Kuni-zukuri~The building of Ashiharanakatsu-no-kuni

Kuni-zukuri

When Ōkuninushi-no-kami was at Miho-no-misaki in Izumo, a small god, wearing a wing of a moth, emerged from from beyond the sea on an Ame-no-kagami-no-fune. Ōkuninushi-no-kami asked his name but he got no answer, and no one knew his name. Then, Taniguku came and told him that Kuebiko, should know, so he visited Kuebiko. Kuebiko answered that the small god is Sukunabikona-no-kami, Kamimusubi-no-kami's child.

Ōkuninushi-no-kami visited Kamimusubi-no-kami to make certain. Kamimusubi-no-kami said that the small god certainly is his child, who got lost falling through his fingers. Kamimusubi-no-kami ordered Sukunabikona-no-kami to become brothers with the "Ashiharashikō-no-mikoto", and build the country together.

Ōkuninushi-no-kami and Sukunabikona-no-kami worked together and did the Kuni-zukuri of Ashihara-no-nakatsukuni. However, one day, Sukunabikona-no-kami left for Tokoyo-no-kuni, saying that his role has finished.

Still half way through the building of the country, Ōkuninushi-no-kami was at a loss. But when he was at the seashore, a god emerged from from beyond the sea illuminating the sea surface. The god said that if Ōkuninushi-no-kami would enshrine him, he would build the country together, if he won't the building will not go well. Ōkuninushi-no-kami asked how he should enshrine him. The god answered that he should enshrine him on top of the mountain in the east of Aokakiyama surrounding Yamato, so he enshrined the god in mount Mimoro. This is the god of mount Mimoro.

Thus, Ōkuninushi-no-kami finished the Kuni-zukuri of Ashihara-no-nakatsukuni.

Gods

Ōkuninushi-no-kami (大国主神)

Also called Ashiharashikō-no-mikoto (葦原色許男命). The ruler of the country.

Taniguku (多邇具久)

A toad.

Kuebiko (久延毘古)

A wise scarecrow.

Sukunabikona-no-kami (少名毘古那神)

The god of agriculture, medicine or hotspring.

Kamumusubi-no-kami (神産巣日神)

One of the Zōka-sanshin those emerged at the beginning of Tenchi-kaibyaku. The god of creation.

Places

Izumo (出雲)

The eastern part of modern Shimane prefecture.

Miho-no-misaki (御大の御前)

Cape Jizō in Mihonoseki in Matsue city, Shimane prefecture.

Ashiharanakatsu-no-kuni (葦原中国)

The world between the Takamagahara and Yomi, on the ground surface.

Tokoyo-no-kuni (常世国)

Another world said to be far across the sea.

Yamato (倭)

Yamato province (大和国). Modern Nara prefecture.

Aokakiyama (青垣山)

The mountains surrounding Nara basin.

Mount Mimoro (御諸山)

Mount Miwa, in Sakurai city, Nara prefecture. The object of worship of Ōmiwa shrine.

Tools

Ame-no-kagami-no-fune (天の羅摩船)

A boat made of rough potato.

Other terms

Kuni-zukuri (国造り)

Ōkuninushi-no-kami developing Ashiharanakatsu-no-kuni.

The god of mount Mimoro

Although the name is not written, Ōmomonushi-no-kami (大物主神). The god of nation building, and a snake god.

Achievements of Ōkuninushi-no-kami and Sukunabikona-no-kami

In the Kojiki, there are no details about Ōkuninushi-no-kami and Sukunabikona-no-kami. But in Nihon shoki, there are some details.

Story

Ōnamuchi-no-mikoto and Sukunabikona-no-mikoto ruled over the country, wholeheartedly.

They found ways to cure disease of Utsushiki-aohitokusa and livestock. Also, they found ways to expel harmful animals and insect pest.

Vocabulary

Utsushiki-aohitokusa (顯見蒼生)

The people of the earthly world.