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“Ko-ji-ki,” or Records of Ancient Matters.
[Vol. XVIII.
Vol. II.[1]
[Sect. XLIV.—Reign of the Emperor Jim-mu[2] (Part I.—His Progress Eastward, and Death of His Elder Brother).]
The two Deities His Augustness Kamu-yamato-ihare-biko[3] and his elder brother His Augustness Itsu-se, dwelling in the palace of Takachiho,[4] took counsel, saying: “By dwelling in what place shall we [most] quietly carry on the government of the Empire?[5] It were probably best to go east.” Forthwith they left Himuka[6] on their progress[7] to Tsukushi.[8] So when they arrived at Usa[9] in the land of Toyo,[10] two of the natives, whose names were Usa-tsu-hiko and Usa-tsu-hime[11] built a palace raised on one foot,[12] and offered them a great august banquet. Removing thence, they dwelt for one year at the
- ↑ Literally, “Middle Volume,” there being three in all. See Author’s Preface, Note 1.
- ↑ Jim-mu signifies “divine valour.” It is the “canonical name” of the Emperor Kamu-yamato-ihare-biko (see Introduction, p. xiv).
- ↑ In the preceding Section this name was rendered “Divine-Yamato-Ihare-Prince.” But in the translation of Vols. II and III of this work, the Japanese proper names are not Englished, unless there be a special reason for so doing. (See {{nsl2|Introduction, pp. xviii and xix|../Introduction#xviii.)
- ↑ See Sect. XXXIV, Note 5.
- ↑ See Sect. XXVII, Note 13.
- ↑ See Sect. X, Note 4.
- ↑ The Japanese expression here used is one which exclusively denotes an Imperial Progress, and not the movements of lesser people. It recurs perpetually in this and the following Volume.
- ↑ See Sect. V, Note 14.
- ↑ Etymology uncertain.
- ↑ See Sect. V, Note 17.
- ↑ I.e., Prince of Usa and Princess of Usa.
- ↑ In the original 足一騰宮, read ashi hito-tsu agari no miya. The parallel passage of the “Chronicles” has 一柱騰宮 which is directed to be read in the same manner. 柱 (hashira) however means, not “foot,” but “pillar”; and the commentators understand both passages to allude to a single pillar, which supported the weight of the entire building,—either as being in the middle of it, or (as Motowori opines) by standing in the water, the edifice, according to this view, being built on a river-bank overhanging the stream.
