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BOOK XXI.

THE EMPEROR TACHIBANA NO TOYOHI.[1]

(YŌMEI[2] TENNŌ.)

The Emperor Tachibana no Toyohi was the fourth child of the Emperor Ame-kuni oshi-hiraki hiro-niha.[3] His mother's name was Kitashi hime. The Emperor believed in the Law of Buddha and reverenced the Way of the Gods.[4] In the fourteenth year of his reign, Autumn, the 8th month, the Emperor Nunakura futo-tama-shiki died.

9th month, 5th day. The Emperor assumed the Imperial dignity, and made his capital at Ihare, calling it the Palace of Namitsuki in Ikenobe.[5] Soga no Mŭmako no Sukune was made Oho-omi, and Mononobe no Yugehi no Moriya no Ohomuraji was made Ohomuraji, both as before.

19th day. The Emperor made command, saying:—etc., etc.[6]—appointing the Imperial Princess Nukade hime to the charge of the Shrine of Ise and to attend to the worship of the Sun-goddess.

This Imperial Princess, from the time of this Emperor until the reign of the Empress Kashikiya hime,[7] attended to the divine service of the Sun-goddess. She then retired
  1. This name means orange abundance-sun. Tachibana is, however, here the name of a village in Yamato.
  2. Yō means to use, employ; mei, brightness.
  3. Kimmei Tennō.
  4. Shintō. 神道. The first time this phrase is found. The "Yih-king" has, "The sage frames his doctrine by the Way of the Gods, and the Empire accepts it."
  5. Province of Yamato.
  6. The author omits the words of the edict, and only gives its general purport.
  7. Suiko Tennō.