Sahobiko

• • Period: Legendary Period
  • Occupation: Prince
  • Family: Hikoimasu (father) Sahonoohokuramitome (mother) Wozaho (brother) Sahobime (sister) Murobiko (brother)
  • Birth: –
  • Death: –

Sahobiko

Sahobiko (沙本毘古王) was the son of Hikoimasu and Sahonoohokuramitome. He is said to be the ancestor of the Kusakabe no muraji and Kahi no kuni no miyatsuko.¹²

During the 5th year in the reign of Emperor Suinin, he approached his sister Sahobime asking who is most dearest to her. Him or her husband.

Handing her a stiletto a plan is devised where the Empress would take the Emperors life. When the Emperor visits Kume, his wife almost takes his life, however she cries and her tears wake the Emperor. The Emperor relates he had a similar dream of falling water and so she tells him the truth of the plot.¹²³

Nihongi Version

In retaliation for the attempt on his life he rallies an army, led by a man called Yatsunada, to attack Sahobiko.

For months the Emperors forces attack Sahobiko’s self made castle, however, they were unable to breach it. Sahobime mourning that she nearly took her husbands life, sneaks into her brothers castle with the prince Homutsuwake.

Sahobime at one point leaves the castle saying she had hoped her brother would be absolved of his crime after she had entered it. But as this had not happened she wishers the Emperors life to be filled with wives worthy of him and so tells him of the five daughters of Michinoushi.

They then die in the fires of the castle.³

Kojiki Version

The Empress had not yet given birth, and so after entering the castle the Emperor turned aside his armies to allow her to have her child. After this the child was put outside the stronghold. The Emperor being told if he considered the boy his child he could come and take him.

After choosing the boys name and who should care for him the Empreror kills Sahobiko and his wife in the fires of the castle.¹²

Footnotes

1. Yasumaro. O, translated by Gustav Heldt. (2014) “Kojiki. An Account of Ancient Matters”. New York: Columbia University Press.
2. Chamberlain, B. H. (1932) “Translation of the Kojiki.” Kobe: J.L. Thompson & Co.
3. Aston. W.G. (1896) “Nihongi Volume 1: Chronicles of Japan from the Earliest Times to AD697”. Tuttle Publishing.

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