara submitted a memorial asking for the four districts of Mimana, Upper Ōkotari, Lower Ōkotari, Sada, and Muro, and Hozumi-no-Oshiyama, the governor of Tari, also asked for them. The Ōmuraji Ōtomo-no-Kanamura was the principal proponent in the deliberations, and the court granted the request. Arakahi was to be made the bearer of the imperial edict and sent to the Naniwa Palace. Arakahi's wife firmly tried to stop him, saying, "Long ago the god of Sumiyoshi bestowed Koma, Kudara, Silla, and Mimana upon the Emperor Taichū (Emperor Ōjin). For this reason the Empress Dowager Okinagatarashi-hime-no-Mikoto (Empress Jingū) consulted with Takeuchi-no-Sukune and established an imperial granary in each country as a bulwark overseas. Now, if you go against the old arrangement and cut away that territory, you will leave a reproach that lasts for ages to come." Arakahi replied, "What you say is quite true. I only fear to go against the imperial will." His wife said, "Plead illness and decline." Arakahi pleaded illness and did not go, and another bearer of the edict was sent in his place. The messenger had already set out. At that time Emperor Ankan, still a prince, heard of this and was startled, and he sent Hitaka-no-Kishi to recall the earlier edict. The Kudara envoys said, "The Emperor has used his discretion and has already commanded that these be granted to us. How can a prince presume to change the imperial will? Your words must surely be false. And even if they are true, it is like striking a person with a staff: which hurts more, the thin tip or the thick base?" And they left. The people of the time whispered that "Kanamura and Oshiyama took bribes and asked for this." In the twenty-first year, Ōmi-no-Kena went to Mimana to recover the lands invaded by Silla. Iwai, Kuni-no-Miyatsuko of Tsukushi, rebelled and held the two provinces of Hi and Toyo. Kena could not advance, and the emperor asked Ōtomo-no-Kanamura, Arakahi, Kose-no-Ohito, and others, "Whom should we make general?" Kanamura and the others replied, "Of those who are upright, humane, brave, and versed in military affairs, there is now no one who surpasses Arakahi." The emperor approved. In the eighth month, he ordered Arakahi to subdue Iwai. The emperor himself took the battle-axes of command, the fuetsu, and handed them to him, saying, "From Nagato eastward I shall govern; from Tsukushi westward you shall govern. Rewards and punishments are yours to decide alone, and you need not request leave in each case." In the eleventh month of the following year, Arakahi fought Iwai in Mii district of Tsukushi and beheaded him. The remaining rebels were all pacified (Note: the Kojiki states that Arakahi and Kanamura both led troops and attacked him, which differs from this work). In the first year of Emperor Senka, he died in office (Note: following the Nihon Shoki).
Ki-no-Oyumi
¶Ki-no-Oyumi. In the ninth year of Emperor Yūryaku, on imperial command, he led an army with Soga-no-Umako, Ōtomo-no-Katari, and Okahi to attack Silla. As he was about to set out, he said through Ōtomo-no-Muroya, "Though I am timid and weak, I would not dare to disobey the command. But I have just lost my wife, and there is no one to look after me. I beg that you convey this to the throne." The emperor, hearing this, was moved to pity and granted him a court lady, Ōama. Oyumi and the others entered Silla and defeated its neighboring districts one after another. The king of Silla heard drums in the night and knew that the imperial army had already taken all his territory; he fled with only a few hundred horsemen, and his troops all scattered in disorder. Oyumi pursued the fleeing enemy and beheaded their general. The territory was entirely pacified, and Oyumi, together with Katari, attacked further. That night Katari and Ki-no-Okasaki-no-Kume both fought hard and died. After a time the enemy withdrew, but Oyumi died in his camp. Ōama gathered Oyumi's remains and returned, and asked Ōtomo-no-Muroya to petition for a burial ground. The emperor commanded Muroya: "The Great General Ki-no-Oyumi-no-Sukune rose like a dragon and gazed like a tiger, surveying the eight directions, and swept away the rebels and calmed the four seas. Yet his body labored ten thousand ri away and his life fell in the Three Han. Lord Ōtomo and Lord Ki are of the same land and neighbors. You should show your fullest sorrow and help in the mourning as one who watches over the funeral." Muroya received the imperial intent and ordered Haji-no-Otori to build a tomb mound in the village of Tamuwa and bury him there. Ōama, moved and glad, presented six Kara slaves to Muroya (Note: following the Nihon Shoki). Oyumi's son was Ōiwa.
Ki-no-Ōiwa
¶Ki-no-Ōiwa (Note: in this work Ō is sometimes written with another character). When he heard of his father's death, he went straight to Silla, seized the offices of military horses and ships and the other minor offices that Okahi had held, and took charge of military administration himself. Okahi deeply resented this and told Soga-no-Karako, "Ōiwa-no-Sukune said to me, 'Before long I will take the office Karako-no-Sukune holds, too.' I wish to be on guard against this." Because of this he too became estranged from Karako. The king of Kudara, hearing that the generals were at odds with each other, wished to reconcile them and summoned them on the pretext of inspecting the frontier. All the generals went. When they were about to cross a river, as Ōiwa was letting his horse drink, Karako shot at his saddle from behind. Ōiwa, startled, turned and shot Karako. Karako fell into the water and died. The generals turned back midway. Okahi, bringing home the funeral of Oyumi, stopped in Tsuno province, sent Yamatoko-no-Muraji to deliver the Yata mirror to Ōtomo-no-Muroya, and requested, "I cannot bear to serve the court shoulder to shoulder with Lord Ki. I wish to remain in this place for good." Muroya reported this to the throne, and it was granted. Because of this he took Tsuno-no-Omi as his surname. In the third year of Emperor Kenzō, Ōiwa at last took possession of Mimana, communicated with Koma, and sought to become king of the Three Han of the west. He opened offices and called himself divine and sacred. Further, using the plans of the Mimana men Saronaki, Takōshō, and others, he killed the Kudara man Chakumakunige at Nirin. He built the fortress of Taisanjō to hold the eastern road and cut off Kudara's supply route. The king of Kudara was angry and sent the commanders Konige and Makugoge, Chief of the Inner Guard, to attack Taisanjō. Ōiwa came out of the fortress to meet them; his spirit grew ever fiercer, so that he alone matched a hundred, and wherever he went the enemy collapsed before him. But in time his troops were spent and his strength gave out, and, realizing that his enterprise could not succeed, he fled and returned (Note: following the Nihon Shoki). What became of him afterwards is not known.
Ōmi-no-Kena
¶Ōmi-no-Kena. In the twenty-first year of Emperor Keitai, on imperial command, he led sixty thousand troops to Mimana to attack Silla, intending to recover the lands of Minami-Kara (Arihishi-no-Kara), Toku, and Kotonn, which had been invaded, and to rejoin them to Mimana. Previously, Iwai, Kuni-no-Miyatsuko of Tsukushi, had long harbored disloyal intentions, and, fearing that his scheme would not succeed, had hesitated for years, watching for an opening to act. At this time Silla secretly sent bribes to Iwai, seeking to have him block Kena's army. Iwai held the two provinces of Hi and Toyo, cut the sea route, and lured the tribute ships of the provinces to himself. He also barred Kena's army and abused him: "Once you were my equal, and we stood shoulder to shoulder and arm in arm, sharing the same vessels and the same food. How is it that you suddenly style yourself an envoy and would have me bow down to you?" And he joined battle. When this was heard, an edict was issued sending Mononobe-no-Arakahi to attack him, and Iwai submitted to execution. In the third month of the twenty-third year, an edict ordered Kena to go to Ara, proclaim the imperial command to Silla, and have the lands of Minami-Kara, Toku, and Kotonn returned. Kena reached Ara, and Silla and Kudara each sent ministers to hear the command. In the fourth month the king of Mimana, Konomatakanki, came to court, complained of having been invaded by Silla, and begged for help. The court sent envoys to escort Konomatakanki and ordered Kena to reconcile the two countries. Kena set up camp at Yunoe (Note: a note in this work says that in one account he camped at the Kushimura district of Mimana). He summoned the two kings of Silla and Kudara, but the two kings only sent envoys and did not come themselves. Kena was greatly angered and rebuked the two envoys: "That the small serve the great is the Way of Heaven. Why do the kings of your two countries not come themselves to receive the command, but dare to send others? Now, even if your lords came and begged, I would not agree to proclaim the command, and would surely send them away." The two envoys, afraid, returned and each told their king. Silla then sent its Jōshin, Chief Minister, Ishibureji-kanki, with three thousand troops to ask to receive the command. Kena, seeing their strong force from afar, withdrew and entered the fortress of Koshikori in Mimana. Ishibureji-kanki camped at Tatara-no-Hara and repeatedly asked to receive the command, but he did not leave even after three months. Kena would not grant it. Ishibureji-kanki's provisions ran out, and his soldiers begged for food in the villages. Thereupon Ishibureji-kanki plundered four villages at will, drove off all their people and livestock, and went home. The people of the time held this against Kena. The next year an envoy from Mimana memorialized: "Kena has made his residence at Kushimura and has stayed there for two years, idle and neglecting his duties." He also said: "The men of Japan and the men of Mimana are constantly quarreling and suing over their children, and from long ago it has not been possible to judge these well. Kena set up an ordeal by boiling water, throwing the plaintiffs into it, and said, 'One who speaks the truth will not be scalded; one who lies will surely be scalded.' As a result many innocent people have died untimely deaths. Kena also killed Nadari and Shifuri, the Kibi Karako (Note: a note in this work says that a child born to a man of Great Japan by a woman of a foreign land is called a Karako). The people resent and lament it." The emperor then sent an envoy to summon Kena. Kena, fearing that he would be blamed if he returned, sent his attendant Umakai-no-Mikari to memorialize: "I have not yet accomplished the royal task. If I return to the capital now, I will have gone with toil and come back empty-handed, and in my shame I will have no place to hide myself. I humbly beg Your Majesty to wait until I have accomplished the national command, after which I will enter the court and apologize for my offenses." Just then Tsuki-no-Kishi Oyu was in Mimana as an envoy, and Kena, fearing that he would return ahead of him and report the circumstances in detail, sent Tsuki-no-Kishi with troops to guard the fortress of Ishikimura. Arishito (Note: a note in this work says that Arishito is probably Konomatakanki), seeing that Kena was absorbed only in trifles and gave no thought to reconciliation, repeatedly urged him to return to court, but Kena would not listen. Mimana then rebelled and broke away, and, seeking to strike Kena, sent envoys to Silla and Kudara to ask for reinforcements. Kena heard of this and met them at Hekoori, but casualties reached half his force. Kudara and Silla joined their armies and besieged the fortress. Kena shut himself in and held it. The armies of the two countries at last took five fortresses and withdrew. In the tenth month Tsuki-no-Kishi returned from Mimana and reported that Kena was arrogant and resentful and acted as he pleased, so that he had troubled and disordered Kara. The emperor sent Mezurako to summon Kena. Kena reached Tsushima, fell ill, and died. He was buried in Ōmi (Note: following the Nihon Shoki).
Ki-no-Omaro
¶Ki-no-Omaro. In the twenty-third year of Emperor Kinmei, Silla invaded Mimana. Omaro received a command to serve as Daishōgun, led troops, and went out to Tari. His deputy general Kawabe-no-Nie went out to Soyama and encamped there, and demanded an explanation of the circumstances in which Silla had attacked Mimana. Tsuki-no-Ikina, Komotsukabe-no-Tomi, Yamato-no-Kuni-no-Miyatsuko Tehiko, and others followed, and at last reached Mimana. First they sent Tomi to Kudara to settle plans for the operation. On the road Tomi dropped his seal and letter and his bow and arrows, and Silla obtained them. Silla learned the plan and raised a large army and came to battle. Omaro's army was defeated and begged to surrender. Omaro withdrew his army and entered Kudara's camp, and issued an order to the army: "Not forgetting, even in victory, the time of defeat, and reckoning on danger even in safety: this is a good teaching of antiquity. Now we are on the frontier, mingled with an enemy like jackals and wolves; how can we fail to think carelessly of sudden change? Even in an age of great peace, not putting down sword and blade is the military preparedness of a gentleman and must not be given up. Be well on your guard, and strive to keep this order." The soldiers all submitted and followed him. In the winter of that year, Silla sent envoys to pay tribute. At the death of Emperor Yōmei, he followed Soga-no-Umako, led troops, and attacked Mononobe-no-Moriya. In the fourth year of Emperor Sushun, Omaro, together with Kose-no-Hirabu and others, became Daishōgun, led twenty thousand troops to Tsukushi and encamped there, and again inquired about Mimana. Earlier, when Silla had attacked, Nie had advanced alone, fighting in turn from place to place, and had won everywhere he went, so that Silla raised a white flag and surrendered. Nie did not grasp its meaning and advanced further, raising a white flag himself. The Silla general said, "General Kawabe is about to surrender," and advanced to meet him. Nie's vanguard suffered many casualties, and Tehiko, knowing that it was beyond rescue, abandoned the army and fled. The Silla general pursued him as far as the castle moat and attacked with swinging halberds. Tehiko's horse was swift and leaped over the moat, and he escaped the danger. Thereupon Nie hurriedly pulled back his troops and withdrew to a camp in the field, but his soldiers, taking him lightly and slighting him, would not obey orders. The Silla general at last attacked the camp and took Nie and his wife, Sakamoto-no-Umashihime, as captives. The Silla general asked Nie, "Which is dearer to you, yourself or your wife?" Nie answered, "How could I grudge one woman and bring disaster on myself?" and so agreed to give up his wife. The Silla general had relations with Umashihime before his eyes. Later Umashihime was able to return. Nie tried to take her as his wife again, but she was ashamed and resentful and said, "Before, you casually abandoned me. How can I now face you?" and in the end never spoke to him (Note: following the Nihon Shoki).
Nichira
¶Nichira was a son of Arishito, Kuni-no-Miyatsuko of Hi-no-Ashikita. Arishito, in the reign of Emperor Senka, went overseas on an imperial mission (Note: this work does not record the name of the country). Nichira first lived in Kudara, where his office was Dassotsu. In the twelfth year of Emperor Bidatsu, an edict was issued: "In the reign of our former emperor, Silla destroyed the country of the Uchi-no-Miyake, the inner imperial granaries. The former emperor planned to recover Mimana but died without accomplishing it. We wish to fulfill his earlier intent. We have heard that Dassotsu Nichira, son of Arishito, Kuni-no-Miyatsuko of Ashikita, is now in Kudara. He is said to be wise and brave. We wish to obtain this man and plan this matter together with him." So Ki-no-Kuni-no-Miyatsuko Oshikatsu and Kibi-no-Amabe-no-Hashima were sent to summon Nichira. Kudara, prizing his talent, would not let him go back. Hashima was sent again to summon him. On arriving, Hashima wanted to see Nichira first and went secretly to his house. Nichira welcomed him, took his hand, and invited him to sit. Quietly he said, "I have privately heard that Kudara fears I will go to the court of Heaven and stay and not return, and that is why it is unwilling to answer the edict." He said that on the day the command was proclaimed it would be well to show a stern bearing and press them. Hashima followed this plan, and Kudara, having no choice, complied. It then had the Onsotsu Tokuni, Yonu, and Kanuchi, together with the Sankan, Kajitori, pilot, Tokusotsu Shikantoku, and a number of sailors, escort him. When they arrived at the Kibi Kojima Miyake, the court sent Ōtomo-no-Nukateko to welcome them, and further sent the Daibu and others to console them at the Naniwa Guest Hall. Nichira, wearing armor and riding a horse, reached the gate and dismounted, walked slowly to the front of the hall, knelt and bowed, and said, "I am the Dassotsu Nichira, subject of the late Kuni-no-Miyatsuko of Northern Ashikita, Osakabe Yugei-be Arishito. Receiving the Emperor's edict, I have humbly come." Then he took off his armor and presented it. A residence was built at the Katokuwa market for him to live in, and he was allowed to do as he wished. Nukateko, Abe-no-Me, and Mononobe-no-Niego were sent to ask him about national affairs. Nichira memorialized: "The essential principle of governing the realm lies in loving and nourishing the people. Why would one suddenly raise troops and so bring about losses? What I think is best for the present is that, from the Asomi, Muraji, and the Two Miyatsuko (Note: a note in this work says that the Two Miyatsuko are the Kuni-no-Miyatsuko and the Tomo-no-Miyatsuko) down to the common people, each be left free, each household provided for and each person supplied, so that there is no lack. If this is done for three years, food will be sufficient and arms will be sufficient, and the people can be made glad. The people will not shun water or fire, and will share the nation's troubles. After that, many ships should be built and arrayed at the sea's key points, to show to foreign envoys and make them afraid. Then men fit to serve as envoys should be selected and sent to Kudara to summon its king. If he does not come, then summon its Taisahei and the princes, and, once reverence and awe have arisen in them, ask them to account for their offenses." He also memorialized: "The people of Kudara plot to ask for the land of Tsukushi with three hundred ships. If it really comes to that, it would be well to pretend, outwardly, to give it to them. They will surely bring their women and children and actually settle in that land. The state should lay troops in ambush beforehand on Iki and Tsushima, wait for their arrival, and strike them down. You must on no account be deceived. Moreover, ramparts should be built at strategic places to guard against them." Thereupon the Onsotsu Sankan, as he was about to return to his country, secretly said to Tokuni and Yonu, "I think that, by the time you reach Tsukushi, you should secretly kill Nichira. I will report it in detail to the king and see that you are granted high rank. The favor will extend to your wives and children, and the honor will remain for later generations." Tokuni and the others at last set out from Chika. Nichira moved once more to the Naniwa Guest Hall. Tokuni and the others watched day and night for an opening to stab him. Nichira's body gave off a glow like flame, and Tokuni and the others were afraid and did not dare to lay hands on him. One night the glow suddenly vanished, and they stabbed and killed him. Nichira revived and said, "This is the work of the very men I used as servants, not the work of Silla," and when he had finished speaking he died. At that time envoys of Silla were also in the capital, and that is why he said so. The emperor then ordered Niego and Nukateko to collect and bury him on the hill west of Ogori, and had his wife and children and the sailors moved to Ishikawa. Nukateko deliberated, "If we gather them together in one place and have them live there, I fear some disturbance will arise," and so the wife and children were settled in Kudara village in Ishikawa and the sailors in Ōtomo village in Ishikawa. Tokuni and the others were confined at Ata village in Shimotsu-Kudara and were interrogated about the circumstances. Tokuni and the others confessed their guilt and said, "The Onsotsu Sankan taught us and had us do it." They were then sent to prison. Thereupon Nichira's kinsmen were summoned from Ashikita, and Tokuni and the others were granted to them, to be dealt with as they wished. Ashikita-no-Kimi and the others killed them all and threw their corpses onto Mimeshima. They then took Nichira's remains home and buried them. Later, the people of the seashore told that the Onsotsu met a wind and his ship capsized, and that Sankan's ship also drifted and he barely escaped and returned (Note: following the Nihon Shoki).
Abe-no-Hirafu
¶Abe-no-Hirafu was also called Abe-no-Hikeda-no-Omi (Note: the Saimei annals of this work often write only Abe-no-Omi and omit the name. However, the entry for the fourth year says, "Abe-no-Hikeda-no-Omi Hirafu, Governor of Koshi, attacked the Mishihase," and the entry for the fifth year says, "Abe-no-Omi was sent to lead a naval force against the land of the Emishi, and when the army returned, the provincial governors of Michinoku and Koshi were each granted two ranks." A note in this work cites one account that records Abe-no-Hikeda-no-Omi Hirafu as having fought the Mishihase and returned. Considering these together, they are probably not different persons. Further, concerning the passage in the Sushun annals about sending Abe-no-Omi to Hokuriku, the Shōtoku Taishi Denryaku identifies him as Hirafuki. Hirafuki and Hirafu are related in sound and reading, and this too can serve as evidence. They are therefore determined to be the same person). In the second year of Emperor Sushun, he received an edict and inspected the borders of the provinces of the Hokurikudō. In the reign of Empress Saimei he became Governor of Koshi. In the fourth year, on imperial command, he led a naval force of one hundred eighty ships against the Emishi. The Emishi of the two districts of Agita and Nushiro asked to submit. Hirafu then fixed the district heads of Nushiro and Tsugaru, assembled the Emishi of Watarishima, gave them a great banquet, and returned. He also attacked the Mishihase, took two live brown bears and seventy bear pelts, and on his return presented them. The next year he again attacked the Emishi, assembled the Emishi of the three districts of Akita, Nushiro, and Tsugaru and three Emishi of Iburisae, entertained thirty-five submitting captives, and gave them gifts. With one ship and five-colored silks he offered sacrifice to the local deity. When he reached Shishiriko, the Emishi of Toinu, Ikashima and Uhona (Note: Ikashima and Uhona are the names of two men), advised him, "It would be good to make Shiribeshi your administrative seat," and Hirafu followed them. He therefore established a district head there, and then attacked the Mishihase, took forty-nine captives, and returned (Note: the passage from "and then attacked the Mishihase" onward follows one account cited in a note in this work). Hirafu and the governor of Michinoku were each granted two ranks. In the sixth year, he led two hundred warships to attack the Mishihase. Leading the Emishi of Michinoku, he reached the bank of a great river, where more than a thousand Emishi of Watarishima had drawn up in formation facing the river. Two Emishi came out of the ranks and called, "A large naval force of the Mishihase has come and wishes to kill us. We beg to cross the river and join your side." Hirafu sent a boat to summon them and asked where the enemy lay in ambush and how many ships they had. The Emishi pointed out the place and said, "There are more than twenty ships." He then sent an envoy to summon the enemy, but they would not respond. So he heaped colored silks, weapons, and iron on the shore as bait. The enemy tied feathers to poles as banners and brought their naval force close, but soon asked for peace. Hirafu would not listen and attacked their palisade. Nōto-no-Umami-no-Tatsu was killed by the enemy. Hirafu at last defeated the enemy and took more than fifty prisoners. When Emperor Tenji exercised the regency, he joined the Zenshōgun, Vanguard General, Azumi-no-Hirafu and others to rescue Kudara. At that time he held the rank of Daikage. As Kōshōgun, Rear General, he soon, together with the Zenshōgun Kamitsukeno-no-Wakako and others, attacked Silla, but fought the Tang troops without advantage, and the Kudara commanders followed the royal army and surrendered (Note: following the Nihon Shoki). Hirafu became Tsukushi Dazai-no-Sotsu, Governor-General of Tsukushi, and advanced to Daikinjō. His son was Sukunamaro.
Abe-no-Sukunamaro
¶Abe-no-Sukunamaro (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi. The Nihon Shoki writes Sukuna with a different character, but the sounds are the same). At first he was called Hikeda-no-Ason. In the reign of Empress Jitō, he advanced from Jikikōshi to Jikidaishi and was granted a fief of fifty households (Note: following the Nihon Shoki). In the Taihō years he became Zō Daiden Enshi, Director of the Construction of the Palace Walls. In the first year of Keiun, he was granted the surname Abe-no-Ason. In the second year, he was appointed Chūnagon, Middle Counsellor. In the first year of Wadō, he was appointed Chūnagon again (Note: this work has no record that can be examined concerning his earlier removal from the post of Chūnagon). The emperor summoned the princes and the ministers into his presence, praised his impartiality and his leading of the hundred officials, and granted Sukunamaro Senior Fourth Rank Upper. Soon afterwards he became the head of the office for the construction of the Heijō Palace. The next year he was raised to Junior Third Rank. In the early years of Yōrō he advanced to Senior Third Rank and rose to Dainagon, Major Counsellor. In the fourth year he died (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi).
Echi-no-Hata-no-Takutsu
¶Echi-no-Hata-no-Takutsu (Note: according to this work, in the first year of Taika, when Prince Furuhito rebelled and was put to death, Takutsu was among his party. Probably he was afterwards commanded and again served the court). In the year Kanoto-Tori, when Emperor Tenji was exercising the regency, he escorted the Kudara prince Hōshō with five thousand troops, together with Sai-no-Ajima. At that time he held the rank of Shōsenge. He was with Hōshō at Tsunu. Hōshō and his minister Fukushin said to Takutsu and the others, "Now the land of Tsunu is barren and far removed from the fields. This is a place for fighting a defensive battle, not a land for farming. If we stay long, the troops will go hungry. It would be best to move to Hesashi. Hesashi has the waters of the Koretadakei to the northwest and the strategic barrier of a great mud-weir to the southeast, with fields all around it and irrigation easy; it is the most fertile land in the Three Han. The terrain is low, but we should move there." Takutsu said, "Now Hesashi is extremely close to the enemy. It can be reached in a single night. If something unforeseen should happen, regret would be too late. Hunger is a matter for later; destruction comes first. The reason the enemy does not easily attack now is that Tsunu is steep in its mountains and deep in its valleys, easy to defend and hard to attack. If we made our home on low ground, how could we have held out until today?" Hōshō did not listen and at last moved to Hesashi. In the year Mizunoto-I, Silla burned four provinces on the southern frontier and seized key places such as Atoku. Thereupon the king of Kudara could not remain at Hesashi and returned again to Tsunu. It was exactly as Takutsu had foreseen. In that year Silla came with the Tang army and surrounded Tsunu, and our forces tried to relieve it but were utterly defeated, and a great many drowned. Takutsu looked up to heaven and swore, gnashed his teeth in great fury, and himself cut down several tens of men before he died (Note: following the Nihon Shoki).