Nihon Shoki, Book IV

¹The Emperor Kami-Nunagaha-mimi was the third child of the Emperor Kami-Yamato-Ihare-biko Hohodemi. His mother's name was Hime-tatara-Isuzu no Mikoto, the eldest daughter of Koto-shiro-nushi no Kami.

²This Emperor was of distinguished manners and appearance. As a child he possessed the vigour of manhood; when he grew to manhood, his form was gigantic. He excelled in warlike accomplishments, and his will was resolute in the extreme.

³When he reached the age of forty-eight, the Emperor Kami-Yamato-Ihare-biko died. Now Kama-Nunagaha-mimi no Mikoto's disposition was profoundly filial, and his grief and longing knew no bounds. He made the funeral ceremonies his especial care.

⁴His elder half-brother, Tagishi-mimi no Mikoto, was now advanced in years, and had a long experience of matters of state. Therefore he was again charged with the conduct of affairs, and the Emperor treated him as an intimate friend. This prince, however, was of a perverse disposition, and his natural bent was opposed to justice. During the period of sincere seclusion his authority at last became independent, and concealing his malicious purposes, he plotted the destruction of his two younger brothers.

⁵Now in the year Tsuchinoto U of the cycle, Winter, the 11th month, Kami-Nunagaha-mimi no Mikoto and his elder brother Kami-Ya-wi-mimi no Mikoto learnt privately his intentions and effectively prevented him. When the business of the misasagi was ended, they caused Yumi Be no Waka-hiko to make a bow, and Yamato no Kanuchi Ama-tsu-ma-ura to make a true-deer arrow-point, and the Ya Be to prepare arrows. When the bow and arrows were ready, Kami-Nunagaha-mimi no Mikoto wished therewith to shoot to death Tagishi-mimi no Mikoto, who happened just then to be in a great muro at Kataoka, lying alone on a great couch. Then Kami-Nunagaha-mimi no Mikoto spake to Kami-Ya-wi no Mikoto, saying:—"The right time has now arrived. In words, secrecy is to be prized: in deeds, caution is advisable. Therefore, we have never had any partner in our conspiracy, and the enterprise of to-day is to be carried out by thee and me alone. I will first open the door of the muro. Do thou then shoot him." They accordingly went forward and entered in together.

⁶Kami-Nunagaha-mimi no Mikoto pushed open the door, while Kami-Ya-wi-mimi no Mikoto's arms and legs trembled so that he was unable to let fly the arrow. Then Kami-Nunagaha-mimi no Mikoto snatched the bow and arrows which his elder brother held and shot Tagishi-mimi no Mikoto. The first shot struck him on the breast, the second on the back, and so at length he killed him. Hereupon Kami-Ya-wi-mimi no Mikoto was troubled and submitted himself, yielding the sovereignty to Kami-Nunagaha-mimi no Mikoto, saying:—"I am thy elder brother. But I am timid and weak, and unfit for effective action. On the present occasion thou hast specially displayed divine valour, and hast thyself put to death our chief enemy. Is it not expedient that thou shouldst illuminate the Celestial station and take over the functions of our Imperial ancestors? I will be thy assistant and will attend to the worship of the Gods of Heaven and Earth." He was the first ancestor of the Oho no Omi.

⁷1st year, Spring, 1st month, 8th day. Kami-Nunagaha-mimi no Mikoto assumed the rank of Emperor. He made his capital at Katsuraki. It was called the palace of Takaoka. He honoured the Empress by granting her the title of Kwō-dai-gō or Grand Empress. This was the year Kanoye Tatsu of the cycle.

⁸2nd year, Spring, 1st month. Isuzu-yori-bime was appointed Empress.

⁹One writing says:—"Kaha-mata-bime, daughter of the Agata-nushi of Shiki."

¹⁰One writing says:—"Itori-hime, daughter of Ohohimoro, Agata-nushi of Kasuga."

¹¹She was the Emperor's aunt. The Empress bore a son, the Emperor Shiki-tsu-hiko-tama-demi.

¹²4th year, Summer, 4th month. Kami-Ya-wi-mimi no Mikoto died, and was buried on the Northern side of Mount Unebi.

¹³25th year, Spring, 1st month, 7th day. The Imperial Prince Shiki-tsu-hiko-tama-demi no Mikoto was made heir to the Imperial throne.

¹⁴33rd year, Summer, 5th month. The Emperor took ill, and on the 10th day of the same month, he died, at the age of eighty-four.

¹The Emperor Shiki-tsu-hiko-tama-demi was the eldest child of the Emperor Kami-Nunagaha-mimi. His mother's name was Isuzu-yori-bime no Mikoto, the younger daughter of Koto-shiro-nushi no Kami. This Emperor had been made Prince Imperial in the 25th year of the Emperor Kami-Nunagaha-mimi. He was then twenty-one years of age. In the 5th month, Summer, of the 33rd year of his reign, the Emperor Kami-Nunagaha-mimi died. In the 7th month of that year, on the 3rd day of the month, the Prince Imperial assumed the Imperial Dignity.

²1st year, Winter, 10th month, 11th day. The Emperor Kami-Nunagaha-mimi was buried in the Misasagi on Tsukida Hill in Yamato.

³The Emperor honoured the Empress with the title of Kwō-dai-gō.

⁴This was the year Midzunoto Ushi of the cycle.

⁵2nd year. The capital was removed to Katashiho. It was called the Palace of Ukiana.

⁶3rd year, Spring, 1st month, 5th day. Nuna-soko-naka-tsu hime no Mikoto was appointed Empress.

⁷Others call her Nuna-so hime.

⁸One writing says:—"Kaha-tsu hime, daughter of Haye, Agata-nushi of Shiki."

⁹One writing says:—"Daughter of Ohoma no Sukune."

¹⁰Before this, his consort had given birth to two Imperial princes. The first was called Ikishi-mimi no Mikoto, the second, the Emperor Oho-Yamato-hiko-suki-tomo.

¹¹One version says:—"She bore three princes, the first of whom was called Toko-tsu-hiko-iro-ne; the second, the Emperor Oho-Yamato-hiko-suki-tomo; and the third, Shiki-tsu-hiko no Mikoto."

¹²11th year, 1st month, 1st day. Oho-Yamato-hiko-suki-tomo no Mikoto was made Prince Imperial. His younger brother, Shiki-tsu-hiko no Mikoto was the first ancestor of the Wi-tsu-kahi no Muraji.

¹³38th year, Winter, 11th month, 6th day. The Emperor died at the age of 57.

¹The Emperor Oho-Yamato-hiko-suki-tomo was the second child of the Emperor Shiki-tsu-hiko-tama-demi. His mother's name was Nuna-soko-naka-tsu-hime, grandchild of Koto-shiro-nushi no Kami, and daughter of the Prince of Kamo. He was made Prince Imperial in the 11th year, Spring, the 1st month of the Emperor Shiki-tsu-hiko-tama-demi's reign. He was then 16 years of age. In the 38th year of that reign, Winter, the 12th month, the Emperor Shiki-tsu-hiko-tama-demi died.

²1st year, Spring, 2nd month, 4th day. The Prince Imperial assumed the Imperial Dignity.

³Autumn, 8th month, 1st day. The Emperor Shiki-tsu-hiko-tama-demi was buried in the Misasagi above Mihodo no wi, south of Mount Unebi.

⁴9th month, 14th day. The Empress was honoured with the title of Grand Empress. This was the year Kanoto U of the cycle.

⁵2nd year, Spring, 1st month, 5th day. The capital was removed to Karu. It was called the Palace of Magariwo.

⁶2nd month, 11th day. Ama-toyo-tsu-hime no Mikoto was made Empress.

⁷One version has:—"Idzumi hime, daughter of Oto-wite, son of Haye, Agata-nushi of Shiki."

⁸One version has:—"Ihi-hime, daughter of Futo-ma-waka-hiko, Agata-nushi of Shiki."

⁹This Empress was the mother of the Emperor Mi-matsu-hiko-Kayeshine.

¹⁰One version has:—"The Emperor's younger brother by the mother's side, Takeshi-hiko-kushi-tomo se no Mikoto."

¹¹22nd year, Spring, 2nd month, 12th day. Mi-matsu-hiko-Kayeshine no Mikoto was made Prince Imperial. He was then 18 years of age.

¹²34th year, Autumn, 9th month, 8th day. The Emperor died.

¹The Emperor Mi-matsu-hiko-Kayeshine was the eldest son of the Emperor Oho-Yamato-hiko-suki-tomo. The name of the Empress, his mother, was Ama-toyo-tsu-hime no Mikoto. She was the daughter of Ikishi-mimi no Mikoto.

²The Emperor had been made Prince Imperial in Spring, the second month of the 22nd year of the reign of the Emperor Oho-Yamato-hiko-suki-tomo. The Emperor Oho-Yamato-hiko-suki-tomo died in autumn, the ninth month of the 34th year of his reign. On the 13th day of the 10th month of the following year, the Emperor Oho-Yamato-hiko-suki-tomo was buried in the Misasagi over the Masago Valley to the south of Mount Unebi.

³1st year, Spring, 1st month, 9th day. The Prince Imperial assumed the Imperial Dignity.

⁴Summer, 4th month, 5th day. The Empress was honoured with the title of Grand Empress.

⁵7th month. The capital was removed to Wakigami. It was called the Palace of Ikegokoro. This year was the year Hinoye Tora of the cycle.

⁶29th year, Spring, 1st month, 3rd day. Yoso-tarashi-hime was appointed Empress.

⁷One version says:—"Nunaki-tsu hime, daughter of Haye, Agata-nushi of Shiki."

⁸One version has:—"Oho-wi-hime, daughter of Toyo-aki-sata-wo of the Land of Yamato."

⁹The Empress gave birth to Ama-tarashi-hiko-kuni-oshi-bito no Mikoto, and to the Emperor Yamato-tarashi-hiko-kuni-oshi-bito.

¹⁰68th year, Spring, 1st month, 14th day. Yamato-tarashi-hiko-kuni-oshi-bito no Mikoto was made Prince Imperial. He was twenty years of age. Ama-tarashi-hiko-kuni-oshi-bito no Mikoto was the first ancestor of the Wani no Omi.

¹¹83rd year, Autumn, 8th month, 5th day. The Emperor died.

¹The Emperor Yamato-tarashi-hiko-kuni-oshi-bito was the second child of the Emperor Mi-matsu-hiko-kayeshine. His mother's name was Yoso-tarashi-hime. She was the younger sister of Okitsu Yoso, the ancestor of the Ohari no Muraji.

²The Emperor was made Prince Imperial in Spring, the 1st month of the 68th year of the reign of the Emperor Mi-matsu-hiko-kayeshine. The Emperor Mi-matsu-hiko-kayeshine died in Autumn, the 8th month of the 83rd year of his reign.

³1st year, Spring, 1st month, 7th day. The Prince Imperial assumed the Imperial Dignity.

⁴Autumn, 8th month, 1st day. The Empress was honoured with the title of Grand Empress. This year was the year Tsuchi no to Ushi of the cycle.

⁵2nd year, Winter, 10th month. The capital was removed to Muro. It was called the Palace of Akitsushima.

⁶26th year, Spring, 2nd month, 14th day. The Emperor appointed his niece, Oshi-bime, Empress.

⁷One version has:—"Naga-hime, daughter of Haye, Agata-nushi of Shiki."

⁸One version has:—"Isaka-hime, daughter of Isaka-hiko, Agata-nushi of Tohoehi."

⁹The Empress was the mother of the Emperor Oho-Yamato-neko-hiko-futo-ni.

¹⁰38th year, Autumn, 8th month, 14th day. The Emperor Mi-matsu-hiko-kayeshine was buried in the Misasagi on Mount Hakata in Wakigami.

¹¹76th year, Spring, 1st month, 5th day. Oho-Yamato-neko-hiko-futo-ni no Mikoto was made Prince Imperial. He was then twenty-six years of age.

¹²102nd year, Spring, 1st month, 9th day. The Emperor died.

¹The Emperor Oho-Yamato-neko-hiko-futo-ni was the eldest child of the Emperor Yamato-tarashi-hiko-kuni-oshi-bito. His mother's name was Oshi-bime. He had been appointed Prince Imperial in Spring, the 1st month of the 76th year of the reign of the Emperor Yamato-tarashi-hiko-kuni-oshi-bito. In Spring, the 1st month of the 102nd year of his reign, the Emperor Yamato-tarashi-hiko-kuni-oshi-bito died. In Autumn, the 9th month, 13th day, the Emperor Yamato-tarashi-hiko-kuni-oshi-bito was buried in the Misasagi on Tamade Hill.

²Winter, 12th month, 4th day. The Prince Imperial removed the capital to Kuroda. It was called the Palace of Ihodo.

³1st year, Spring, 1st month, 12th day. The Prince Imperial assumed the Imperial Dignity. He honoured the Empress with the title of Grand Empress. This year was the year Kanoto Hitsuji of the cycle.

⁴2nd year, Spring, 2nd month, 11th day. Hoso-bime no Mikoto was appointed Empress.

⁵One version has:—"Kasuga no Chichi-haya-yamaka-hime."

⁶One version has:—"Mashita-bime, daughter of Toso, Agata-nushi of Tohochi."

⁷The Empress was the mother of the Emperor Oho-Yamato-neko-hiko-kuni-kuru. A concubine named Yamato no kuni-ka-hime [also called Haye-irone] was the mother of Yamato-to-to-hi-momo-so bime no Mikoto and of Hiko-i-saseri-hiko no Mikoto [also called Kibi-tsu-hiko no Mikoto], and Yamato-toto-waka-ya-bime no Mikoto.

⁸Another concubine Haye-iroto was the mother of Hiko-sajima no Mikoto and of Waka-take-hiko no Mikoto. The younger of these, namely, Waka-take-hiko no Mikoto, was the first ancestor of the Kibi no Omi.

⁹36th year, Spring, 1st month, 1st day. Hiko-kuni-kuru no Mikoto was made Prince Imperial.

¹⁰76th year, Spring, 2nd month, 8th day. The Emperor died.

¹The Emperor Oho-Yamato-neko-hiko-kuni-kuru was the eldest child of the Emperor Oho-Yamato-neko-hiko-futo-ni. His mother's name was Hoso-bime, daughter of Oho-me, Agata-nushi of Shiki. He had been created Prince Imperial in Spring, the 1st month of the 36th year of the reign of the Emperor Oho-Yamato-neko-hiko-futo-ni. He was then nineteen years of age. The Emperor Oho-Yamato-neko-hiko-futo-ni died in Spring, the 2nd month of the 76th year of his reign.

²1st year, Spring, 1st month, 14th day. The Prince Imperial assumed the Imperial Dignity. He honoured the Empress with the title of Grand Empress. This year was the year Hinoto I of the cycle.

³4th year, Spring, 3rd month, 11th day. The capital was removed to Karu. It was called the Palace of Sakahibara.

⁴6th year, Autumn, 9th month, 6th day. The Emperor Oho-Yamato-neko-hiko-futo-ni was buried in the Misasagi on Muma-zaka at Kataoka.

⁵7th year, Spring, 2nd month, 2nd day. Uchi-shiko-me no Mikoto was appointed Empress. She had three children, two boys and one girl. The name of the eldest was Oho-hiko no Mikoto; of the second, the Emperor Waka-Yamato-neko-hiko Oho-hihi; and of the third, Yamato-toto-hime no Mikoto.

⁶One version has:—"The Emperor's brother by the mother's side was Sukuna-biko-wo-kokoro no Mikoto."

⁷A concubine named Ika-shiko-me no Mikoto was the mother of Hiko-futo-woshi-makoto no Mikoto. The next concubine, named Hani-yasu-hime, daughter of Awotama of Kahachi, was the mother of Take-hani-yasu no Mikoto.

⁸The elder brother Oho-hiko no Mikoto was the first ancestor of the Abe no Omi, the Kashihade no Omi, the Ahe no Omi, the Sasaki-yama no Kimi, the Tsukushi no Miyakko, the Koshi no Miyakko and the Iga no Omi, in all seven families.

⁹Hiko-futo-woshi-makoto no Mikoto was the grandfather of Takechi no Sukune.

¹⁰22nd year, Spring, 1st month, 14th day. Waka-Yamato-neko-hiko-oho-hihi no Mikoto was made Prince Imperial. He was sixteen years of age.

¹¹57th year, Autumn, 9th month, 2nd day. The Emperor died.

¹The Emperor Waka-Yamato-neko-hiko-oho-hihi was the second child of the Emperor Oho-Yamato-neko-hiko-kuni-kuru. His mother's name was Uchi-shikome, the ancestor of the Hodzumi no Omi, and younger sister of Uchi-shiko-wo no Mikoto.

²The Emperor had been created Prince Imperial in Spring, the 1st month of the 22nd year of the reign of the Emperor Oho-Yamato-neko-hiko-kuni-kuru. He was then sixteen years of age.

³The Emperor Oho-Yamato-neko-hiko-kuni-kuru died in Autumn, the 9th month of the 57th year of his reign.

⁴In Winter, the 11th month, 12th day, the Prince Imperial assumed the Imperial Dignity.

⁵1st year, Spring, 1st month, 4th day. The Empress was honoured with the title of Grand Empress.

⁶Winter, 10th month, 13th day. The capital was removed to Kasuga. It was called the Palace of Isa-kaha. This year was the year Kinoye Saru of the cycle.

⁷5th year, Spring, 2nd month, 6th day. The Emperor Oho-Yamato-neko-hiko-kuni-kuru was buried in the Misasagi on the island of Tsurugi-ike.

⁸6th year, Spring, 1st month, 14th day. Ika-shiko-me no Mikoto was appointed Empress. [She was his father's concubine.] The Empress was the mother of the Emperor Mimaki-iri-hiko-i-niye.

⁹The Emperor had previously taken to himself as concubine Taniha no Takano-hime. She was the mother of Hiko-yu-musumi no Mikoto. [Also called Hiko komosu no Mikoto.] There was a subordinate concubine named Oke-tsu-hime, younger sister of Oke-tsu no Mikoto, the ancestor of the Wani no Omi. She was the mother of Prince Hiko-imasu.

¹⁰28th year, Spring, 1st month, 5th day. Mimaki-iri-hiko no Mikoto was created Prince Imperial. He was nineteen years of age.

¹¹60th year, Summer, 4th month, 9th day. The Emperor died.

¹²Winter, 10th month, 3rd day. He was buried in the Saka-moto Misasagi at Isa-kaha in Kasuga.

¹³One version has:—"The Misasagi of Saka no kami."

¹⁴His age was then 115.