Nihongi

Chronicles of Japan From the Earliest Times to A D 697

W Aston, W G Aston

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2010
• ISBN:
  9781136902338
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Languages & Linguistics
• Subtopic: Linguistics
• Index: Languages & Linguistics

The Nihongi is the standard native history of Ancient Japan. This volume, originally published in 1896 and now of classic status makes accessible to European scholars the extensive store of material for the study of mythology, folk-lore, early civilization and manners and customs which it contains.

CONTENTS OF PART ONE

PREFACE

INTRODUCTION

Book		Accession B.C.
I.	Age of the Gods Part 1
II.	Age of the Gods Part 2
III.	Jimmu Tenno	660
IV.	Suizei Tenno	584
	Annei Tenno	548
	Itoku Tenno	510
	Kosho Tenno	475
	Koan Tenno	392
	Korei Tenno	290
	Kogen Tenno	214
	Kaikwa Tenno	157
V.	Sujin Tenno	97
VI.	Suinin Tenno	29
		A.D.
VII.	Keiko Tenno	71
	Seimu Tenno	131
VIII.	Chiuai Tenno	191
IX.	Jingo Kogu	201
X.	Ojin Tenno	270
XI.	Nintoku Tenno	311
XII.	Richiu Tenno	400
	Hanzei Tenno	406
XIII.	Ingio Tenno	412
	Anko Tenno	464
XIV.	Yuriaku Tenno	457
XV.	Seinei Tenno	480
	Kenzo Tenno	485
	Ninken Tenno	488
XVI.	Muretsu Tenno	499

Nihongi.¹

Book I.²

The Age of the Gods.

PART I.

OF old, Heaven and Earth were not yet separated, and the In and Yō³ not yet divided. They formed a chaotic mass like an egg which was of obscurely defined limits and contained germs.

The purer and clearer part was thinly drawn out, and formed Heaven, while the heavier and grosser element settled down and became Earth.

The finer element easily became a united body, but the consolidation of the heavy and gross element was accomplished with difficulty.

Heaven was therefore formed first, and Earth was established subsequently.

Thereafter Divine Beings were produced between them.⁴

Hence⁵ it is said that when the world began to be created, the soil of which lands were composed floated about in a manner which might be compared to the floating of a fish sporting on the surface of the water.

At this time a certain thing was produced between Heaven and Earth. It was in form like a reed-shoot. Now this became transformed into a God, and was called Kuni-toko-tachi [I. 2.⁶] no Mikoto.⁷

[The character 尊 is used owing to the extreme dignity of this Deity. For the others the character 命 is used. Both are read Mikoto. This rule is followed below.⁸]

Next there was Kuni no sa-tsuchi no Mikoto,⁹ and next Toyo-kumu-nu no Mikoto,¹⁰ in all three deities.¹¹

These were pure males spontaneously developed by the operation of the principle of Heaven.¹²

In one writing it is said:¹³—“When Heaven and Earth began, a thing existed in the midst of the Void.¹⁴ Its shape may not be described. Within it a Deity was spontaneously produced, whose name was Kuni-toko-tachi no Mikoto, also called Kuni-soko-tachi¹⁵ no Mikoto. Next there was Kuni no sa-tsuchi no Mikoto, also called Kuni no sa tachi¹⁶ no Mikoto. Next there was Toyo kuni-nushi¹⁷ no Mikoto, also called Toyo-kumu-nu¹⁸ no Mikoto, Toyo-ka-fushi-no¹⁹ no Mikoto, Uki-fu-no-toyo-kahi²⁰ no Mikoto, Toyo-kuni-no²¹ no Mikoto, Toyo-kuhi-no²² no Mikoto, Ha-ko-kuni-no²³ no Mikoto, or Mi-no²⁴ no Mikoto.”

In one writing it is said:—“Of old, when the land was young and the earth young, it floated about, as it were floating oil. At this time a thing was produced within the land, in shape like a reed-shoot when it sprouts forth. From this there was a Deity developed, whose name was Umashi-ashi-kabi-hiko-ji²⁵ no Mikoto. Nextthere was Kuni no toko-tachi no Mikoto, and next Kuni no sa-tsuchi no Mikoto.”

In one writing it is said:—“When Heaven and Earth were in a state of chaos, there was first of all a deity,²⁶ whose name was [I. 3] Umashi-ashi-kabi-hiko-ji no Mikoto. Next there was Kuni-soko-tachi no Mikoto.”

In one writing it is said:—“When Heaven and Earth began, there were Deities produced together, whose names were, first. Kuni-no-toko-tachi no Mikoto, and next Kuni no sa-tsuchi no Mikoto.” It is further stated:—“The names of the Gods which were produced in the Plain of High Heaven were Ama no mi-naka-nushi²⁷ no Mikoto, next Taka-mi-musubi²⁸ no Mikoto, next Kami-mi-musubi²⁹ no Mikoto.”

In one writing it is said:—“Before Heaven and Earth were produced, there was something which might be compared to a cloud floating over the sea. It had no place of attachment for its root. In the midst of this a thing was generated which resembled a reed-shoot when it is first produced in the mud. This became straightway transformed into human ³⁰ shape and was called Kuni no toko-tachi no Mikoto.”

In one writing it is said:—“When Heaven and Earth began, a thing was produced in the midst of the Void, which resembled a reed-shoot. This became changed into a God, who was called Ama no toko-tachi³¹ no Mikoto. There was next Umashi-ashi-kabi-hiko-ji no Mikoto.” It is further stated:—“There was a thing produced in the midst of the Void like floating oil, from which a God was developed, called Kuni toko-tachi no Mikoto.”

The next Deities who came into being were Uhiji-ni³² no Mikoto and Suhiji-ni no Mikoto, also called Uhiji-ne no [I. 4.] Mikoto and Suhiji-ne no Mikoto.

The next Deities which came into being were Oho-to nochi no Mikoto and Oho-to mahe no Mikoto.

One authority says Oho-to no he no Mikoto, otherwise called Oho-to-ma-hiko no Mikoto and Oho-to-ma-hime no Mikoto. Another says Oho-tomu-chi no Mikoto and Oho-tomu-he no Mikoto.³³

The next Gods which came into being were Omo-taru no Mikoto and Kashiko-ne no Mikoto, also called Aya-kashiko-ne no Mikoto, Imi kashiki no Mikoto, or Awo-kashiki-ne no Mikoto, or Aya-kashiki no Mikoto.³⁴

The next Deities which came into being were Izanagi no Mikoto and Izanami no Mikoto.³⁵

One writing says:—“These two Deities were the children of Awo-kashiki-ne no Mikoto.”

One writing says:—“Kuni no toko-tachi no Mikoto produced Ame kagami no Mikoto, Ame kagami no Mikoto produced Ame yorodzu no Mikoto, Ame yorodzu no Mikoto produced Aha-nagi no Mikoto, and Aha nagi no Mikoto produced Izanagi no Mikoto.”³⁶

These make eight Deities in all. Being formed by the mutual action of the Heavenly and Earthly principles, they were made male and female.³⁷ From Kuni no toko-tachi no Mikoto to Izanagi no Mikoto and Izanami no Mikoto are called the seven generations of the age of the Gods.³⁸

In one writing it is said:—“The gods that were produced in pairs, male and female, were first of all Uhiji ni no Mikoto and Suhiji ni no Mikoto. Next there were Tsuno-guhi no Mikoto and Iku-guhi no Mikoto, next Omo-taru no Mikoto and Kashiko-ne no Mikoto, and next Izanagi no Mikoto and Izanami no Mikoto.”

Izanagi and Izanami on the Floating Bridge of Heaven.

Izanagi no Mikoto and Izanami no Mikoto stood on the [I. 5] floating bridge of Heaven, and held counsel together, saying: “Is there not a country beneath?”

Thereupon they thrust down the jewel-spear of Heaven,³⁹ and groping about therewith found the ocean. The brine which dripped from the point of the spear coagulated and became an island which received the name of Ono-goro-jima.⁴⁰

The two Deities thereupon descended and dwelt in this island. Accordingly they wished to become husband and wife together, and to produce countries.

So they made Ono-goro-jima the pillar of the centre of the land.⁴¹

Now the male deity turning by the left, and the female ⁴² deity by the right, they went round the pillar of the land separately. When they met together on one side, the female deity spoke first and said:—“How delightful! I have met [I. 6.] with a lovely youth.” The male deity was displeased, and said:—“I am a man, and by right should have spoken first. How is it that on the contrary thou, a woman, shouldst have been the first to speak? This was unlucky. Let us go round again.” Upon this the two deities went back, and having met anew, this time the male deity spoke first, and said:—“How delightful! I have met a lovely maiden.”

Then he inquired of the female deity, saying:—“In thy body is there aught formed?” She answered, and said:—“In my body there is a place which is the source of femineity.” The male deity said:—“In my body again there is a place which is the source of masculinity. I wish to unite this source-place of my body to the source-place of thy body.” Hereupon the male and female first became united as husband and wife.

Now when the time of birth arrived, first of all the island of Ahaji was reckoned as the placenta, and their minds took no pleasure in it. Therefore it received the name of Ahaji no Shima.⁴³

Next there was produced the island of Oho-yamato no Toyo-aki-tsu-shima.⁴⁴

Here and elsewhere 日 本 (Nippon) is to be read Yama’o.⁴⁵

Next they produced the island of Iyo no futa-na,⁴⁶ and next [I. 7.] the island of Tsukushi.⁴⁷ N...

Table of contents

• Cover Page
• Half Title page
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Original Title Page
• Original Copyright Page
• Preface
• Contents
• Introduction
• Abbreviations
• I The Age of the Gods.
• II The Age of the Gods.
• III The Emperor Kami-Yamato Ihare-Biko.
• IV The Emperor Kami-Nunagaha-Mimi.
• V The Emperor Mimaki-Iri-Biko-I-Niye.
• VI The Emperor Iku-Me-Iri-Hiko-I-Sachi.
• VII The Emperor Oho-Tarashi-Hiko-Oshiro-Wake
• VIII The Emperor Tarashi-Nakatsu-Hiko.
• IX Okinaga-Tarashi-Hime no Mikoto.
• X The Emperor Homuda.
• XI The Emperor Oho-Sazaki.
• XII The Emperor Iza-Ho-Wake.
• XIII The Emperor Wo-Asa-Tsuma Wakugo no Sukune.
• XIV The Emperor Oho-Hatsuse Wakatake.
• XV The Emperor Shiraga1-Take-Hiro-Kuni-Oshkwaka-Yamato-Neko.
• XVI The Emperor Wohatsuse Waka-Sazaki.
• Contents
• XVII The Emperor Wohodo.
• XVIII The Emperor Magari No Ohoye (Or Ohine) Hiro-Kuni Oshi-Take Kanahi1
• XIX The Emperor Ame-Kuni Oshi-Hiraki Hiro-Niha.
• XX The Emperor Nunakura Futo-Tama-Shiki
• XXI The Emperor Tachibana no Toyohi.
• XXII The Empress Toyo-Mike Kashiki-Ya-Hime.
• XXIII The Emperor Okinaga Tarashi-Hi Hiro-Nuka.
• XXIV The Empress Ame Toyo-Takara Ikashi-Hi Tarashi Hime.
• XXV The Emperor Ame-yorodzu Toyo-hi.
• XXVI The Empress Ame-toyo-takara ikashi-hi tarashi-hime
• XXVII The Emperor Ame Mikoto Hirakasu Wake.
• XXVIII The Emperor Ama no Nunahara Oki no Mabito.1—Part 1.
• XXIX The Emperor Ama no Nuna-Hara Oki no Mabito.—Part II.
• XXX The Empress Takama no Hara Hiro-no no Hime.
• Errata et Addenda
• Index.