Ukei of Ōyamatsumi-no-kami

Meeting Konohanasakuyahime

When Hikohono-ninigi-no-mikoto was at Kasasa-no-misaki, he met a beautiful girl. He asked the girl her name and she answered she is Kamuatatsuhime, also called Konohanasakuyahime, a daughter of Ōyamatsumi-no-kami. Hikohono-ninigi-no-mikoto also asked her if she had any siblings, and she answered she has a elder sister, named Iwanagahime.

Falling in love, Hikohono-ninigi-no-mikoto asked Konohanasakuyahime to marry him. However, she said that she can't answer, and she has to ask her father, Ōyamatsumi-no-kami. Hikohono-ninigi-no-mikoto sent Ōyamatsumi-no-kami a messenger. Ōyamatsumi-no-kami felt really happy, and let him marry Konohanasakuyahime, together with Iwanagahime, and sent momotori-no-tsukue-no-shiromono.

However, because Iwanagahime was terribly ugly, Hikohono-ninigi-no-mikoto refused Iwanagahime and sent her back. Then, Hikohono-ninigi-no-mikoto spent a night only with Konohanasakuyahime.

Ukei of Ōyamatsumi-no-kami

Since his daughter, Iwanagahime, was refused by Hikohono-ninigi-no-mikoto, he felt embarrassed and sent a reply.

Why Ōyamatsumi-no-kami sent both of his daughters was because, he had an ukei, that if Iwanagahime served Hikohono-ninigi-no-mikoto, the life of the child of Amatsukami would be hard and stable like a rock and be eternal, and if Konohanasakuyahime served Hikohono-ninigi-no-mikoto, the life of the child of Amatsukami would flourish like a blooming flower.

Ōyamatsumi-no-kami said that since Hikohono-ninigi-no-mikoto refused Iwanagahime and chose only Konohanasakuyahime, the life of the child of Amatsukami would be fleeting like a flower. Thus, the life-span of the Emperors became limited.

Gods

Hikohono-ninigi-no-mikoto (日子番能邇邇芸命)

Also called Amenikishikuninikishiamatsuhikohikohono-ninigi-no-mikoto (天邇岐志国邇岐志天津日高日子番能邇邇芸命), or Ninigi-no-mikoto (邇邇芸命). Amaterasu-ōmikami's grandchild, who descended to Ashiharanakatsu-no-kuni to rule it.

Konohanasakuyahime (木花佐久夜毘売)

A daughter of Ōyamatsumi-no-kami. Also called Kamuatatsuhime (神阿多都比売). A god of mountains, or fire.

Ōyamatsumi-no-kami (大山津見神)

The god of the mountain, Izanagi-no-mikoto and Izanami-no-mikoto gave birth.

Iwanagahime (石長比売)

A daughter of Ōyamatsumi-no-kami. A god of eternal youth and immortality.

Places

Kasasa-no-misaki (笠沙の御前)

Said to be Cape Noma in Minami-satsuma city, Kagoshima prefecture.

Other terms

Ukei (誓約)

A divination ritual to tell if something is right or wrong.

Momotori-no-tsukue-no-shiromono (百取の机代物)

Means, many food and drinks on a table. Betrothal gifts offered from the bride's side to the groom's side.

The child of Amatsukami (天津神の御子)

A child of an Amatsukami. Here, it is Ninigi-no-mikoto.