• • Co-ordinates: 34°27′18″N 136°43′33″E
  • Region: Kansai Region
  • Prefecture: Mie Prefecture
  • Founded: 4BCE
  • Affiliation: Shinto

Ise Grand Shrine

The Ise Grand Shrine (伊勢神宮) is a Shinto Shrine dedicated to Amaterasu, located in Mie Prefecture. It is supposedly the resting place of the Sacred Mirror and was established by Yamatohime.

Mythological Origins

During the reign of Emperor Suinin, the jinnō shōtōki states that Ise Grand Shrine was mentioned during the time of Ninigi’s descent to Earth by the kami Sarudabikona when he stated that he would head to the headwaters of the Isuzu River at Sanagata in Ise.¹

Establishment

It was Yamatohime who eventually chose the area for the shrine. The care of Amaterasu was passed to her from Toyosukiiribime and so she went searching for a place to enshrine the kami, travelling through Sasahata in Uda, then Mino until finally reaching Ise.⁴

The jinnō shōtōki says that she toured the provinces at Amaterasu’s command, further saying she chose the headwaters of the Isuzu River in the Watarai District of Ise in the 26th year, 10th month of Suinin’s reign. Here the kami communed with Yamatohime saying she wished to dwell in Ise and so a shrine was built. When the shrine was first built Amaterasu made a descent from Heaven.¹

She made enquiries about where she could establish this shrine and advice from Ōtanomikoto helped her choose the place it currently resides. He tells her that here there were 50 bells arranged in the shape of the shrine of Heaven and that that these items here had been worshipped for 80,000 years¹

First Priests/Priestess’

In the jinnō shōtōki, Ohokashima is said to have been the first High Priest (saishu) with Ōhatanushi stated to have been the first Head Priest (ōkannushi).¹

In the kojiki it is stated that Toyosukiiribime was High Priestess.⁵

Sacred Regalia/Sacred Spear

After a site was chosen it is said Emperor Suinin placed the Sword and Mirror into the Naikū Shrine.³ The jinnō shōtōki differs slightly saying it was Yamatohime who placed them inside the shrine, this document also says that there was a legend stating the Jewelled Spear of Heaven was kept in the area later chosen for the site of Shrine.¹

Reign of Emperor Keikō

In the Emperor’s 40th year Yamato Takeru is sent east to deal with the rebelling Eastern Barbarians (tōi) accompanied by Kibi no Takehiko and Ōtomo no Takehi. Going via the Ise Grand Shrine he is given the sword kusanagi by his aunt Yamatohime.¹

Reign of Emperor Tenmu

During the reign of Emperor Tenmu the tradition of rebuilding the Shrine once every twenty years was established as a symbol of rebirth.²

Footnotes

1. Varley, H.P (1980) “A Chronicle of Gods and Sovereigns: Jinnō Shōtōki of Kitabatake Chikafusa.” New York: Columbia University Press.
2. Martin, P. (1997) ”The Chrysanthemum Throne”. Gloucestershire: Sutton Publishing Limited.
3. Ponsonby, F. (1959) “The Imperial House of Japan.” Kyoto: Ponsonby Memorial Society.
4. Aston. W.G. (1896) “Nihongi Volume 1: Chronicles of Japan from the Earliest Times to AD697”. Tuttle Publishing.
5. Yasumaro. O, translated by Gustav Heldt. (2014) “Kojiki. An Account of Ancient Matters”. New York: Columbia University Press.

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Chūjō-hime (中将姫), also known as Princess Hase, is said to have been the daughter of Fujiwara no Toyonari and a ‘Princess Murasaki.’

A folktale has sprung up around her life.

Synopsis

In Nara lived Fujiwara no Toyonari married to Princess Murasaki. They had no child, which caused them sadness and so made pilgramage to Hase-no-Kwannon and their prayer for a child was answered. Upon her birth they chose to call her Hasehime from the name of the temple.

When five years old her mother fell gravely ill, before she died telling her daughter to grow up to be a model woman.

After her death her father remarried to a woman called Princess Terute and she was a cruel step-mother to Hasehime.

Hasehime studied hard in the art of music and poetry and aged twelve she and her step-mother were summoned to court to perform. Hasehime played beautifully, but the Princess Terute as she didn’t often study had to have someone else finish her performance. The Emperor praises Hasehime giving her many beautiful girls as a reward, and the step-mother grew angrier and jealous.

She was also jealous as she felt if Hasehime didn’t exist, the son she had had with Toyonari would have all the love from his father.

And so she makes a plan to poison and kill Hasehime. She gives wine to her son and Hasehime but in the act mistakenly gives the posioned wine to her son and so her son dies.

When Hasehime turns 13, heavy rains had caused floods and the river Tatsuta was close to breaking its banks. The noise of the water causing the Emperor that he came down with a nervous disorder. Orders were sent for priests to pray for the floods to end but it didn’t work.

Legends of the time a poetess (Ono no Komachi) had stopped rain by praying in verse to Heaven, and so they called on Hasehime to do the same. After reciting the poem she had written the river quietened and the Emperor regain his health. She was rewards for this with the rank of Lieutenant General and so we given a new name Chūjō-hime.

The step-mother was furious and jealous and began to spread lies about her to the girls father, though he said they were all false. One day Hasehime’s father was absent and so the step-mother takes the opportunity to have her killed in the Hibari Mountains. She orders her vassal Kotoda to take her, saying she needed to be killed to prevent disgrace falling on the familiy for something she had done. Kotoda knew this was a lie and vowed to save her life instead.

When Toyonari returns the cruel step-mother says Hasehime ran away because of something she had done. He takes his men hunting into the mountains, and hearing a girl singing find Hasehime in a mountain hut. Kotada then reveals the events of the cruel step-mother. A messenger is sent home with the good news of Hasehime being found and the cruel step-mother flees back to her father in disgrace and is never seen again. After this she grows to an old age and gave birth to the familiy heir before her father retired.

It is said a piece of her needlework still exits to this day in a temple in Kyoto.¹

Footnotes

1. Ozaki, Y.T. (2015) “Japanese Fairy Tales” USA: Cavalier Classics.

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• • Period: Legendary Period
  • Occupation: Princess / Established the Ise Shrine
  • Family: Emperor Suinin (father) Hibasuhime (mother) Emperor Keikō (brother) Inishikinoiribiko (brother) Ohonakatsuhiko (brother) Wakakiiribiko (brother)
  • Birth: –
  • Death: –

Yamatohime

Yamatohime (倭比売命 / 倭姫命) was the daughter of Emperor Suinin and Hibasuhime and is creditted with the establishment of the Ise Grand Shrine.¹

Apparently there are miraculous tale relating to her birth and she is said to have lived for several hundred years.⁴

Ise Grand Shrine

The care of Amaterasu is passed from Toyosukiiribime to Yamatohime. She goes searching for a place to enshrine Amaterasu travelling through Sasahata in Uda, then Mino and finally reaches Ise.¹

The Jinnō Shōtōki says she toured the provinces at Amaterasu’s command, further saying she chose the headwaters of the Isuzu River in the Watarai District of Ise in the 26th year, 10th month of Suinin’s reign.²

Here the kami communes with Yamatohime saying she wishes to dwell in Ise and so a shrine was built. When the shrine was first built Amaterasu made a descent from Heaven.¹ And so following this the Emperor takes the Sacred Regalia and houses them in the Naiku Shrine here.³

The Jinnō Shōtōki says that she placed the Sword and Mirror into the shrine herself.²

During the establishment of the area it is said she enquired about the area.
Ōtanomikoto, a descendant of Sarudabiko, was the one who told her about the place she chose. He tells her that here there were 50 bells arranged in the shape of the shrine of Heaven, one legend even saying the Jewelled Spear of Heaven was also kept here.

Ōtanomikoto also telling her that these items here had been worshipped for 80,000 years.²

Yamato Takeru

Connections with her nephew Yamato Takeru state she gave him the clothes he wore, to disguise himself as a woman, to kill the Kumaso leader Torishikaya.¹ The kojiki says she gave him her clothes and a sword.⁴⁵

She later gives him the sword Kusanagi when he is sent to fight the Emishi.²

Footnotes

1. Aston. W.G. (1896) “Nihongi Volume 1: Chronicles of Japan from the Earliest Times to AD697”. Tuttle Publishing.
2. Varley, H.P (1980) “A Chronicle of Gods and Sovereigns: Jinnō Shōtōki of Kitabatake Chikafusa.” New York: Columbia University Press.
3. Ponsonby, F. (1959) “The Imperial House of Japan.” Kyoto: Ponsonby Memorial Society.
4. Chamberlain, B. H. (1932) “Translation of the Kojiki.” Kobe: J.L. Thompson & Co.
5. Yasumaro. O, translated by Gustav Heldt. (2014) “Kojiki. An Account of Ancient Matters”. New York: Columbia University Press.

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• • Period: Legendary Period
  • Occupation: Prince
  • Family: Emperor Suinin (father) Sahobime (mother) Hinagahime (wife)
  • Birth: –
  • Death: –

Homutsuwake

Homutsuwake (誉津別命) was the son of Emperor Suinin and Sahobime.¹²³

Birth

Nihongi Version

Homutsuwake was born prior to the assassination attempt on his father’s life by his mother.

His mother, mourning that she nearly took her husbands life, sneaks into her brothers castle (Sahobiko) with the prince Homutsuwake.

Attacks by the emperor against the castle intensify and eventually the castle is set on fire.¹

Kojiki Version

In the kojiki 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.

He sends his men to take the child and to also try and capture the Empress.

Angered they were unable to capture his wife he asks her to choose the childs name. As he had been born as the castle burnt she gave him the name Homutsuwake (Fire-possessing Lord)

Suinin then asked how he should raise the child, Sahobime saying to give him a foster mother and bathing women.

He then asks who should remove the girdle she placed around his waist and in reply she says Yehime and Otohime, daughters of Tatsumichinoushi Prince of Taniha as their parentage is unsullied.

And so the Empreror kills Sahobiko and Sahohime.

Homuchiwake was then entertained after they made a canoe for him from cedar from Ahidzu in Wohari and they placed it in the pools of Ichishi and Karu in Yamato.²³

Homutsuwake learns to talk

Nihongi Version

By the age of 30 the prince still did not speak. One day he sees a swan and finally talks saying ‘what is this thing?’

The Emperor happy at this asks who will go and collect this swan for his son. Amano Yukaha Tana volunteers and pursues it all the way to Tajima.

After capturing the swan, he returns and presents it to Homutsuwake and he finally learns to speak.

The Emperor then gives Amano the title of Tottori no Miyakko and also at this time established the Be of Torikahibe and Homutsube.¹

Kojiki Version

It is said someone by the name of Yamanobe no Ohotaka was sent to go and collect the swan.

He followed the swan through Harima to Kii, Inaba to Tanba, Tajima then eastwards until Afumi,  Minu to Wohari, and finally Shinano to Koshi. There in the estuary of Wanami he caught it and brought it to the Emperor.

The emperor thought seeing the bird again would make the prince talk, but it did not, and so the Emperor retired and had a dream. He dreamt a kami said if he built a shrine like his abode then the prince would speak.

The next day he asks an oracle to see which deity spoke finding out it was Ōkuninushi who had placed this curse on the prince. The Emperor readied the Prince to go to the shrine to pay reverence, with a man called Aketatsu being sent to attend to him.

Aketatsu swore a sacred oath ‘if there is an answer to be found in adoring this kami, then let the heron I see on Sagisu no ike fall dead.’ And the heron then died.

In reply to this he said ‘by this oath live’ and the heron came back to life. By his oath he then made wither and come back to life an oak upon Cape Amakashi (Amakashi no saki)

They also leave with Prince Unakami leaving Nara through the Ki Gate, as leaving through the Nara Gate or Ohosaka Gate would have caused them to meet a lame or blind person which was bad luck. On their journey everyone they pass they give the name of Homujibe.

After arriving at the shrine, they pray and return. A temporary Palace with a black plaited bridge is then made for Homutsuwake in the middle of the River Hi.

A man called Kihisatsumi then made a mountain adorned with green leaves and placed it downstream. Just before he presented food to Homutsuwake he finally spoke.

‘This mountain is not a mountain, perhaps it is the court of those who worship Ashiharashikowo.’

And so they informed the Emperor and he rejoiced, and the prince was left to live in the palace of Nagaho in Ajimasa.

Here he married Hinagahime for a single night where he discovered she was a serpent and flees from her. She pursued him to the ocean, where he then flees up valleys in his boat towards Yamato.²³

Footnotes

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

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Izumi Province

Ise Province (伊勢国) was one of the many provinces in Japan.

Legendary Period

During the reign of Emperor Suinin his daughter Yamatohime is entrusted with the care of Amaterasu. She goes searching for a place to enshrine Amaterasu travelling through Sasahata in Uda, then Mino and finally reaches Ise.³

The Jinnō Shōtōki says she toured the provinces at Amaterasu’s command, further saying she chose the headwaters of the Isuzu River in the Watarai District of Ise in the 26th year, 10th month of Suinin’s reign.²

Here the kami communes with Yamatohime saying she wishes to dwell in Ise and so a shrine was built. When the shrine was first built Amaterasu made a descent from Heaven.³ And so following this the Emperor takes the Sacred Regalia and houses them in the Naiku Shrine here.⁴

The Jinnō Shōtōki says that she placed the Sword and Mirror into the shrine herself.²

During the establishment of the area it is said she enquired about the area.
Ōtanomikoto, a descendant of Sarudabiko, was the one who told her about the place she chose. He tells her that here there were 50 bells arranged in the shape of the shrine of Heaven, one legend even saying the Jewelled Spear of Heaven was also kept here.

Ōtanomikoto also telling her that these items here had been worshipped for 80,000 years.²

Emperor Keikō visits here when he wished to see the lands subdued by Yamato Takeru.³

Heian Period

During this period we know that Fujiwara no Tsugukage was stationed here as Governor. His daughter Lady Ise takes her name from this province as her real name is unknown.¹

Footnotes

1. Kodansha. (1993) ”Japan: An Illustrated Encyclopedia”. Tokyo: Kodansha Ltd.
2. Varley, H.P (1980) “A Chronicle of Gods and Sovereigns: Jinnō Shōtōki of Kitabatake Chikafusa.” New York: Columbia University Press.
3. Aston. W.G. (1896) “Nihongi Volume 1: Chronicles of Japan from the Earliest Times to AD697”. Tuttle Publishing.
4. Ponsonby, F. (1959) “The Imperial House of Japan.” Kyoto: Ponsonby Memorial Society.

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: Heian Period
  • Occupation: Poet, chūnagon
  • Family: Fujiwara no Toshimoto (father) Fujiwara no Tametoki (grandson) Murasaki Shikibu (great-granddaughter)
  • Birth: 877AD
  • Death: 933AD

Fujiwara no Kanesuke

Fujiwara no Kanesuke (藤原 兼輔) was a member of the Fujiwara Clan, more specifically the Hokke Branch of the family. He lived from 877-933AD.

He was the son of Fujiwara no Toshimoto and ancestor to Fujiwara no Tametoki and Murasaki Shikibu.³

During his life he was known as the Middle Councellor of the Embankment as he resience was alongside the Kamo River and is known to have had longtime associations with the compilers of the Kokinshū Ki no Tsurayuki and Oshikochi no Mitsune.¹ He received the rank of chūnagon in 930AD.⁴

Literarily we can find him in many of the Tales of Yamato and was included in Kintō’s Thirty Six Poetic Geniuses. He has 57 (55³) poems in the Imperial Anthologies (including the Gosenshū³) as well as a private collection of poetry¹ by the name Kanesukeshū which includes 125 poems.³⁴

One of his poems (No.27) can be found in the Ogura Hyakunin Isshu and goes as follows:

Japanese text2	Romanized Japanese1	English translation1
みかの原 わきてながるる 泉川 いつ見きとてか 恋しかるらむ	Mika no hara wakite nagaruru Izumigawa itsu miki tote ka koishikaruran	When did you first spring into view? Like the Field of Jars divided by the River of Springs, I am split in two - so deeply flows the river of my love for you.

Footnotes

1. MacMillan, P. (2018) ”One Hundred Poets, One Poem Each: A Treasury of Classical Japanese Verse”. St. Ives: Penguin Classics.
2. Suzuki, H. et al. (1997) ”Genshoku: Ogura Hyakunin Isshu”. Tokyo: Bun’eidō.
3. Kodansha. (1993) ”Japan: An Illustrated Encyclopedia”. Tokyo: Kodansha Ltd.
4. Louis Frederic, translated by Kathe Roth (2002) “Japan Encyclopedia”. London: Harvard University Press.

Thirty Six Poetic Geniuses
Lady Ise * Yamabe no Akahito * Ariwara no Narihira * Ki no Tomonori * Sarumaru Taifu * Ono no Komachi * Fujiwara no Kanesuke * Fujiwara no Atsutada * Fujiwara no Toshiyuki * Minamoto no Muneyuki * Minamoto no Shitagō * Kiyohara no Motosuke * Sakanoue no Korenori * Ōnakatomi no Yoshinobu * Fujiwara no Okikaze * Fujiwara no Asatada

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Aki Province

Aki Province (安藝國/安芸国) was one of the many provinces in Japan.

Legendary Period

According to one version of events in the nihongi, the kami Susano-o comes to the River Ye in this province. Here he meets Ashi-nadzu-te-nadzu and his wife Inada no Miya-nushi Susa no yatsu-mimi.

They are both filled with sorrow as the kami is pregnant and soon Yamata no Orochi will come to consume the child. Susano-o makes them brew sake, which the dragon drinks and then falls asleep; after Susano-o calls the dragon an awful kami and offers to serve him.

He then cuts up the Dragon with his sword called, Orochi no Aramasa. When he cuts the Dragons tail, he finds inside of it Kusanagi.¹

The Emishi were sent to Harima, Sanuki, Iyo, Aki and Aha Provinces by Emperor Keikō as they were too violent and scared those that lived around Mount Mimoro.¹

Kamakura Period

Takeda Nobumitsu became shugo (military governor) of Aki Province in 1221, for aiding the Kamakura Shogunate during the Jōkyū Disturbance.²

Muromachi Period

There were at least 10 Takeda shugo during the Muromachi Shogunate from this province, this lineage having been started by Takeda Nobumitsu after his involvement in the Jōkyū Disturbance.²

Amago Tsunehisa extended his families power into Aki and Bingo Provinces fighting against the Mōri and Ōuchi Families.²

Footnotes

1. Aston. W.G. (1896) “Nihongi Volume 1: Chronicles of Japan from the Earliest Times to AD697″. Tuttle Publishing.
2. Kodansha. (1993) ”Japan: An Illustrated Encyclopedia”. Tokyo: Kodansha Ltd.

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 / Shido Shogun
  • Family: Emperor Kōgen (father) Uchishikome (mother) Emperor Kaika (brother) Sukunabikookokoro (brother) Yamatotohime (sister) Takenumakahawake (son) Hikoinakoshiwake (son) Mimakihime (daughter)
  • Birth: –
  • Death: –

Ohobiko

Ohobiko (大彦命) was the son of Emperor Kōgen and Uchishikome.

Family

He was the brother to Emperor Kaika, Yamatotohime¹² and Sukunabikookokoro.¹

The kojiki lists him as the father of Takenumakahawake, Hikoinakoshiwake and Mimakihime.¹³

The nihongi lists him as ancestor of the Abe no Omi, Kashihade no Omi, Ahe no Omi, Sasakiyama no Kimi, Tsukushi no Miyakko, Koshi no Miyakko and Iga no Omi.²

Reign of Emperor Sujin

During the 10th year of the reign of Emperor Sujin he is sent out to subdue to provinces with three other man.¹²³ Ohobiko being sent to north according to the nihongi² and more specifically to Koshi Province in the kojiki.

After leaving he came across a girl who sings a cryptic song about the emperor. After asking the girl what the song means she disappears and so he returns to the emperor to report on what he saw.¹²³

Here the version of events differ slightly.

Kojiki Version

In the kojiki it says the emperor understanding the message says it must mean that Takehaniyasuhiko means to attack him. And so Ohobiko is asked to raise an army agaisnt him. Taking Hikokunibuku with him they set sacred jars at the Pass of Wani before departing. In Yamashiro Province, on the banks of the Wakara River they find Takehaniyasu waiting for them.

Takehaniyasu shoots an arrow first and misses, Hikokunubuku returning fire and killing Takehaniyasu with his shot causing his army to rout and flee.

The army is hunted down and killed and the two return to give a report to the Emperor.¹³

Nihongi Version

In the nihongi it states that his sister Yamatotohime understood the meaning of the song.

Takehaniyasu and his wife Atahime then arrive with their armies, coming from two directions. Atahime through Ohosaka and Takehaniyasu through Yamashiro.

Atahime is intercepted and defeating by Kibitsuhiko.

Ohohiko and Hikokunifuku head to Yamashiro after setting sacred jars. Again Takehaniyasu shoots first and misses, and Hikokunifuku shoots and kills Takehaniyasu.

After the war Ohobiko is later sent to subdue the ‘savage tribes abroad’ alongside Kibitsuhiko, Tambanochinushi and Takenumakahawake.²

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. Chamberlain, B. H. (1932) “Translation of the Kojiki.” Kobe: J.L. Thompson & Co.

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• • Period: Legendary Period
  • Occupation: Prince / Shido Shogun
  • Family: Emperor Kōrei (father) Yamatonokunikahime (mother) Yamatototowakayabime (sister) Yamatototohimomosobime (sister) Hikosashikatawake (brother)
  • Birth: –
  • Death: –

Kibitsuhiko

Kibitsuhiko (吉備津彦命) was the son of Emperor Kōrei and Yamatonokunikahime. He was the brother of Yamatototohimomosobime, Yamatototowakayabime¹² and Hikosashikatawake.¹

In the kojiki he is given an alternative name of Hikoisaseribiko and is stated to be the ancestor of the Grandess of Kamutsumichi in Kibi.¹

In the pages of the kojiki it also states that with his half-brother Wakatakehiko they laid sacred jars on the River Hi in Harima. After this they went to subdue and pacify the area of Harima.¹

Reign of Emperor Sujin

We see Kibitsuhiko mentioned in the nihongi during the reign of Emperor Sujin (a dsitant relative of Kibitsuhiko).

Alongside Hikoimasu, Takenumakahawake and Ohobiko he is sent out to subdue the surrounding provinces in the 10th year of his reign. Kibitsuhiko is sent to the ‘Western Road.’

During the war against Takehaniyasuhiko in the same year of his reign. He is sent to intercept the forces of Atahime whom he defeats. Killing her and her men.

Later in the same year he is ordered to subdue the ‘savage tribes abroad’ with Takenumakahawake, Ohobiko and Tambanochinushi. He, alongside the others return in the 11th year to make report of their victory.

He is mentioned one more time in the 60th year of his reign when he is sent with Kibitsuhiko to put Izumo Furune to death.²

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.

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Wakatakehiko (Emperor Kōrei)

• Period: Legendary Period
• Occupation: Prince
• Family: Emperor Kōrei (father) Haeirode (mother) Hikosajima (brother) Harima no Inabi no Ōiratsume (daughter)
• Birth: –
• Death: –

Wakatakehiko (稚武彦命) was the son of Emperor Kōrei and Haeirodo¹² and brother of Hikosajima.² He is also said to have been the father of Harima no Inabi no Ōiratsume.⁴

He is listed as the ancestor to the Kibi no Omi¹ more specifically the ancestor to the Shimotsumichi in Kibi and the Grandess of Kasa.³

In the pages of the kojiki it is said that with his half-brother Kibitsuhiko they laid sacred jars on the River Hi in Harima. After this they went to subdue and pacify the area of Harima.²

Wakatakehiko (Yamato Takeru)

• Period: Legendary Period
• Occupation: Prince
• Family: Yamato Takeru (father) Ototachibanahime (mother)
• Birth: –
• Death: –

Wakatakehiko (稚武彦王) was the son of Yamato Takeru and Ototachibanahime.¹

Footnotes

1. Aston. W.G. (1896) “Nihongi Volume 1: Chronicles of Japan from the Earliest Times to AD697”. Tuttle Publishing.
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. Ponsonby, F. (1959) “The Imperial House of Japan.” Kyoto: Ponsonby Memorial Society.

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