Amenohohi

Amenohohi (Majestic Rice Ears of Heaven) is a son of Amaterasu, he was the second born from the Jewels in Amaterasu’s hair after being chewed and spat out by Susano-o. This is related in the kojiki and nihongi.¹² The kojiki also states he had a son by the name of Takehiratori, with Hymn 27 saying Amenohohi sent his son to Japan to subdue the land.¹

There is one alternative version in the Nihongi where this kami is birthed from the jewels of Susano-o, who chews and spits them out himself (perhaps in this context this kami is a son then of Susano-o). There is also another version in which Susano-o creates this kami from his jewels himself by placing them in different parts of his body. For this kami it is by placing the jewels in his right hand.²

Yet another version from the nihongi says he is brought forth from Jewels in his left hand, with his name given here as Ama-no-ho-hi.²

Later in his life he neglects his heaven sent mission, allying himself with Okuninushi.

The Revised Geneologies give many Clans in Izumo as decended from him.¹ The Nihongi also lists similar clans, his decendants including the Hashi no Muraji, the Izumo no Omi ‘Leaders of Omi’ and the Musashi no Miyakko (provincial Governors/Local Nobles).²

All branches of the Haji Clan claimed descent from this kami, though through different people. Namely Umashikaraine, Iirine and Nomi no Sukune.³

Footnotes

1. Yasumaro. O, translated by Gustav Heldt. (2014) “Kojiki. An Account of Ancient Matters”. New York: Columbia University Press.
2. Aston. W.G. (1896) “Nihongi Volume 1: Chronicles of Japan from the Earliest Times to AD697”. Tuttle Publishing.
3. Borgen, R. (1975) “The Origins of the Sugawara. A History of the Haji Family”. Monumenta Nipponica. Vol.30 No.4 pp.405-422

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