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BOOK XXVI.

THE EMPRESS AME-TOYO-TAKARA IKASHI-HI TARASHI-HIME.

(SAIMEI[1] TENNŌ.)

The Empress Ame-toyo-takara ikashi-hi tarashi-hime first married the Emperor Tachibana no toyohi's[2] grandson, Prince Takamuku, and bore to him the Imperial Prince Aya. She was afterwards married to the Emperor Oki-naga tarashi-hi hiro-nuka,[3] to whom she bore two sons and one daughter. In his second year she was raised to the rank of Empress-consort, as may be seen in the history of the Emperor Oki-naga tarashi-hi hiro-nuka. In the thirteenth year of his reign, Winter, the tenth month, the Emperor Oki-naga tarashi-hi hiro-nuka died. In the first month of the following year the Empress assumed the Imperial Dignity. In the sixth month of the fourth year of the new reign, she resigned the Dignity to the Emperor Ame-yorodzu-toyo-hi, and was entitled Empress Dowager. The Emperor Ame-yorodzu-toyohi died in the tenth month of the later fifth year.[4]

A.D. 655. 1st year, Spring, 1st month, 3rd day. The Empress Dowager assumed the Imperial Dignity in the Palace of Asuka no Itabuki.

Summer, 5th month, 1st day. In the midst of the Void[5] there was seen one riding on a dragon, who resembled a man

  1. Uniform-bright. The Empress Kōgyoku restored.
  2. Yōmei Tennō.
  3. Jomei Tennō.
  4. i.e. the later of the two year-periods of his reign, viz. Hakuchi.
  5. Sora. To be distinguished from Ten, heaven or firmament.