Autumn, 7th month, 4th day. More than two hundred Yemishi came to Court with presents for the Empress. The entertainment and largess to them was on a more liberal scale than usual. Two Yemishi of Kikafu received one grade of rank. Saniguna, the Senior Governor of the district of (XXVI. 7.) Nushiro, was made Lower Shō-otsu [one book says was granted two steps in rank and given the superintendence of the population (register)], the Junior Governor Ubasa received the rank of Kembu, and two brave men received one grade of rank. In addition there were given to Saniguna and the others twenty cuttle-fish flags,[1] two drums, two sets of bows and arrows, and two suits of armour. Mamu, the Senior Governor of the district of Tsugaru, was granted the rank of Upper Dai-otsu, Awohiru, the Junior Governor, the rank of Lower Shō-otsu, and two brave men received a step in rank. In addition there were granted to Mamu and the others twenty cuttle-fish flags, two drums, two sets of bows and arrows, and two suits of armour. Two grades of rank were conferred on the Miyakko of the barrier of Tsukisara, and one grade on the Hangwan. Inadzumi Ohotomo no Kimi, Miyakko of the barrier of Nutari, received the rank of Lower Shō-otsu. Moreover Sanaguna,[2] Senior Governor of the district of Nushiro, was commanded by the Empress to investigate the Yemishi population and the captive population.
In this month, the Buddhist priests Chitsū and Chitatsu went by the Empress's command to Great Thang on board a Silla ship, where they received instruction from the teacher of religion,[3] Hsüan-ts‘ang, on the philosophy of things without life and living beings.[4]
- ↑ So called because the top was in this shape.
- ↑ Same as Saniguna, mentioned above.
- ↑ Hōshi = D.D. This is the famous Buddhist priest (also called Yüan-chwan) who left China for India in A.D. 629, in fulfilment of a vow. After an absence of seventeen years he returned in A.D. 645, bringing with him 657 volumes of the Buddhist scriptures, besides numerous sacred relics. The record of his travels has been translated by Stanislas Julien under the title of "Histoire de la vie de Hiouen-tsang et de ses voyages dans l'Inde." Mayers, p. 290.
- ↑ Another work states that Chitsū went to Thang to obtain instruction respecting the Greater Vehicle (Mahâyanâ). No doubt Buddhism generally is meant by the expression in the text.
