no Muraji, was commended and granted the rank of Daisen, together with liberal presents. The commuted taxes and corvées of Anato were remitted for three years.
Summer, 4th month. Silla sent Envoys to offer tribute.
One book says:—"In the reign of this Emperor the three countries of Koryö, Pèkché and Silla sent Envoys bearing tribute every year."
(XXV. 51.) Winter, 10th month. In respect of the tombs which had been demolished in order to include the ground in a site for a Palace, and of the people who had been made to remove for the same purpose, presents were given, varying in value. This having been done, the chief builder Hirafu, Aratawi no Atahe, was sent to set up the boundary posts of the Palace.
In this month the construction was begun of an embroidery[1] figure of Buddha sixteen feet in height with its attendant Bosatsu,[2] and of figures of beings of the eight classes[3]—forty-six figures in all.
In this year, Ohoguchi, Aya no Yamaguchi no Atahe, in obedience to an Imperial order, carved one thousand images of Buddha.
Agata, Yamato no Aya no Atahe, Abumi, Shiragabe no Muraji, and Agura, Naniha no Kishi, were sent to the province of Aki to build two Pèkché ships.
A.D. 651. 2nd year, Spring, 3rd month, 14th day. The sixteen feet high embroidery figure of Buddha and the others were finished.
15th day. The Empress Dowager invited the ten Buddhist professors[4] and prepared a maigre entertainment for them.
6th month. Pèkché and Silla sent Envoys to bring tribute and to offer presents.
Winter, 12th month, last day. More than 2100 priests and nuns were invited to the Palace of Ajifu, and made to read the Issaikyō.[5]
- ↑ No doubt what we call tapestry.
- ↑ See above, XXI. 6.
- ↑ The eight classes are described as I. Heaven; II. Dragons; III. Yasha, the Sanskrit Yaksha, a kind of demons; IV. Kentatsuba, the Sanskrit Gandharva, a kind of demons; V. Asura, the mightiest of all demons; VI. Karora, Sanskrit Garuda, a kind of monstrous bird; VII. Kinnara, Sanskrit Kimnara, doubtful (horned) spirits, the musicians of Kuvēra; VIII. Makōraka, Sanskrit Mahoraga, demons shaped like a boa.
- ↑ See above, XXV. 10.
- ↑ The complete Buddhist canon as received in China. It consists of
