• • Period: Legendary Period
  • Occupation: Warrior
  • Family: –
  • Birth: –
  • Death: –

Ishiura no Yokotachi

Ishiura no Yokotachi is a warrior seen during the reign of Emperor Keikō from Owari Province.

He is brought by Otohikogimi to help Yamato Takeru deal with the rebelling Kumaso.¹

Footnotes

1. Aston. W.G. (1896) “Nihongi Volume 1: Chronicles of Japan from the Earliest Times to AD697”. Tuttle Publishing.

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• • Period: Legendary Period
  • Occupation: Archer
  • Family: –
  • Birth: –
  • Death: –

Otohikogimi

Otohikogimi is said to have been an archer during the reign of Emperor Keikō living in Mino Province.

He is brought by Miyadohiko to Yamato Takeru when he asks who he should take with him to deal with the rebelling Kumaso.

When he arrives he brings with him Ishiura no Yokotachi, Tako no Inaki and Chichika no Inaki.¹

Footnotes

1. Aston. W.G. (1896) “Nihongi Volume 1: Chronicles of Japan from the Earliest Times to AD697”. Tuttle Publishing.

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• • For all battles on the site see: List of Battles.

Kumaso Rebellions

The Kumaso Rebellions relate to the times in which the Kumaso People, who were based in Tsukushi, rebelled against the Imperial Rule of Japan.

Rebellion stopped by Emperor Keiko

In the 12th Year, Autumn, 7th Month of Emperor Keikō’s reign they rebelled giving no tribute and so in the 8th Month the Emperor went to Tsukushi.

Arriving on the 5th day of the 9th Month in Saha he addressed his ministers and sends Takemorogi, Unade and Natsubana to see what is happening.

A female chief by the name of Kamunashihime is found and she submits herself and her people to the Emperor after hanging an eight-span sword, mirror and jewels from a tree saying they are not the ones causing problems and so gives information on those who are.

There names being Hanatari encamped in Kahakami in Usa, Mimitari encamped in Kahakami in Mika, Asahagi encamped in Kahakami in Takaha and Tsuchiworiwiwori encamped in Kahakami in Midorino.

She requests that they be defeated.

Takemorogi manages to entice the followers of Asahagi with gifts. The followers then beckoned the four leaders to come which ends with them being seized and all killed.

The Emperor continues on to Buzen Province building a travelling palace there. In the Winter of the 10th Month he meets another female chieftain called Hayatsuhime in the village of Hayami.

She reveals that there are Tsuchigumo by the names of Awo and Shira living in the ‘Rat’s Cave,’ with another three called Uchizaru, Yata and Kunimaro living in Negino.

These people wouldn’t come under Imperial Rule and so mallets were given to the Imperial Troops made from camellia trees and all those living in the caves were killed.

The Emperor’s troops then attack Uchizaru but they have to retreat after being attacked with fire arrows. They turn their attention to Yata, defeating him on Negi Moor with Uchizaru now approaching the Emperor for leniency as he realises he cannot win against them.

He is refused and so he and all his followers kill themselves by throwing themselves into a ravine.

Arriving later in Hiuga Province the Emperor erects the Takaya Palace and holds a council to discuss the remaining Kumaso leaders who were two men by the names of Atsukaya and Sakaya. These two men leading a group called the 80 Kumaso Braves.

One Minsters reveals that one leader has two daughters, Ichifukaya and Ichikaya and they could be used to gather information.

They come to the Emperor after receiving gifts, the Emperor then taking to bed Ichifukaya. She instructs the Emperor to give him two men.

One of the men kills her father after she cut her fathers bow string so he cannot use it against them. However, the Emperor shocked at her unfilial act has her put to death and gives Ichikaya to the Miyakko of Kii.¹

Rebellion stopped by Yamato Takeru

In the 27th year Yamato Takeru is sent to deal with the Kumaso. Asking who he should take with him, an archer called Otohikogimi is recommended to him; and so he sends Miyadohiko to bring him.

With him he additionally brings Ishiura no Yokotachi, Tako no Inaki and Chichika no Inaki.

In the land of the Kumaso they find the leader by the name of Torishikaya with Yamato Takeru disguising himeself as a woman to join the leaders banquet taking a seat next to him.

After Torishikaya becomes drunk, Yamato Takeru takes a out a hidden sword and stabs him in the breast, though he doesnt immediately die. Torishikaya asks who he is giving him his new name of Yamato Dake before he is finally killed.

Following this the remaining Kumaso are killed by the men he brought with him.¹

Footnotes

1. Aston. W.G. (1896) “Nihongi Volume 1: Chronicles of Japan from the Earliest Times to AD697”. Tuttle Publishing.

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• See also: List of Provinces

Owari Province

Owari Province (尾張国) was once a Province of Japan, located in what is now Aichi Prefecture. Created in 646 under the Kokugun System³, it is one of the 15 Provinces traversed by the Tokaido Road.¹³ This Province is also known as Bishū (尾州).³

Legendary Period

Ceder was gathered from Ahidzu during the reign of Emperor Suinin to make a boat for Homutsuwake.⁵⁶

Yamanobe no Ohotaka would also pass through here when trying to catch a swan for prince Homutsuwake.⁵⁶

It was apparently the home of Princess Miyazu Hime, the wife of the legendary Yamato Takeru.²

The warriors Ishiura no Yokotachi, Tako no Inaki and Chichika no Inaki are said to have come from here.⁷

Nara Period

During this period we know the Priest Manzei was made General of Owari, Mikawa and Shinano Provinces.⁴

Later Periods

The area developed as the early site of the Atsuta Shrine. From the 12th century onwards it came under the domain of shugo (military governor) such as the Hatakeyama Family, Imagawa Family, Shiba Family and Oda Family.

Toyotomi Hideyoshi is known to have come from Owari.

One of Tokugawa Ieyasu‘s sons established a headquarters in Owari at Nagoya Castle.

The area flourished as a major center for rice, cotton, sake and ceramics known as seto ware.

In 1871 Owari was combined with Mikawa Province to form Aichi Prefecture.³

Footnotes

1. Louis Frederic, translated by Kathe Roth (2002) “Japan Encyclopedia”. London: Harvard University Press.
2. Littleton. C.S. (1995) “Yamato-takeru: An Arthurian Hero in Japanese Tradition”. Asian Folklore Studies, Vol. 54, No.2, pp.259-274.
3. Kodansha. (1993) ”Japan: An Illustrated Encyclopedia”. Tokyo: Kodansha Ltd.
4. Miller, R. A.. (1981) “The Lost Poetic Sequence of the Priest Manzei”. Monumenta Nipponica. Vol.36 No.2 pp.133-172
5. Yasumaro. O, translated by Gustav Heldt. (2014) “Kojiki. An Account of Ancient Matters”. New York: Columbia University Press.
6. Chamberlain, B. H. (1932) “Translation of the Kojiki.” Kobe: J.L. Thompson & Co.
7. Aston. W.G. (1896) “Nihongi Volume 1: Chronicles of Japan from the Earliest Times to AD697”. Tuttle Publishing.

Former Provinces of Japan
Kinai	Izumi * Kawachi * Settsu * Yamashiro * Yamato
Tōsandō	Dewa * Hida * Kōzuke * Mino * Mutsu * Omi * Shimotsuke * Shinano
Hokurikudō	Echigo * Echizen * Etchū * Kaga * Koshi * Wakasa
San’indō	Hōki * Inaba * Izumo * Tajima * Tamba * Tango
Tōkaidō	Ise * Kai * Kazusa * Mikawa * Owari * Sagami * Shimōsa * Suruga * Tōtōmi
Nankaidō	Awa * Iyo * Kii * Sanuki * Tosa
San’yōdō	Aki * Harima * Mimasaka
Saikaidaō	Bungo * Chikuzen * Hizen * Hyūga * Iki * Tsushima
Pre-Taihō Code	Kibi

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• • Period: Legendary Period
  • Occupation: Prince
  • Family: Emperor Keikō (father) Harima no Inabi no Ōiratsume (mother) Yamato Hime (aunt) Emperor Chūai (son) Ōsu (brother) Kushitsunuwake (brother) Wakayamatoneko (brother) Kamukushi (brother) several other wives and children see below
  • Birth: –
  • Death: –

Yamato Takeru

Yamato Takeru (小碓命, Prince Wosu – The Brave of Yamato) is known to have been the second son of Emperor Keikō, said at the age of 16 to have torn apart one of his brothers after he insulted their father. He is mentioned in the kojiki, nihongi and hitachi fudoki¹.

He was also known as Yamato Woguna.⁴

Family

Yamato Takeru was the son of Emperor Keikō and Harima no Inabi no Ōiratsume, and twin to Ōsu.⁴

He is known to have been the husband of Futajirihime despite her being his aunt²³⁴ and together they had four children by the names of Ineyoriwake, Emperor Chūai, Nunoshiirihime and Waketake.⁴

With his wife Kibi no Anato no Takehime they had two children by the names of Takemiko and Towokiwake.⁴

With another wife called Ototachibanahime he had a son by the name of Wakatakehiko.⁴

His great-grandchild was Sumeiroohonakatsuhiko, whose daughter Kagurohime married Emperor Keikō according to the kojiki. This is clearly a mistake in the chronologies as it would mean the Emperor married his great-great-granddaughter.²³

Appearance

Desciptions of him say he was a rod in height, and was so strong that he could lift a tripod.⁴

Kumaso Rebellion

• • See also: Kumaso Rebellions

Early in the reign of Emperor Keikō, the Emperor asks why Ōsu does not attend him morning and night and sends Yamato Takeru to teach him his duties. After five days he asks where Ōsu is, Yamato Takeru saying their was trouble so in the morning while he brother went to the bathroom he grabbed him, crushed him and pulled of his limbs.

Wrapping them in matting and then throwing them away.²³

This was the reason why Yamato Takeru was later sent to deal with the Kumaso later in the Emperors 28th year.²³⁵

Nihongi Version

In the 27th year he is sent to deal with the Kumaso. Asking who he should take with him, an archer called Otohikogimi is recommended to him; and so he sends Miyadohiko to bring him.

With him he additionally brings Ishiura no Yokotachi, Tako no Inaki and Chichika no Inaki.

In the land of the Kumaso they find the leader by the name of Torishikaya with Yamato Takeru disguising himself as a woman to join the leaders banquet taking a seat next to him.

After Torishikaya becomes drunk, Yamato Takeru takes a out a hidden sword and stabs him in the breast, though he doesnt immediately die. Torishikaya asks who he is giving him his new name of Yamato Dake before he is finally killed.

Following this the remaining Kumaso are killed by the men he brought with him.

On the return to Yamato he is said to have killed the kami of the Ferry of Ana in Kibi, then the kami of the ferry of Kashiha in Naniha.⁴

Other records state there were two leaders stating, he disguised himself as a woman, the clothes given to him by his aunt Yamato Hime. Reaching the clan he kills the two brothers who lead them, killing the first during a feast and the second after he runs away stabbing him in the buttocks. As he dies he gives the Prince the name Yamato Takeru¹.

Kojiki Version

The kojiki’s version of events says his aunt gave him her clothes and a sword, and when disguised as a woman the two chiefs invited him to sit between them.

After the feast begins he takes out his sword stabbing the older brother through the chest and the younger flees.

Pursuing him he stabs him in the buttocks and then asks Yamato Take to not remove the sword. Asking the Prince his name he anncouces himself as Yamato-wo-guna, and that he was sent here to subdue those not loyal to the Emperor.

The chieftain then says he is very brave and gives him the name Yamato Take before he is ripped apart ‘like a ripe melon’ and slain.

The Izumo Brave

Returning to the Capital he subdues every kami of the mountains and rivers and venturing through Izumo he decides he wished to slay the ‘Izumo Brave’.

He achieves this by making a friend of him, and crafts a copy of the Braves sword.

Together they bathe in the River Hi and after getting out Yamato Takeru takes the real sword. He then asks to spar together and kills him.

Afterwards making a song which goes as follows:

Alas that the sword girded on the Izumo brave, and wound round with many a creeper, should have had no true blade!

Battling the Emishi

• • See also: Emishi

In the 40th year⁴ of Emperor Keiko’s reign he is sent to subdue the Emishi, accompanied by Takehiko, Takehi no Muraji and Nanatsukahagi.¹⁴

Prior to this Ministers inquired as to who should be the one to go deal with the threat with Yamato Takeru saying his brother Ōsu should go.⁴ This of course contradicts the kojiki as Yamato Takeru had already ripped apart his brother in that narrative.²³

Once more he visits his aunt who gives him this time the sword Kusanagi⁴ and flints for lighting fire.¹

On his way he visits Princess Miyazu Hime, promising to marry her when he returns.¹

He travels through Suruga with the people there tricking him to go hunt deer in the moor there. He does, but find the moor set on fire by those who sent him there to hunt. He makes a counter fire and survives and so then goes to kill all the brigands who tricked him.

An alternative version of the nihongi says because of this event Murokumo became called Kusanagi.

Venturing on the Sagami he wished to cross the sea to reach Kadzusa. Whilst sailing a storms begins an so Ototachibanahime, who was with him in the boat, sacrifices herself and the storm stops. Due to this Yamato Takeru can continue on and goes to Michi no Oku after Kadzusa.

Continuing on, he reaches Shimosa where he finds two Emishi leaders in Take called Shimatsukami and Kunitsukami. Upon seeing his ship, knowing they would be defeated, they throw down their weapons and so Yamato Takeru makes them his personal attendants.

Journeying some more he eventually stays in the Sakawori Palace in Kahi where he writes a song at night. Here he also gives the Yuki Be to Takehi no Muraji, annoucing there were still more rebels to deal with in Shinano and Koshi.

After this, on his journey he climbs to the peak of Usuhiyama where he mourns the death of his wife at sea and later sends Kibi no Takehiko in a different direction to himself to assess the character of the peoples in this area.

Entering into Shinano, and crossing the Ōyama he has food here on the mountain. Killing a white deer by stabbing it in the eye with garlic.

After this the prince loses his way, but eventually meets up with Kibi no Takehiko again in Mino after a white dog appears to guide him.⁴

Death

Eventually, he returns and marries Miyazu Hime and attempts one more exploit, leaving kusanagi behind. He leaves to subdue the kami living on Mount Ibuki barehanded. Climbing the mountain, he mistakes a snake as the kami messenger and ignores it, but it was actually the kami. It summons a hailstorm which dazes Takeru, finding a spring he drinks here to restore his senses. However, he fell ill during the storm and eventually makes his way back to Otsu in Ise where he found a sword by a pine tree he had once left here.Upon seeing the sword he composed another song.

At the moor of Nobo, he becomes sicker, making an offering of the Emishi he had captured as slaves, and sending Kibi no Takehiko to the Emperor to tell him of his exploits and that he regrets not being able to see the Emperor again.

He passes away on the moor aged 30, with the Emperor having him buried under a misasagi here.

His soul escapes in the form of a giant white bird, his clothes remaining in the tomb. The bird flies to Kotobiki in Yamato then Furuchi in Kahachi. Here another misasagi is built before the bird flies to Takamagahara.⁴

Footnotes

1. Littleton. C.S. (1995) “Yamato-takeru: An Arthurian Hero in Japanese Tradition”. Asian Folklore Studies, Vol. 54, No.2, pp.259-274.
2. Yasumaro. O, translated by Gustav Heldt. (2014) “Kojiki. An Account of Ancient Matters”. New York: Columbia University Press.
3. Chamberlain, B. H. (1932) “Translation of the Kojiki.” Kobe: J.L. Thompson & Co.
4. Aston. W.G. (1896) “Nihongi Volume 1: Chronicles of Japan from the Earliest Times to AD697”. Tuttle Publishing.
5. Ponsonby, F. (1959) “The Imperial House of Japan.” Kyoto: Ponsonby Memorial Society.

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