Giving birth in fire

Giving birth in fire

After some time since Hikohono-ninigi-no-mikoto married Konohanasakuyahime, Konohanasakuyahime came to see Hikohono-ninigi-no-mikoto. Konohanasakuyahime said that why she came is because, she is pregnant and soon she would be giving birth, but the child is a child of Amatsukami so she cannot do so without telling him. Hikohono-ninigi-no-mikoto was suspicious about her become pregnant after spending only one night with him, and thought it must be a child of a Kunitsukami.

To clear herself of suspicion, Konohanasakuyahime said, if this child is a child of a Kunitsukami, she would not be able to give birth safely, and if this child is a child of Amatsukami, she would be able to give birth safely. Then she built a yahirodono without any doors, and confined herself inside. And when she was about to give birth to the baby, she set the yahirodono on fire.

When the fire was burning furiously, she gave birth to Hoderi-no-mikoto, then to Hosuseri-no-mikoto, and to Hōri-no-mikoto.

Hōri-no-mikoto is also called Amatsuhiko-hikohohodemi-no-mikoto. Hoderi-no-mikoto is worshipped by the Hayato-no-ata-no-kimi as an ancestral god.

Thus, Konohanasakuyahime gave birth to Hikohono-ninigi-no-mikoto's children, and proved her innocence.

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 who married Ninigi-no-mikoto. Also called Kamuatatsuhime (神阿多都比売). A god of mountains, or fire.

Hoderi-no-mikoto (火照命)

Ninigi-no-mikoto and Giving birth in fire.

Hosuseri-no-mikoto (火須勢理命)

Ninigi-no-mikoto and Konohanasakuyahime's child.

Hōri-no-mikoto (火遠理命)

Ninigi-no-mikoto and Konohanasakuyahime's child. Also called Amatsuhiko-hikohohodemi-no-mikoto (天津日高日子穂穂手見命), or Hikohohodemi-no-mikoto (日子穂穂手見命). The god of fire, or harvest.

Other terms

The child of Amatsukami (天津神の御子)

A child of an Amatsukami. Here, Ninigi-no-mikoto's child.

Kunitsukami (国津神)

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

Yahirodono (八尋殿)

Means, a buiding that is the size of 8 people holding each others hands.

Hayato-no-ata-no-kimi (隼人阿多君)

The Ata-hayato (阿多隼人), an ancient tribe who lived in the western part of modern Kagoshima prefecture. Later called Satsuma-hayato (薩摩隼人).