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404
Nihongi.

not curse. Therefore the Emperor eats salt from Tsunoga, and avoids eating the salt of other seas."[1]

12th month. Ohotomo no Kanamura no Muraji having completely suppressed the insurrection, and restored the Government to the eldest son, asked permission to offer him the August Title, saying:—"Now there are no sons left of the Emperor Ohoke but Your Majesty, nor is there any second person to whom the people can give allegiance. Moreover, relying on the support of Supreme Heaven,[2] thou hast cleared away the wicked bands. By thy wise counsels and thy manly determination thou hast made the Celestial authority and the Celestial revenues to flourish. Japan must have a ruler, and who is there but thee to rule over Japan? I humbly pray (XVI. 7.) Your Majesty reverently to respond to the Divine Spirit of Earth by giving development to the luminous commands, casting a lustre on Japan, and widely taking over charge of the silver region."[3]

Hereupon the eldest son commanded the functionaries to prepare a sacred terrace at Namiki[4] in Hatsuse, where he ascended to the Imperial Dignity, and at length established his capital. On this day, Ohotomo no Kanamura no Muraji was made Ohomuraji.

A.D. 499. 1st year, Spring, 3rd month, 2nd day. Kasuga no Iratsume was appointed Empress. [It is not clear who her father was.]

This year was the year Tsuchinoto U (16th) of the Cycle.

A.D. 500. 2nd year, Autumn, 9th month. The Emperor ripped up the belly of a pregnant woman and inspected the pregnant womb.[5]

A.D. 501. 3rd year, Winter, 10th month. He plucked out men's nails, and made them dig up yams.[6]

11th month. He commanded Ohotomo no Muruya[7] no

  1. Compare above, p. 337, where the water of a well was cursed.
  2. Motoöri objects to this phrase as Chinese.
  3. Viz. Corea.
  4. Namiki means a row of trees, an avenue lined with trees.
  5. This is a charge made against Show, King of Shang, in the "Shoo-king." See Legge's "Chinese Classics," Vol. III. p. 285.
  6. Dioscorea Japonica.
  7. There is something wrong here. Ohotomo no Muruya was Prime Minister (see p. 322) in the 7th year of Ingiō Tennō (A.D. 418). Muruya is no doubt a slip for Kanamura.