On this day the Emperor commanded the various provinces to let loose living things.[1]
In this month, Oho-miwa no Makamuta no Kobito no Kimi died. When the Emperor heard this, he was much grieved, and in view of his services in the year Midzunoye Saru granted him the posthumous rank of Inner Shōshi with the posthumous title of Ohomiwa no Makamuta no Mukahe-gimi.
9th month, 1st day. Owing to the rain, the beginning of the month was not announced.[2]
10th day. The Princes and Ministers sent agents to the capital and to the Home provinces and gave out weapons for (man of each the population).
12th day. Prince Yagaki, of the third rank, Viceroy of Tsukushi, was guilty of an offence, and was banished to Tosa.
13th day. Presents were made to the public functionaries and to men of the frontier states, varying in the case of each.
21st day. The Department of the Shintō religion represented to the Emperor as follows:—"We have ascertained by divination the provinces and districts which are to supply the rice for the festival of the first-fruits. There respond to the divination the district of Yamada, in the province of Wohari, for the Yuki, and the district of Kasa, in the province of Tamba, for the Sugi."[3]
In the course of this month Ikadzuchi,[4] Sakata no Kimi, died. In view of his services during the year Midzunoye Saru he was granted the posthumous rank of Daishi.
Winter, 10th month, 1st day. The Ministers were entertained at a wine-feast.
- ↑ A Buddhist practice. At the present day beggars may be seen at the gates of Buddhist temples with vessels containing small lampreys or cages of sparrows, which the faithful are allowed to release on paying a small sum.
- ↑ There was an old custom in China of announcing the beginning of the month to the ancestral temples of the Emperors. But the practice in Japan seems to have been different. There are notices of Japanese Emperors "viewing the announcement of the new month from a balcony," etc.
- ↑ Yuki means "ceremonially pure," and sugi means "next." These terms are applied to two qualities of rice used for this festival. Various explanations are given. One is that the yuki was for sacrifice to the Gods of Heaven, the sugi for the Gods of Earth. Yuki is etymologically connected with imi, religious abstinence. The divination was by burning a tortoise-shell.
- ↑ Thunder or thunder-bolt.
