development of the legend of the expulsion of the deity Susa-no-wo (“Impetuous Male”), telling us of the hospitality which was refused to him by the other gods when he appeared before them to beg for shelter. Many of the Songs, too, in the “Chronicles” are different from those in the “Records,” and make a precious addition to our vocabulary of Archaic Japanese. The prose text, likewise, contains in the shape of notes, numbers of readings by which the pronunciation of words written ideographically, or the meaning of words written phonetically in the “Records” may be ascertained. Finally the “Chronicles” give us the annals of seventy-two years not comprised in the plan of the “Records,” by carrying down to A.D. 700 the history which in the “Records” stops at the year 628. Although therefore it is a mistake to assert, as some have done, that the “Chronicles of Japan” must be placed at the head of all the Japanese historical works, their assistance can in no wise be dispensed with by the student of Japanese mythology and of the Japanese language.[1]
IV.
Manners and Customs of the Early Japanese.
The Japanese of the mythical period, as pictured in the legends preserved by the compiler of the “Records of Ancient Matters,” were a race who had long emerged from the savage state, and had attained to a high level of barbaric skill. The Stone Age was forgotten by them—or nearly so,—and the evidence points to their never having passed through a genuine Bronze Age, though the knowledge of bronze was at a later period introduced from the neighbouring continent.
- ↑ Compare Mr. Satow’s remarks on this subject in Vol. III, Pt. I, pp. 21–23 of these “Transactions.”
His Augustness the Moon-Night-Possessor, being angry and colouring up, said: ‘How filthy! how vulgar! What! shalt thou dare to feed me with things spat out from thy mouth?’ [and with these words,] he drew his sabre and slew her. Afterwards he made his report [to the Sun-Goddess]. When he told her all the particulars, the Heaven-Shining Great Deity was very angry, and said: ‘Thou art a wicked Deity, whom it is not right for me to see;’—and forthwith she and His Augustness the Moon-Night-Possessor dwelt separately day and night.” The partly parallel legend given in these “Records” forms the subject of Sect. XVII of the Translation.
