Toyotamahime giving birth

Toyotamahime giving birth

One day, Toyotamahime came to see Hōri-no-mikoto. Toyotamahime said that why she came is because, she is pregnant and soon she would be giving birth, but the child of Amatsukami should not be given birth in Unahara.

An ubuya was built by the shore, using feathers of cormorants in place of fukikusa, but before the roofing has completed, Toyotamahime went into labor and got inside the ubuya.

When Toyotamahime was about to give birth to the baby, she told Hōri-no-mikoto that who came from another world would return to their original form when giving birth, and she would be giving birth to the baby in her original form, so he must not look inside the ubuya.

However, Hōri-no-mikoto got curious and looked inside the ubuya. What he saw was Toyotamahime, in the form of a Yahiro-wani, crawling and wriggling.

The surprised Hōri-no-mikoto ran away in fear, and Toyotamahime, who found out that she was seen, left the baby and went back to Unahara, blocking the Unasaka, and said that she wanted to constantly make visits but now that she had been seen her true form, it is too embarrassing.

The baby who was born like this was named Amatsuhikohikonagisatake-ugayahukiaezu-no-mikoto.

Although Toyotamahime had a grudge against Hōri-no-mikoto, she still missed him. She sent her sister Tamayorihime for nursing the child, and composed a poem.

A red bead is so beautiful that the string would even shine, but you, like a white bead is so precious.

Hōri-no-mikoto answered composing a poem.

I would not forget my precious wife, that I slept together with on an island with ducks quacking, forever.

Hōri-no-mikoto stayed in Takachiho-no-miya for 580 years, and his misasagi is in the west of the mountain of Takachiho.

The children of Ugayahukiaezu-no-mikoto

Amatsuhikohikonagisatake-ugayahukiaezu-no-mikoto begot 4 children between his aunt, Tamayorihime. They are Itsuse-no-mikoto, Inahi-no-mikoto, Mikenu-no-mikoto and Wakamikenu-no-mikoto.

Wakamikenu-no-mikoto is also called Toyomikenu-no-mikoto or Kamuyamato-iwarebiko-no-mikoto.

Mikenu-no-mikoto went over the seas to Tokoyo-no-kuni, and Inahi-no-mikoto went to Unahara, where his mother is.

Gods

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.

Toyotamahime (豊玉毘売)

The wife of Hōri-no-mikoto. Watatsumi-no-kami’s daughter and Tamayorihime's elder sister. The god of the seas.

Tamayorihime (玉依毘売)

Watatsumi-no-kami’s daughter and Toyotamahime's younger sister. The god of the seas.

Amatsuhikohikonagisatake-ugayahukiaezu-no-mikoto (天津日高日子波限建鵜葺草葺不合命)

Also called Ugayahukiaezu-no-mikoto (鵜葺草葺不合命). A child of Hōri-no-mikoto and Toyotamahime. No other details written.

Children of Ugayahukiaezu-no-mikoto

Itsuse-no-mikoto (五瀬命)

A child between Ugayahukiaezu-no-mikoto and Tamayorihime. Later goes on an expedition to the east with Wakamikenu-no-mikoto.

Inahi-no-mikoto (稲氷命)

A child between Ugayahukiaezu-no-mikoto and Tamayorihime. Gone to Unahara.

Mikenu-no-mikoto (御毛沼命)

A child between Ugayahukiaezu-no-mikoto and Tamayorihime. Gone to Tokoyo-no-kuni.

Wakamikenu-no-mikoto (若御毛沼命)

Also called Toyomikenu-no-mikoto (若御毛沼命) or Kamuyamato-iwarebiko-no-mikoto (神倭伊波礼毘古命). A child between Ugayahukiaezu-no-mikoto and Tamayorihime. Later, going to be the first Emperor, Emperor Jimmu.

Places

Unahara (海原)

The world in the seas. Ruled by Watatsumi-no-kami.

Unasaka (海坂)

A slope that is the entrance to Unahara.

Takachiho-no-miya (高千穂宮)

Where the royal palace was after Ninigi-no-mikoto's descent. There are various theories of where it is, such as some places in Miyazaki prefecture.

The mountain of Takachiho (高千穂山)

Said to be Mount Takachiho in the border of Miyazaki prefecture and Kagoshima prefecture. But there are some more theories in other places.

Tokoyo-no-kuni (常世国)

Another world said to be far across the sea.

Other terms

The child of Amatsukami (天津神の御子)

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

Fukikusa (葺草)

Straw used to thatch the roof.

Ubuya (産屋)

A hut built separate from the main house for giving birth to a baby, since blood was considered as kegare.

Misasagi (御陵)

An Imperial tomb.

Yahiro-wani (八尋和邇)

A wani 8 hiros long. A hiro is the length of about 1.8m. A wani is said to be a shark.