savage Earthly Deities[1] are numerous in this laud, which Deity shall we send to subdue them?” Then the Deity Thought-Includer and likewise the eight hundred myriad Deities took counsel and said: “The Deity Ame-no-ho-hi[2] is the one that should be sent.” So they sent the Deity Ame-no-ho-hi; but he at once curried favour with the Deity Master-of-the-Great-Land, and for three years brought back no report.
[Sect. XXXI.—The Heavenly-Young-Prince.]
Therefore the High-August-Producing-Wondrous-Deity and the Heaven-Shining-Great-August-Deity again asked all the Deities, saying, “The Deity Ame-no-ho-hi, whom we sent down to the Central Land of Reed-Plains, is long of bringing back a report.[3] Which Deity were it best to send on a fresh mission?”[4] Then the Deity Thought-Includer replied, saying: “The Heavenly-Young-Prince,[5] son of the Deity Heaven’s-Earth-Spirit[6] should be sent.” So they bestowed on the Heavenly-Young-Prince the heavenly true deer-bow and the heavenly feathered arrows,[7] and sent him. Thereupon the Heavenly-Young-Prince, descending to that land, at once wedded Princess Under-Shining,[8] daughter of the Deity Master-of-the-Great-Land,[9] and moreover, planning how he might gain [possession of] the land, for eight years brought back no report. So then the High-August-
- ↑ See Sect. I, Note 11.
- ↑ See Sect. XIII, Note 19.
- ↑ Literally, “long brings back no report.”
- ↑ Literally, “to send again.” The same expression occurs below.
- ↑ Ame-waka-hiko. All the commentators agree that it is in order to express disapprobation of this god’s wickedness that the title of Deity or Augustness is never coupled with his name.
- ↑ Ama-tsu-kuni-tama-no-kami.
- ↑ Ame-no-kako-yumi and ame-no-haha-ya. In Sect. XXXIV these weapons are mentioned under the slightly altered names of amc-no-hazhi-yumi (“heavenly vegetable wax-tree bow”) and ame-no-kaku-ya (“heavenly deer-arrows.”) A large bow made of vegetable wax-tree (Rhus succedanea) wood, and arrows with broad feathers, are supposed to be intended.
- ↑ Shita-teru-hime. See Sect. XXVI, Note 4.
- ↑ Oho-kuni-nushi-no-kami. See Sect. XX, Note 17.
