Heroes of the Jinshin War

Soga-no-Akae

¶The court of Ōmi (Ōmi Chōtei, the court of Emperor Tenji) had already grown lax in its discipline. No one appeared who could offer great counsel like Gao Yao or Kui, and no one who could achieve brilliant merit like Shao Hu. Yet when the great matter of a change of dynasty arrived, there were those who each held to what they believed and carried their resolve through to the end. This is what accords with the order of Heaven and the hearts of men; it is just, and it must not be allowed to sink into obscurity. Otherwise, how could the discipline and order of the state be preserved? From Soga-no-Akae down to Chison, eighteen men in all, some died, some went into hiding, some were seized, and some were sent into exile, so that their ends differed, but none of them turned against the lord whom he had served. Their deeds have already been recorded in the Imperial Annals, but we select many of their names and record them anew here. Men such as Saeki-no-Otoko and Mononobe-no-Maro, who served Emperor Tenmu and received office and rank for generations, and men such as Hozumi-no-Momoe and Mononobe-no-Hinata, who were seized but later pardoned, are not ranked here. As for men such as Ki-no-Ushi, who took up the incense burner and swore the oath, their guilt is plain and needs no words.

Nakatomi-no-Kane

¶Soga-no-Akae was a grandson of the Ōomi, Great Minister, Soga-no-Umako, and a son of Kuramaro (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin). When Empress Saimei made a progress to the hot springs of Muro (a hot spring in Kii province), Akae was left in charge of the capital. At that time Prince Arima plotted rebellion, and Akae seized the Prince and his followers and put them all to death. The details are given in the "Biography of Prince Arima." In the second year of Emperor Tenji's reign (663), Akae was appointed Tsukushi-no-Sotsu, Governor-General of Tsukushi, with the rank of Daikinjō. In the fourth year (665) he became Sadaijin, Minister of the Left (Note: following the Nihongi), and was called at the time the "Kura-no-Ōtodo," the Treasury Minister (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin). In this year Emperor Tenji's illness grew grave, and Akae, together with the Udaijin, Minister of the Right, Nakatomi-no-Kane, and the Gyoshi-taifu, Censors, Soga-no-Hatayasu, Kose-no-Hito, and Ki-no-Ushi, attended the Crown Prince at his side. The Crown Prince himself took up the incense burner and swore an oath, and Akae and the others joined him in the pact. When Emperor Tenmu ascended the throne, Akae was sentenced to exile for this offense (Note: following the Nihongi).

Soga-no-Hatayasu

¶Nakatomi-no-Kane was a grandson of Katano-no-Muraji and a son of Nukateko-no-Muraji (Note: following the Genealogies). In the third year of Emperor Tenji's reign (664), when offerings were distributed to the various shrines, Kane recited the norito, the ritual prayers. In the first month of the fourth year (665) he conducted the rites of the gods. In the same month he was appointed Minister of the Right. In the eleventh month he swore a pact together with the Minister of the Left, Soga-no-Akae, and others in the Western Hall. In the Jinshin War (672), Prince Ōtomo (later Emperor Kōbun) died at Yamasaki. Emperor Tenmu put Kane to death at Asai-no-Tane (a place in Ōmi province), and his sons were sentenced to exile (Note: following the Nihongi).

Kose-no-Hito

¶Soga-no-Hatayasu became Gyoshi-taifu, Censor, in the fourth year of Emperor Tenji's reign (665). At the time of the Jinshin War, he received an edict and, together with Prince Yamabe and Kose-no-Hito, led an army of several tens of thousands, took up position at the Inukami River, and sought to attack Fuwa. Before long, however, he conspired with Kose-no-Hito and killed Prince Yamabe. The army fell into disorder and did not advance. Hatayasu turned back from Inukami and took his own life by cutting off his own head. After the accession of Emperor Tenmu, his sons were sentenced to exile (Note: following the Nihongi).

Shoyaku

¶Kose-no-Hito (Note: "Hito" is also written with the characters 比等) had a father named Ōama, who held the rank of Shōtoku in the court of Empress Suiko (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi). Hito became Daikinge in the court of Emperor Tenji and was appointed Gyoshi-taifu, Censor, in the fourth year (665) (Note: the Shoku Nihongi gives "Chūnagon Ōun," Middle Counsellor Ōun, but the details are unclear). In the Jinshin War he planned strategy together with Soga-no-Hatayasu and took position at the Inukami River. When Prince Ōtomo died, he was sentenced to exile together with his children and grandchildren (Note: following the Nihongi).

¶His son Natemaro served successively under Emperor Shōmu and Empress Kōken as Minbu-kyō, Minister of Popular Affairs, Tōgū-daibu, Master of the Crown Prince's Household, Sangi, Counsellor, and Sadaiben, Senior Controller of the Left. In the Tenpyō era he was granted a sword with gold-and-ivory fittings and a staff of mottled bamboo. Afterwards he served in turn as Jingi-haku, Head of the Department of Divinities, and Chūnagon, Middle Counsellor, and concurrently as Pacification Commissioner of the Hokurikudō and San'indō circuits; he became Dainagon, Major Counsellor, and was raised to Junior Second Rank. He died in the fifth year of Tenpyō-shōhō (753) (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi).

Oshisaka-no-Ōmaro

¶Shoyaku and Oshisaka-no-Ōmaro, at the time of the Jinshin War, received an edict together with Ina-no-Iwasuki to raise troops in the eastern provinces, but when they reached Fuwa they were captured by an ambush. Iwasuki fled back (Note: following the Nihongi).

Hozumi-no-Momotari

¶At the time of the Jinshin War, Hozumi-no-Momotari received an edict and went to the Yamato capital (Wakyō, the capital of Yamato) to raise troops. Together with the Rusu-tsukasa, Capital Warden, Prince Takasaka, he pitched camp to the west of Asukadera, but was lured out by Ōtomo-no-Fukei and killed (Note: following the Nihongi).

Kusu-no-Iwate

¶At the time of the Jinshin War, Kusu-no-Iwate received an edict and went to Kibi to raise troops. On that occasion he killed the provincial governor, Taima-no-Hiroshima (Note: following the Nihongi). Nothing is known of what became of him afterwards.

Tanabe-no-Osumi

¶At the time of the Jinshin War, Tanabe-no-Osumi led troops across Mount Kafuka, furled his banners and silenced his drums, and reached Kurafu, where he set a password to distinguish friend from foe. The soldiers all held bai, gags of wood to keep from making a sound, in their mouths, and attacked the enemy camp by surprise in the middle of the night. Tanaka-no-Tarimaro, who was guarding the camp, did not know what was happening, and his soldiers all panicked and scattered. Only Tarimaro knew the password and narrowly escaped. Osumi advanced further and attacked the camp at Tarano, but was met by Ō-no-Honji and driven off in defeat (Note: following the Nihongi). Nothing is known of what became of him afterwards.

Sakaibe-no-Kusuri

¶Sakaibe-no-Kusuri and Hata-no-Tomotari, at the time of the Jinshin War, led troops and fought Muraguni-no-Oyori, but were defeated and fell in battle (Note: following the Nihongi).

Hata-no-Tomotari

¶Iki-no-Karakuni, at the time of the Jinshin War, led troops and fought Sakamoto-no-Takara at the Ega River and defeated him, but when he advanced further and fought at Ashiike he was defeated by Ōtomo-no-Fukei (Note: following the Nihongi). Nothing is known of what became of him afterwards.

Iki-no-Karakuni

¶Inukai-no-Ikimi and Tani-no-Shiote, at the time of the Jinshin War, led troops and fought Muraguni-no-Oyori at Awazu, but were defeated and fell in battle (Note: following the Nihongi).

Inukai-no-Ikimi

¶Ioi-no-Kujira, at the time of the Jinshin War, attached himself to Inukai-no-Ikimi, led troops, and attacked the camp of Ōtomo-no-Fukei, but the battle turned against him and he fled in defeat (Note: following the Nihongi). Nothing is known of what became of him afterwards.

Tani-no-Shiote

¶Kosobe-no-Ōguchi and Haji-no-Chishima, at the time of the Jinshin War, fought Muraguni-no-Oyori on the bank of the Yasu River and were defeated, and both were captured (Note: following the Nihongi).

Ioi-no-Kujira

¶Chison, at the time of the Jinshin War, led troops as the vanguard of Prince Ōtomo's side and fought a fierce battle at Seta, but was defeated and fell in battle (Note: following the Nihongi).

¶The fact that Emperor Tenmu raised an army cannot be concealed. He broke faith and committed rebellion, and relying on strength he overrode the weak; though he followed the times, nurtured his strength within, and waited for his moment, it must be said that there was something shameful in it. Yet fierce generals and strategic ministers gathered about him like clouds and followed him like shadows. The thirty-five men from Ōtomo-no-Fukei down to Kibumi-no-Ōtomo were those who seized upon the changes of the times and achieved distinguished merit; all of them clearly understood what the moment required and were versed in change. In life they attained the height of honor, and in death they were granted generous funeral gifts (fumotsu, condolence offerings). The favors with which the court repaid their merit may truly be called generous. As for Okisome-no-Usagi, Izumo-no-Koma, Ikago-no-Abe, and others, the old histories do not record the year of their deaths, nor do they tell of condolences, funeral gifts, or posthumous rank. Since their deeds are already recorded in the various Annals, they are not set out again here.

Kosobe-no-Ōguchi

¶Ōtomo-no-Fukei was a son of Kui (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi. The Tenmu annal of the Nihongi says that "Ōtomo-no-Muraji Ō-Fukei died and, for his merit in the year of Jinshin, was posthumously granted the rank of Daikinchū," while the Shoku Nihongi has "a son of Kuiko-no-Muraji, Koshiki, Daikinchū Ko-Fukei." It appears that Fukei and Ō-Fukei were originally not two men, and that the character 男 or 小 in between reflects the way he was called at the time. He is here treated as one man). He was a man of spirit and great ambition, who wished to set right and rescue the state in its time of trouble and to make his name in his generation. When Emperor Tenmu was living in seclusion at Yoshino, Fukei sensed that a change in the times was coming, pleaded illness, and stayed behind in Yamato, but in his heart he saw that the Emperor would in the end ascend the throne. When the Emperor went into the eastern provinces, Fukei remained behind and did not follow, and allied himself with his kinsmen and men of daring until he had several dozen comrades. At that time the Rusu-tsukasa, Capital Warden, Prince Takasaka, and Hozumi-no-Momotari, who had been sent as an envoy to raise troops, were encamped to the west of Asukadera. Fukei secretly planned with the Rusu-tsukasa official Sakanoue-no-Kumage, summoned Aya-no-Atai and the others, and said: "I will falsely call myself Prince Takechi and, leading troops, emerge to the north of Asukadera and press upon Prince Takasaka's camp. You are to respond from within." Accordingly he prepared his troops at the Kudara house and first sent Hata-no-Kuma ahead to cry out: "Prince Takechi has arrived from Fuwa, and the troops following him are very many." The soldiers in the camp heard this and fled. When Fukei arrived with several dozen horsemen, he joined with Kumage, Aya-no-Atai, and the others, and the soldiers of the camp all submitted to Fukei. At that time Momotari was carrying weapons from the armory at Ogorita to Ōmi. Fukei summoned Momotari by falsely using Prince Takechi's command. When Momotari reached Asukadera, Fukei seized him and cut him down. He then persuaded Prince Takasaka and Prince Wakasa to follow his army. He further seized Hozumi-no-Iome and Mononobe-no-Hinata, but soon released them and kept them in the army. He sent Ōtomo-no-Yasumaro, Sakanoue-no-Oyu, and Sami-no-Sukunamaro to Fuwa to report all this. Emperor Tenmu was greatly pleased and appointed Fukei general. Because of this, many men of daring, such as Miwa-no-Takechimaro and Kamo-no-Emishi, gathered to Fukei, who selected the best of them to be separate commanders and army inspectors and sought to strike at Ōmi. He therefore advanced toward Nara, and when he reached Hieda, word came that the Ōmi army was also coming from the direction of Kawachi. Fukei dispatched Sakamoto-no-Takara, Nagao-no-Masumi, Kurakaki-no-Maro, Tami-no-Oshibi, and Tani-no-Nemaro to Tatsuta, Sami-no-Sukunamaro to Ōsaka, and Kamo-no-Emishi to the Iwate road, each with several hundred troops. Fukei himself took position on Mount Nara. Arataō-no-Akamaro advised: "The old capital (Kokyō, the former capital at Asuka) is the root of our position, and we cannot fail to guard it." Fukei at once sent Akamaro and Inbe-no-Kohito to the old capital. Akamaro and the others broke up bridges to use as shields and set them in rows along the streets to strengthen the defenses. The next day Fukei fought Ōno-no-Hatayasu on Mount Nara and was defeated, narrowly escaping alone. Hatayasu pursued him as far as Yatsukuchi, but seeing planks set in rows along the streets and knowing from them that there was a defense, he turned his troops back. Some days later Fukei reached Sumisaka. Just then Okisome-no-Usagi arrived with more than a thousand horsemen to reinforce him; Fukei joined that force and withdrew to Kanatsuna-no-I, where he took position and gathered his scattered troops. Hearing that Prince Ōtomo's troops were pressing from Ōsaka, he led his troops west as far as Taima and fought Iki-no-Karakuni at Ashiike. A stalwart of his command, Kume, brandished his sword, spurred his horse, and broke into the enemy ranks; the cavalry followed him and greatly defeated the enemy, and those killed or captured were very many. Fukei gave the order: "The true purpose of raising this army is not to kill the common people. It is only to punish the chief culprit, and you must not kill wantonly." Karakuni abandoned his army and fled. Fukei ordered Kume to shoot him, but the arrow did not hit. When he drew in his troops and returned to camp, many troops from the eastern provinces had arrived. Fukei divided his troops into the upper, middle, and lower roads, and himself advanced by the middle road. Prince Ōtomo's commander Inukai-no-Ikimi sent the separate commander Ioi-no-Kujira with two hundred picked troops to attack Fukei's army. The troops under Fukei's command were few and could not hold him off, but only five men, including Tokumaro, a servant of Ōiderā, went forward as the vanguard and loosed arrows in rapid succession. Kujira's army could not advance. Miwa-no-Takechimaro and Okisome-no-Usagi advanced by the upper road, fought at Hashi-no-Misasagi and greatly defeated Prince Ōtomo's army, and, pressing their victory, cut off the rear of Kujira's army. Kujira, struck from front and rear, saw his soldiers thrown into panic and his army into great disorder. He fled alone on horseback, but his horse sank into a rice paddy and could go no further. Fukei called a stalwart of Kai and instructed him: "The one riding the white horse is Kujira. Pursue him quickly and shoot him." The pursuer caught up, but Kujira lashed his horse desperately and narrowly escaped. The whole land of Yamato was pacified, and Fukei advanced by way of Ōsaka as far as Naniwa. The other generals likewise advanced by the three roads, reached Yamasaki, and took position south of Kawachi. Fukei remained at the Naniwa Ogōri and ordered the offices of the western provinces to hand over their official keys, post-station bells, and transit seals. In Emperor Tenmu's winning of the realm, Fukei's merit was the greatest. He died in the eleventh year (682) and was posthumously granted the rank of Daikinchū.

¶At the beginning, when Fukei was encamped at Kanatsuna-no-I, Takechi-no-Kome, the Dairyō, District Chief, of Takechi District, fell silent for three days and spoke not a word. Then he became possessed and said: "I am the god of the Takechi shrine, Kotoshironushi, and the living spirit of the god of the Musa shrine. Offer sacred horses and weapons at the tomb of Kamuyamato Iwarebiko-no-Sumeramikoto (Emperor Jinmu). I have already escorted the Sumemima (Emperor Tenmu) to the palace at Fuwa, and now I am also guarding the main army. Now an enemy army is about to arrive by the western road. You must guard against it." When he had finished speaking, he seemed to wake from a dream. Fukei then sent Kome to make offerings at the tomb and had offerings presented to the two gods as the god had instructed. The Murayano-kami, the god of Muraya, also became possessed and said: "Enemy troops will arrive before long and will pass my shrine by the middle road. Make ready quickly." Before long Iki-no-Karakuni attacked by the western road and Ioi-no-Kujira by the middle road, and it came to pass just as the god had said. After the matter was settled, Fukei reported it in detail, and by imperial order the rank of the three gods was raised and they were enshrined (Note: following the Nihongi). Fukei had two sons, Ojimaro and Ushikai, both of whom served in the court of Emperor Shōmu. Ojimaro became Junior Fourth Rank Lower and Echizen Azechi, Inspector of Echizen. Ushikai rose to Senior Third Rank and Chūnagon, Middle Counsellor (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi).

Haji-no-Chishima

¶Ōtomo-no-Makuta (Note: this text is also written with "Mōta") was Fukei's elder brother. At first he lived in Yamato together with Fukei, but when Emperor Tenmu went into the eastern provinces, he hurried to the Emperor together with Kibumi-no-Ōtomo (Note: following the Nihongi). After the Emperor's accession he was granted a fief of one hundred households for his merit (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi). He died in the eleventh year (682), and the Emperor mourned him deeply and sent Prince Hatsuse to offer condolences. Because he came from a house that had performed merit for generations, he was posthumously granted the rank of Daishi and was buried with kusui, funeral music of drums and pipes (Note: following the Nihongi. The Shoku Nihongi gives Daishi as Nai-Daishi).

¶His son Michitari (Note: the Kugyō Bunin makes him a son of Yasumaro, but the source for this is unclear) served in the courts of Emperors Monmu, Genshō, and Shōmu, and rose to Sangi, Counsellor, of Senior Fourth Rank Lower, and Nankaidō Chinbushi, Pacification Commissioner of the Nankaidō. In the first year of Taihō (701) he was granted a quarter of his father's fief households (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi).

¶Michitari's son Hakumaro was appointed Kōzuke-no-kami, Governor of Kōzuke, at the beginning of Tenpyō-shōhō, and rose gradually to Junior Fourth Rank Lower. In the Hōki era he was appointed Sangi, Counsellor. It is said that in conversation at drinking parties he showed considerable style and restraint. Emperor Kōnin favored him. He served successively as Sadaiben, Senior Controller of the Left, Emon-no-kami, Commander of the Gate Guards, and Chūgū-daibu, Master of the Empress's Household, and was granted Junior Third Rank in addition. He died in the first year of Enryaku (782) (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi).

Chison

¶Chiisakobe-no-Sahichi was governor of Owari province. At the time of the Jinshin War, when Emperor Tenmu entered Fuwa and reached the district office, Sahichi came over with twenty thousand troops. The Emperor was pleased and divided those troops among the various roads to hold strategic points. But when the time came to fight the Ōmi troops, Sahichi hid himself in the mountains and took his own life. The Emperor said: "Sahichi was a man of merit. That he died by his own hand though guilty of no crime must mean that he had some design in mind" (Note: following the Nihongi).

Ōtomo-no-Fukei

¶Sakamoto-no-Takara was a subordinate commander of Ōtomo-no-Fukei at the time of the Jinshin War. After the matter was settled he was granted the rank of Daikinjō. He died in the first year of Emperor Tenmu's reign (672) and was posthumously granted the rank of Shōshi (Note: following the Nihongi).

Ōtomo-no-Makuta

¶Ki-no-Abemaro was appointed Tōdō-shōgun, General of the Eastern Road, at the time of the Jinshin War. After Emperor Tenmu's accession his merit was praised in a generous edict. He died in the second year (673) and was posthumously granted the rank of Daishi (Note: following the Nihongi).

Chiisakobe-no-Sahichi

¶Ōkida-no-Esaka, at the time of the Jinshin War, went to Ōmi at Emperor Tenmu's command and summoned the two princes Takechi and Ōtsu. When the Emperor reached Ise, he came to join him together with Prince Ōtsu. In the third year (674) he fell gravely ill. The Emperor issued an edict, saying: "Esaka cast aside private feeling to serve the public good, regardless of his own person or his house; he gave all his strength to confront the great undertaking and enabled it to be brought to completion. I have always wished to favor him generously, but now it is too late. If he truly cannot rise again, I will reward his descendants richly." He was accordingly advanced in the rank of Ge-Shōshi, but died soon afterward (Note: following the Nihongi).

Sakamoto-no-Takara

¶Mononobe-no-Enoi-no-Okimi (Note: the Kuji Ki says, "A son of Moriya, Mononobe-no-Okimi-no-Muraji, in the time of Emperor Tenmu was granted the headship of his clan and the cap-rank of Nai-Daishi." But Moriya was killed in the second year of Emperor Yōmei's reign, a full eighty-eight years before the Jinshin War, so this is somewhat doubtful. Therefore this account is not adopted), at the time of the Jinshin War, followed the Emperor's carriage into the eastern provinces as a toneri, attendant (Note: following the Nihongi). After the Emperor's accession he was granted a fief of one hundred households for his merit. He died in the fourth year (675), was posthumously granted the rank of Nai-Daishi, and was appointed head of his clan (Note: following the Nihongi). In the first year of Taihō (701), by imperial order, a quarter of the fief households was granted to his son (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi).

Ki-no-Abemaro

¶Miwa-no-Kobito (Note: some texts write "Kobito" with different characters, 子人 for 子首) was Ise-no-kuni-no-suke, Vice-Governor of Ise. At the time of the Jinshin War he came over to Emperor Tenmu (Note: following the Nihongi). For his merit he was granted a fief of one hundred households (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi). He died in the fourth year (675), was posthumously granted the rank of Nai-Shōshi, and was given the posthumous name Ōmiwa-no-Makamida-no-Mukae-no-Kimi (Note: following the Nihongi). In the first year of Taihō (701), by imperial order, a quarter of the fief households was granted to his son (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi).

Ōkida-no-Esaka

¶Sakata-no-Ikazuchi died in the fourth year of Emperor Tenmu's reign (675). As a meritorious subject of the Jinshin War he was posthumously granted the rank of Daishi (Note: following the Nihongi).

Mononobe-no-Enoi-no-Okimi

¶Ki-no-Katamaro (Note: some texts write "Kata" with the characters 訶多) held the rank of Shōkin-ge. In the first year of Emperor Tenmu's reign (672) he became Zō-Takechi-no-Ōdera-tsukasa, Director of Construction of the Great Temple of Takechi. He died in the seventh year (678) and, as a meritorious subject of the Jinshin War, was posthumously granted the rank of Daikinjō (Note: following the Nihongi).

Miwa-no-Kobito

¶Ōkida-no-Wakami (Note: some texts write "mi" with the character 臣 for 見) was known for his courage. At the time of the Jinshin War he followed Prince Ōtsu and joined Emperor Tenmu's army in Ise. In the battle of Seta he served as vanguard and broke Prince Ōtomo's army. After the Emperor's accession he became a hyōe, guardsman. He died in the seventh year (678) and was posthumously granted the rank of Ge-Shōkinjō (Note: following the Nihongi).

Sakata-no-Ikazuchi

¶Hata-no-Tsunate held the rank of Shōkin-ge. He died in the eighth year of Emperor Tenmu's reign (679) and, as a meritorious subject of the Jinshin War, was posthumously granted the rank of Daikinjō (Note: following the Nihongi).

Ki-no-Katamaro

¶Hoshikawa-no-Maro held the rank of Shōkinchū (Note: following the Nihongi) and was granted four chō of merit-rice land (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi). He died in the eighth year of Emperor Tenmu's reign (679) and, as a meritorious subject of the Jinshin War, was posthumously granted the rank of Daishi (Note: following the Nihongi). His son Kuromaro held Junior Seventh Rank Upper. In the second year of Reiki (716), land was granted to him on account of his father's merit (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi).

Ōkida-no-Wakami

¶Miyake-no-Iwatoko was governor of Ise province. At the time of the Jinshin War he came over to Emperor Tenmu and rose to the rank of Shōkin-ge. He died in the eighth year (679) and was posthumously granted the rank of Daikinjō (Note: following the Nihongi).

Hata-no-Tsunate

¶Toneri-no-Nukamushi held the rank of Daisenjō. In the tenth year of Emperor Tenmu's reign (681) he was granted Shōkin-ge, but soon died. As a meritorious subject of the Jinshin War he was posthumously granted the rank of Daikinjō (Note: following the Nihongi).

Hoshikawa-no-Maro

¶Haji-no-Mashiki died in the tenth year of Emperor Tenmu's reign (681). As a meritorious subject of the Jinshin War he was posthumously granted the rank of Daikinjō (Note: following the Nihongi).

Miyake-no-Iwatoko

¶Kashiwade-no-Maro held the rank of Shōkinchū. In the tenth year of Emperor Tenmu's reign (681) he fell ill. The Emperor sent the two princes Kusakabe and Takechi to visit him. He died soon afterward and, as a meritorious subject of the Jinshin War, was posthumously granted the rank of Daishi and received funeral gifts. The Empress also granted funeral gifts (Note: following the Nihongi).

Toneri-no-Nukamushi

¶Taima-no-Hiromaro held the rank of Shōkinjō. In the thirteenth year of Emperor Tenmu's reign (684) he became Jikidaisan and died. As a meritorious subject of the Jinshin War he was posthumously granted the rank of Jikidaiichi (Note: following the Nihongi).

Haji-no-Mashiki

¶Hata-no-Yakuni (Note: some texts write "ya" with the character 矢 for 八) was at first a general on Prince Ōtomo's side in the Jinshin War, but together with his son Ushi he led his clan and came over to Emperor Tenmu, was given the ceremonial axes and appointed general, and pacified the northern land of Koshi. He held the rank of Daikinge. In the eleventh year (682) he received an edict to fix the boundaries of the provinces, rose to Daiben, Senior Controller, and held the rank of Jikidaisan. In the first year of Shuchō (686) he fell ill. The Emperor for his sake had three persons enter the religious life. He died soon afterward and was posthumously granted the rank of Jikidaiichi (Note: following the Nihongi).

Kashiwade-no-Maro

¶Ōtomo-no-Tomokuni, at the time of the Jinshin War, followed Emperor Tenmu into the eastern provinces. He died in the sixth year of Empress Jitō's reign (692) and was posthumously granted the rank of Jikidaini and received funeral gifts (Note: following the Nihongi).

Taima-no-Hiromaro

¶Fumi-no-Chitoko (Note: some texts write "Fumi" with the character 書 for 文), at the time of the Jinshin War, followed Emperor Tenmu into the eastern provinces (Note: following the Nihongi). After the Emperor's accession he was granted a fief of one hundred households and four chō of rice land for his merit (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi). In the ninth year (680) he was granted Shōkin-ge. He died in the sixth year of Empress Jitō's reign (692) and was posthumously granted the rank of Jikidaiichi and received funeral gifts (Note: following the Nihongi). His son Shiomaro held Junior Seventh Rank Upper. In the first year of Taihō (701) he was granted a quarter of his father's fief households, and in the second year of Reiki (716) land was added to his grant (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi).

Hata-no-Yakuni

¶Kaya-no-Kima died in the seventh year of Empress Jitō's reign (693). As a meritorious subject of the Jinshin War he was posthumously granted the rank of Jikikōsan and received funeral gifts (Note: following the Nihongi).

Ōtomo-no-Tomokuni

¶Kamo-no-Emishi, at the time of the Jinshin War, was attached with Miwa-no-Takechimaro to the general Ōtomo-no-Fukei, and was later granted Gondaiichi. He died in the ninth year of Empress Jitō's reign (695) and was posthumously granted the rank of Jikikōsan and received funeral gifts (Note: following the Nihongi).

Fumi-no-Chitoko

¶Ō-no-Honji was Yunomura-no-rei, Overseer of the Bathing Estate, in Anpachima District of Mino province. At the time of the Jinshin War, Emperor Tenmu ordered Honji to raise troops within the district and guard the barrier at Fuwa, and separately had him lead picked troops to attack Tanabe-no-Osumi and put him to flight. He held the rank of Shōkin-ge. In the eleventh year (682) he received an edict and traveled through the provinces together with Prince Ise and others to fix the provincial boundaries. In the tenth year of Empress Jitō's reign (696) he was granted Jikikōichi, and a further reward was added, in recognition of his merit in having followed Emperor Tenmu from the earliest days (Note: following the Nihongi).

Kaya-no-Kima

¶Wakasakurabe-no-Iose, at the time of the Jinshin War, followed Emperor Tenmu into the eastern provinces (Note: following the Nihongi). After the Emperor's accession he was granted a fief of eighty households for his merit (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi). He died in the tenth year of Empress Jitō's reign (696) and was posthumously granted the rank of Jikidaiichi and received funeral gifts (Note: following the Nihongi). In the first year of Taihō (701), by imperial order, a quarter of the fief households was granted to his son (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi).

Kamo-no-Emishi

¶Wanibe-no-Kimite, at the time of the Jinshin War, together with Muraguni-no-Oyori raised troops, closed the barrier at Fuwa, and followed in the attack on Ōmi (Note: following the Nihongi). After the Emperor's accession he was granted a fief of eighty households and eight chō of rice land for his merit, and held the rank of Gondaiichi. At his death he was granted the rank of Jikidaiichi. His son Ōiwa was raised to Ge-Jugoi-no-ge, Outer Junior Fifth Rank Lower. In the first year of Taihō (701) he was granted a quarter of his father's fief households, and in the second year of Reiki (716) land was added to his grant (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi).

Ō-no-Honji

¶Tanaka-no-Tarimaro was Yunomura-no-rei, Overseer of the Bathing Estate, in Ise. At the time of the Jinshin War he met Emperor Tenmu at Suzuka and guarded the Kurafu road (Note: following the Nihongi). He held the rank of Jikikōsan. He died in the second year of Emperor Monmu's reign (698) and was posthumously granted the rank of Jikikōichi (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi).

Wakasakurabe-no-Iose

¶Yamashirobe-no-Oda, at the time of the Jinshin War, followed Emperor Tenmu into the eastern provinces and, under orders, raised the army of the Tōkaidō (Note: following the Nihongi). He held the rank of Gondaini. At his death, in the second year of Emperor Monmu's reign (698), he was posthumously granted the rank of Jikikōshi (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi).

Wanibe-no-Kimite

¶Sakanoue-no-Oyu followed Ōtomo-no-Fukei. When Fukei summoned Prince Takasaka and brought about his surrender, Oyu, together with Ōtomo-no-Yasumaro and others, reported the matter to the Fuwa palace (Note: following the Nihongi). He died in the third year of Emperor Monmu's reign (699). The Emperor issued an edict, saying: "The meaning of reckoning meritorious service began with the worthies of old. Rewards for those who founded a great work have been honored in every age. This is to commend the integrity of brave men and make manifest a name that will not decay. Sakanoue-no-Imiki-no-Oyu, at the time of the disturbance of the year Mizunoe-Saru (Jinshin), cast away his own person and went toward the peril of the state, risked death to calm the troubles of the realm, but before any eminent post was added to his rank he suddenly lost his life. It is fitting that favor be extended to his spirit and that his repose in the world below be consoled." He was accordingly posthumously granted the rank of Jikikōichi and received funeral gifts (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi).

Tanaka-no-Tarimaro

¶Agata-Inukai-no-Ōtomo, at the time of the Jinshin War, followed Emperor Tenmu into the eastern provinces (Note: following the Nihongi). After the disturbance was pacified he was granted a fief of one hundred households for his merit (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi). In the eighth year (679) he fell ill, and the Emperor visited his residence to inquire after him (Note: following the Nihongi). He rose to the rank of Jikikōichi. He died in the first year of Taihō (701), and Jōkōshi Prince Yake and others were sent to proclaim an edict at his residence; he was posthumously granted the rank of Shōkōsan, and a quarter of the fief households was granted to his son (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi).

Yamashirobe-no-Oda

¶Inbe-no-Shikobuchi held Senior Fifth Rank Upper. He died in the first year of Taihō (701) and, as a meritorious subject of the Jinshin War, was posthumously granted Junior Fourth Rank Upper (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi).

Sakanoue-no-Oyu

¶Tami-no-Ōhi, at the time of the Jinshin War, followed Prince Takechi and joined Emperor Tenmu's army in Ise (Note: following the Nihongi). He held Junior Fifth Rank Lower. He died in the third year of Taihō (703); an envoy was sent to grant him Senior Fifth Rank Upper posthumously, and funeral gifts were granted (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi).

Agata-Inukai-no-Ōtomo

¶Takada-no-Niinomi was Yunomura-no-rei, Overseer of the Bathing Estate, in Ise. At the time of the Jinshin War he met Emperor Tenmu at Suzuka (Note: following the Nihongi). After the matter was settled, he was granted a fief of fifty households (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi). In the thirteenth year (684) he went to Shinano together with Kyōbe-no-Tarune and others and built a temporary palace (Note: following the Nihongi). He held Senior Sixth Rank Upper. He died in the third year of Taihō (703) and was posthumously granted Junior Fifth Rank Upper and received funeral gifts. His son Obitona was granted a quarter of his father's fief households in the first year of Keiun (704) (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi).

Inbe-no-Shikobuchi

¶Fumi-no-Nemaro (Note: the Shoku Nihongi writes "Ne" with the character 尼 or 禰), at the time of the Jinshin War, followed Emperor Tenmu into the eastern provinces (Note: following the Nihongi). After the Emperor's accession he was granted a fief of one hundred households and eight chō of rice land for his merit, and held Junior Fourth Rank Lower. He died in the fourth year of Keiun (707); an envoy was sent to grant him Senior Fourth Rank Upper posthumously, and funeral gifts were granted. His son Umakai held Senior Seventh Rank Lower. In the first year of Taihō (701) he was granted a quarter of his father's fief households, and in the second year of Reiki (716) land was added to his grant (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi).

Tami-no-Ōhi

¶Kibumi-no-Ōtomo, at the time of the Jinshin War, was sent by Emperor Tenmu's command to Prince Takasaka, caught up as far as Uda, and followed the Emperor's carriage from there (Note: following the Nihongi). After the Emperor's accession he was granted a fief of two hundred households and eight chō of rice land for his merit, and rose to Senior Fifth Rank Lower (Note: some texts give Senior Sixth Rank Upper) and Yamashiro-no-kami, Governor of Yamashiro. He died in the third year of Wadō (710) and was posthumously granted Senior Fourth Rank Lower and received funeral gifts. His son Kyōmaro held Junior Seventh Rank Upper. In the first year of Taihō (701) he was granted a quarter of his father's fief households, and in the second year of Reiki (716) land was added to his grant (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi).

Takada-no-Niinomi

¶Muraguni-no-Oyori, at the time of the Jinshin War, together with Wanibe-no-Kimite and Muge-no-Hiro, received Emperor Tenmu's command, raised three thousand Mino troops, and closed the road at Fuwa. Oyori rode a post-horse as far as Suzuka and reported the matter. The Emperor praised and rewarded him. Further, together with Fumi-no-Nemaro, Wanibe-no-Kimite, and Ikago-no-Abe, he led several tens of thousands of troops and attacked Ōmi directly from Fuwa, and defeated Prince Ōtomo's army at Okinaga-no-Yokogawa. He cut down Sakaibe-no-Kusuri, advanced and attacked Hata-no-Tomotari at Mount Toko and cut him down. He then fought at the bank of the Yasu River and won a great victory, capturing Kosobe-no-Ōguchi and Haji-no-Chishima. He pressed on to Seta, and Prince Ōtomo's army at last fled. Oyori and the others took position at the foot of the hill of Awazu and attacked Inukai-no-Ikimi and Tani-no-Shiote and cut them down. Prince Ōtomo fled and hanged himself. Oyori obtained his head, and together with the other generals presented it at the Fuwa palace (Note: following the Nihongi). After Emperor Tenmu's accession he was granted a fief of one hundred and twenty households and ten chō of merit-rice land (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi). He died in the fourth year (675) and was posthumously granted the rank of Ge-Shōshi (Note: following the Nihongi). His son Shigamaro was granted a quarter of his father's fief households in the first year of Taihō (701), and in the second year of Reiki (716) land was added to his grant; he held Junior Sixth Rank Lower. Oyori's grandson Shimanushi held Senior Sixth Rank Upper and was Mino no Shōjō, Junior Secretary of Mino. He had sided with Fujiwara-no-Nakamaro, but when Nakamaro raised a rebellion and the court sent envoys to fortify the barriers, Shimanushi secretly went over to the court side; yet because he had originally joined the rebel party, he was in the end put to death. In the second year of Tenpyō-jingo (766), the court took pity that the punishment had not fitted the facts, and he was posthumously granted Junior Fifth Rank Lower (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi).

Fumi-no-Nemaro

¶Miwa-no-Takechimaro (Note: the Shoku Nihongi writes "Miwa" as "Ōmiwa," but here the Nihongi is followed) traced his ancestry to Susano-o-no-Mikoto's descendant of the sixth generation, from Ōkuninushi (Note: following the Shinsen Shōjiroku). His father was Tokane, who held the rank of Daikajō (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi). At the time of the Jinshin War, when Ōtomo-no-Fukei summoned men of daring in Yamato, Takechimaro responded. Together with Okisome-no-Usagi he led troops and greatly defeated Prince Ōtomo's army at Hashi-no-Misasagi, and cut off the rear of Ioi-no-Kujira's army. How Kujira fled is told in the "Biography of Fukei." In the court of Empress Jitō he became Chūnagon, Middle Counsellor, with the rank of Jikidaini. When the Empress was about to make a progress to Ise, Takechimaro submitted a memorial strongly remonstrating. The Empress did not listen and appointed officials to remain in charge of the capital. Takechimaro then returned his cap-rank at court and remonstrated again, saying: "Now that Your Majesty's carriage is to go so far afield, would that not hinder the work of farming?" but he was in the end not heeded (Note: following the Nihongi. It appears that in a poem by Fujiwara-no-Maro, "Passing the Former Residence of the Divine Counsellor," in the Kaifūsō, it is said that he presented his remonstrance but it was never adopted, and that he went away and in the end resigned his office, and the "Divine Counsellor" is Takechimaro. By this account Takechimaro resigned because his remonstrance was not heeded. But the main histories do not record this, so it is added here for reference). In the Taihō era he was raised to Junior Fourth Rank Upper and served successively as Nagato-no-kami, Governor of Nagato, and Sakyō-daibu, Master of the Left Capital. In the third year of Keiun (706) he died while still in office, at the age of fifty. As a meritorious subject of the Jinshin War he was posthumously granted Junior Third Rank (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi; the year of his death is taken from the Kaifūsō).

Kibumi-no-Ōtomo

¶Kurikuma-no-Ōkimi was a son of Prince Naniwa (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin). In the court of Emperor Tenji he was again appointed Tsukushi-no-Sotsu, Governor-General of Tsukushi. At the time of the Jinshin War, Prince Ōtomo sent Saeki-no-Otoko to raise the Tsukushi troops, and ordered him besides: "Kurikuma-no-Ōkimi has long inclined toward Yoshino. If he defies the order, cut him down." When Otoko reached Tsukushi and showed Kurikuma-no-Ōkimi the written order, Kurikuma-no-Ōkimi did not dare raise troops and said: "Tsukushi is a land that guards the frontier, and the high walls and deep moats built there are not solely for the sake of preparing against civil strife. If I raise troops now in obedience to the order and a foreign enemy then appears, what is to be done? At this point you may kill me if you wish, but even so it would gain nothing. Therefore I cannot raise troops. It is not that I dare defy the order." Otoko came forward to stab Kurikuma-no-Ōkimi, but Kurikuma-no-Ōkimi's two sons, Prince Mino and Prince Takeie, stood beside him with swords at their belts, and Otoko could not carry it out and turned back. In the third year of Emperor Tenmu's reign (674) he was appointed Hyōsei-kan-no-kami, Chief of the Office of Military Affairs, holding Fourth Rank at that time. He died in the fourth year (675) (Note: following the Nihongi). Later he was posthumously granted Junior Second Rank (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi).

Muraguni-no-Oyori

¶Prince Mino (Note: "Mino" is also written with the characters 弥努 in this text and in the Shoku Nihongi, and 美努 in the Shoku Nihongi and the Shinsen Shōjiroku, but the readings are all the same) in the ninth year of Emperor Tenmu's reign (680) received an edict and, together with Prince Kawashima, Prince Osakabe, and Daikin-ge Kamitsukeno-no-Michi and others, compiled the imperial records and the deeds of high antiquity. In the tenth year (681), when a proposal to move the capital arose, Mino received an edict and led the Kandaibu of the palace offices to inspect the site of Niiki. At that time he held the rank of Shōshi. In the twelfth year (683) he went again to Shinano together with Shōkin-ge Unome-no-Tsukura to inspect a place where a capital might be built. Afterwards he advanced to Jōkōshi. In the eighth year of Empress Jitō's reign (694) he became Dazai-no-sotsu, Governor-General of Dazaifu (Note: following the Nihongi). In the first year of Taihō (701), the Taihei-shi, Office of Great Offerings, was established for the first time, and Mino was its head. Afterwards he served successively as Sakyō-daibu, Master of the Left Capital, and Settsu-daibu, then moved to Jibu-kyō, Minister of Civil Affairs. He died in the first year of Wadō (708). Originally, when Mino had gone to Mino province, he took as wife a daughter of Agata-Inukai-no-Azumahito and had two sons, Moroe and Sai (Note: following the Shinsen Shōjiroku). Moroe has a separate biography. Sai was at first a shōō, member of the imperial clan, but later received, together with Moroe, the surname Tachibana-no-Sukune. He rose to Senior Fourth Rank Lower and became Chūgū-daibu, Master of the Empress's Household, and concurrently Uhyōe-no-sotsu, Commander of the Right Gate Guards. He died in the ninth year of Tenpyō (737) (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi).

Miwa-no-Takechimaro

¶Ōtomo-no-Yasumaro was the sixth son of the Udaijin, Minister of the Right, Nagatoko (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi). In the Jinshin War he followed Ōtomo-no-Fukei. When Fukei seized the camp to the west of Asukadera, he sent Yasumaro and others to report it to the Fuwa palace. Later he was granted Shōkinchū (Note: following the Nihongi). He rose to Jikidaiichi, and in the first year of Taihō (701) was newly granted Junior Third Rank. Soon he became Shikibu-kyō, Minister of Ceremonial, and took part in the deliberations of government, and was then moved to Hyōbu-kyō, Minister of Military Affairs. In the second year of Keiun (705) he was appointed Dainagon, Major Counsellor, concurrently Dazai-no-sotsu, and advanced to Senior Third Rank. Later he also held concurrently the post of Daishōgun, Great General. He died in the seventh year of Wadō (714) and was posthumously granted Junior Second Rank (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi). He was known in his time as the Saho Dainagon, the Major Counsellor of Saho (Note: following the Man'yōshū). His son Tabito has a separate biography.