Kuni-yuzuri~The transfer of Ashiharanakatsu-no-kuni

Kuni-yuzuri

After Ōkuninushi-no-kami's Kuni-zukuri, Amaterasu-ōmikami said that the Toyoashihara-no-chiakinagaihoaki-no-mizuho-no-kuni should be ruled by her own son, Masakatsuakatsuchihayahi-amenōshihomimi-no-mikoto, and ordered him to descend to Ashiharanakatsu-no-kuni. Amenōshihomimi-no-mikoto went to Ame-no-ukihashi and looked down, but seeing the unsettled lower world, he turned back. Amenōshihomimi-no-mikoto talked withAmaterasu-ōmikami.

Takamimusubi-no-kami and Amaterasu-ōmikami gathered the Yaoyorozu-no-kami to the dry riverbed of Ame-no-yasukawa, had Omoikane-no-kami work on plans. Amaterasu-ōmikami said that the Ashiharanakatsu-no-kuni is where her child should rule, but there are many violent Kunitsukamis, so who should be sent there to calm them down.

Omoikane-no-kami and the gods talked and decided to send Amenohohi-no-mikoto. Although Amenohohi-no-mikoto descended to Ashiharanakatsu-no-kuni, he was conciliated by Ōkuninushi-no-kami and didn't return to Takamagahara.

Again, Takamimusubi-no-kami and Amaterasu-ōmikami gathered the gods, and said that Amenohohi-no-mikoto doesn't return but who should be sent next. Omoikane-no-kami answered that sending Amenowakahiko, the child of Amatsukunitama-no-kami, should be good.

Amenowakahiko was sent, given the Ame-no-makakoyumi and Ame-no-habaya. However, Amenowakahiko married Shitateruhime, Ōkuninushi-no-kami's daughter, as soon as he descended to Ashiharanakatsu-no-kuni, planning to rule the Ashiharanakatsu-no-kuni himself, and didn't return to Takamagahara.

Amaterasu-ōmikami and Takamimusubi-no-kami asked the gods, Amenowakahiko does not come back, and who should we send to ask him why he doesn't return. Omoikane-no-kami answered that sending the pheasant called Nakime should be good, so Amaterasu-ōmikami told Nakime to descend and ask Amenowakahiko how he is doing. And also, she told her to make clear that the reason Amenowakahiko was sent was to calm down the violent Kunitsukamis, but why he does not report even though 8 years has passed.

Nakime descended to Ashiharanakatsu-no-kuni, perched on the branch of the yuzukatsura in front of Amenowakahiko's house, and told Amaterasu-ōmikami's words. Amenosagume told Amenowakahiko, that the bird is ominous and he should shoot it. Amenowakahiko used the Ame-no-makakoyumi and Ame-no-habaya, given to him by Amaterasu-ōmikami, and shot Nakime, killing her.

The arrow that shot through Nakime reached where Amaterasu-ōmikami and Takagi-no-kami is, in Takamagahara. Takagi-no-kami is another name for Takamimusubi-no-kami. Takagi-no-kami took the arrow covered with blood and said, if Amenowakahiko hasn't betrayed and this arrow was shot by an evil spirit, this arrow will not hit him, but if he has an evil thought, the arrow would hit him. Then Takagi-no-kami threw the arrow back. The arrow hit Amenowakahiko sleeping, killing him.

Funeral of Amenowakahiko

The cries of Shitateruhime, the wife of Amenowakahiko, reached the heavens, and Amenowakahiko's father, Amatsukunitama-no-kami, and his family descended to Ashiharanakatsu-no-kuni and mourned. They built a moya, appointed a goose as kisarimochi, a heron as hawakimochi, a kingfisher as mikebito, a sparrow as usume, and a pheasant as nakime, arranged the funeral. Then they sung and danced for 8 days and 8 nights, as a ceremony to bring back the departed soul.

During the funeral, Ajisukitakahikone-no-kami came to mourn Amenowakahiko. Since Ajisukitakahikone-no-kami and Amenowakahiko looked alike, Amenowakahiko's parents and wife clung to Ajisukitakahikone-no-kami, saying that Amenowakahiko had not died. Ajisukitakahikone-no-kami said that he had came to mourn his good friend, but why he has to be seen as a dead, and in anger, he destroyed the moya with his totsuka-no-tsurugi and kicked it away.

This moya is the mountain of Moyama in the upperstream of Aimi river in Mino-no-kuni. Also, Ajisukitakahikone-no-kami's totsuka-no-tsurugi is named Ōhakari, or Kamudo-no-tsurugi.

When Ajisukitakahikone-no-kami flew away, Shitateruhime composed a poem to tell who Ajisukitakahikone-no-kami is.

The beads of a neck ornament of a weaving girl. Shining like a bead of a neck ornament with a hole, shining over two valleys, Ajisukitakahikone-no-kami.

The poem is called Hinaburi.

Takemikazuchinō-no-kami

Once again, Amaterasu-ōmikami asked the gods who to send. Omoikane-no-kami said that Amenōhabari-no-kami, who is at the Ama-no-iwaya in the upperstream of Ame-no-yasukawa, or his child Takemikazuchinō-no-kami should be good. He also said that Amenōhabari-no-kami is blocking the Ame-no-yasukawa and no other god but Amenokaku-no-kami can go through, so we should send him to ask. Amenokaku-no-kami went to see Amenōhabari-no-kami, and Amenōhabari-no-kami answered, that he agrees. But he also said that sending his child Takemikazuchinō-no-kami would be better. Amenōhabari-no-kami sent Takemikazuchinō-no-kami with Amenotorifune-no-kami.

Takemikazuchinō-no-kami and Amenotorifune-no-kami descended to Inasa-no-obama in Izumo-no-kuni. Takemikazuchinō-no-kami stuck his totsuka-no-tsurugi in the beach, and sat on the tip of the sword. Then told Ōkuninushi-no-kami that he had come at the behest of Amaterasu-ōmikami and Takagi-no-kami. And asked how he thinks about Amaterasu-ōmikami thinking that her son should rule the Ashiharanakatsu-no-kuni.

Ōkuninushi-no-kami said that he cannot answer, and he should ask his child, Yaekotoshironushi-no-kami. Although Yaekotoshironushi-no-kami had went to Miho-no-misaki to catch birds and fish, Amenotorifune-no-kami went and brought him back. Takemikazuchinō-no-kami demanded him to hand over the country, and Yaekotoshironushi-no-kami said he would obey. Yaekotoshironushi-no-kami turned a boat upside-down, did a Ame-no-sakate, changed it into an aofushigaki and hid inside.

Then, Takemikazuchinō-no-kami asked Ōkuninushi-no-kami, that Yaekotoshironushi-no-kami said so, but is there is any other child he must ask. Ōkuninushi-no-kami answered that his child, Takeminakata-no-kami is the last to ask.

Then, Takeminakata-no-kami came along carrying a chibiki-no-iwa. He said, who is talking about his country secretly, and suggested they should have a contest of strength. First, Takeminakata-no-kami took Takemikazuchinō-no-kami's hand. However, Takemikazuchinō-no-kami's hand changed into ice, and then turned into a sword. Takeminakata-no-kami stepped back in fear. Next, Takemikazuchinō-no-kami took Takeminakata-no-kami's hand and threw him like picking a young bud of reed. Takeminakata-no-kami ran away, but Takemikazuchinō-no-kami chased him down to the Suwa-no-umi in Shinano-no-kuni. Takeminakata-no-kami said that he would not go anywhere else, and he would not go against his father Ōkuninushi-no-kami and Yaekotoshironushi-no-kami. Then he said that he would hand over the Ashiharanakatsu-no-kuni to Amaterasu-ōmikami's child, begging for his life.

Takemikazuchinō-no-kami returned to where Ōkuninushi-no-kami is and asked, Yaekotoshironushi-no-kami and Takeminakata-no-kami say that they would obey Amaterasu-ōmikami's child, but how he thinks. Ōkuninushi-no-kami said that he would hand over the Ashiharanakatsu-no-kuni as his children said. He then said, to raise thick pillars on the sokotsuiwane to build a palace for him with higi reaching Takamagahara, like a palace a Amaterasu-ōmikami's descendant would live in, and he would go away to Yasokumade. He also said that his children, momoyaso-gami will obey Yaekotoshironushi-no-kami so they would not come against.

Takemikazuchinō-no-kami built a palace on Tagishi-no-obama in Izumo-no-kuni. Then, when Kushiyatama-no-kami, a grandchild of Minato-no-kami, became a kashiwade and was preparing an Ame-no-miae, he turned himself into a cormorant and dived into the sea, made an Ame-no-yasohiraka with the clay of the sea bed, a hikiri-usu with the stem of me and a hikiri-gine with the stem of komo, then made a fire. He said that he would keep the fire until the soot of the palace of Takamimusubi-no-kami in the heavens would hang down long, and until the sokotsuiwane is baked hard. Pull up a large mouthed owatasuzuki caught by a woman diver, with a long takunawa and I shall offer a big Ame-no-managui making the sakitake bend down.

Thus, Takemikazuchinō-no-kami conquered Ashiharanakatsu-no-kuni and returned to Takamagahara.

Gods

Ōkuninushi-no-kami (大国主神)

Who completed the kuni-zukuri of Ashiharanakatsu-no-kuni, who owns the country.

Amaterasu-ōmikami (天照大御神)

The god of the sun. The presiding god of the heavens.

Masakatsuakatsuchihayahi-amenōshihomimi-no-mikoto (正勝吾勝勝速日天忍穂耳命)

Also called Amenohohi-no-mikoto (天忍穂耳命). One of the gods born in the ukei of Amaterasu-ōmikami and Susanō-no-mikoto.

Takamimusubi-no-kami (高御産巣日神)

Also called Takagi-no-kami (高木神). One of the Zōka-sanshin those emerged at the beginning of Tenchi-kaibyaku. The god of creation.

Omoikane-no-kami (思金神)

The god of wisdom.

Amenohohi-no-mikoto (天之菩卑能命)

The first messenger, Amaterasu-ōmikami sent Ōkuninushi-no-kami. One of the gods born in the ukei of Amaterasu-ōmikami and Susanō-no-mikoto.

Amatsukunitama-no-kami (天津国玉神)

The father of Amenowakahiko. No details written.

Amenowakahiko (天若日子)

The second messenger, Amaterasu-ōmikami sent Ōkuninushi-no-kami.

Shitateruhime (下照比売)

Ōkuninushi-no-kami and Tagirihime-no-mikoto's child. The god of thunder.

Nakime (鳴女)

A pheasant.

Amenosagume (天佐具売)

A god serving Ōkuninushi-no-kami. Said to be the archetype of Amanojaku.

Ajisukitakahikone-no-kami (阿遅志貴高日子根神)

Ōkuninushi-no-kami and Tagirihime-no-mikoto's child. The god of thunder, or agriculture.

Amenōhabari-no-kami (天尾羽張神)

Takemikazuchinō-no-kami's father. Deification of Izanagi-no-mikoto's totsuka-no-tsurugi. The god of sword.

Takemikazuchinō-no-kami (建御雷之男神)

One of the gods born when Izanagi-no-mikoto killed Hinokagutsuchi-no-kami. The god of thunder, earthquake or sword.

Amenotorifune-no-kami (天鳥船神)

God's ship, born in kami-umi. Also called Torinoiwakusubune-no-kami (鳥之石楠船神).

Yaekotoshironushi-no-kami (八重事代主神)

Also called Kotoshironushi-no-kami (重事代主神). Ōkuninushi-no-kami and Kamuyatatehime-no-mikoto's child. The god of oracle, or fishery. Often seen as the same as Ebisu.

Takeminakata-no-kami (建御名方神)

The god of agriculture, hunting.

Kushiyatana-no-kami (櫛八玉神)

The god of offerings to gods.

Places

Ashiharanakatsu-no-kuni (葦原中国)

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

Ame-no-ukihashi (天浮橋)

A bridge in the heavens, on the way to the earth. The world can be overlooked from the bridge.

Ame-no-yasukawa (天の安河)

A river flowing through Takamagahara.

Mino-no-kuni (美濃国)

Mino province. The southern part of modern Gifu prefecture.

Aimi river (藍見河)

In one theory, it is an old name for Nagara river.

The mountain of Moyama (喪山)

There are various theories, such as the Moyama tomb in Tarui town, Fuwa district, Gifu prefecture, or where Moyama Tenjinsha is in Mino city.

Ama-no-iwaya (天石屋)

A rock cavern in the upperstream of Ame-no-yasukawa. Unclear whether it is the cavern Amaterasu-ōmikami hid in.

Izumo-no-kuni (出雲国)

The eastern part of modern Shimane prefecture.

Inasa-no-obama (伊那佐の小浜)

Inasa beach (稲佐の浜) in Izumo city, Shimane prefecture.

Miho-no-misaki (御大の御前)

Cape Jizō in Mihonoseki in Matsue city, Shimane prefecture.

Shinano-no-kuni (科野国)

Shinano province (信濃国). Modern Nagano prefecture.

Suwa-no-umi (州羽の海)

Lake Suwa (諏訪湖), in Nagano prefecture.

Tagishi-no-obama (多芸志の小浜)

There are various theories, such as Takeshi (武志) in Izumo city, Shimane prefecture.

Tools

Totsuka-no-tsurugi (十拳剣)

Means a sword 10 tsukas long. A tsuka is the length of one fist.

Ame-no-makakoyumi (天之麻迦古弓)

Also called Ame-no-hajiyumi (天之波士弓). A bow Amaterasu-ōmikami gave Amenowakahiko.

Ame-no-habaya (天之羽々矢)

Also called Ame-no-kakuya (天之加久矢). Arrows Amaterasu-ōmikami gave Amenowakahiko.

Kamudo-no-tsurugi (神度剣)

Also called Ōhakari (大量). Ajisukitakahikone-no-kami's sword.

Ame-no-yasohiraka (天八十毘良迦)

A flat clayware used for rituals.

Hikiriusu (燧臼)

A tool used to make a fire.

Hikirigine (燧杵)

A tool used to make a fire.

Takunawa (栲縄)

A rope made from the skin of mulberry trees.

Sakitake (打竹)

A mat weaved out of bamboo.

Other terms

Kuni-yuzuri (国譲り)

Ōkuninushi-no-kami handing over Ashiharanakatsu-no-kuni to the heavenly god.

Kuni-zukuri (国造り)

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

Toyoashihara-no-chiakinagaihoaki-no-mizuho-no-kuni (豊葦原之千秋長五百秋之水穂国)

A poetical name for Ashiharanakatsu-no-kuni, that is Japan.

Kunitsukami (国津神)

The gods that were born in Ashiharanakatsu-no-kuni.

Yaoyorozu-no-kami (八百万の神)

The many gods.

Yutsukatsura (湯津楓)

A sacred katsura tree.

Moya (喪屋)

A temporary hut to settle a dead body for a period of time, before burying it.

Kisarimochi (岐佐理持)

Who keeps the offerings for the dead in a funeral.

Hawakimochi (掃持)

Who holds a broom in a funeral. It is said it is for expelling impurities.

Mikebito (御食人)

Who prepares the food offered for the dead in a funeral.

Usume (碓女)

A woman who makes milled rice in a funeral.

Nakime (哭女)

A woman who has a role to cry during the funeral.

Inaburi (夷振)

Also called Ikyoku (夷曲). An ancient song.

Ame-no-sakate (天の逆手)

A way of clapping hands to cast a spell. The specific way is unknown.

Aofushigaki (青柴垣)

A fresh brushwood fence.

Chibiki-no-iwa (千引岩)

A huge boulder, needing 1000 people to move it.

Sokotsuiwane (底津石根)

The bedrock deep under the ground.

Higi (氷椽)

A kind of chigi (千木), ornamental crossbeams on a roof's gable.

Yasokumade (八十坰手)

There are various theories, such as somewhere far away, or the land of the dead.

Momoyasogami (百八十神)

Many gods that are children of Ōkuninushi-no-kami. In some theories, 180 gods, as it is written.

Minato-no-kami (水戸神)

The god of the mouth of the river. Said to be Hayākitsuhiko-no-kami and Hayākitsuhime-no-kami, born in Kami-umi.

Kashiwade (膳夫)

Who prepares meals for a god.

Ame-no-miae (天御饗)

The food offered to a god.

Me (海布)

Wakame. A kind of aquatic plant.

Komo (海蓴)

Japanese eelgrass. A kind of aquatic plant.

Owatasuzuki (尾翼鱸)

A sea bass with a great tail and filet.

Ame-no-managui (天之真魚咋)

Dishes of fish offered to a god.