two are here. How can it be said that there are no men?" Therefore that place was called Aso.[1]
Autumn, 7th month, 4th day. He arrived at Mike[2] in the further Land of Tsukushi,[3] where he dwelt in the temporary Palace of Takata. Now there was here a fallen tree 970 rods (VII. 16.) in length. The hundred functionaries passed backwards and forwards stepping on this tree. The people of that day made a song, saying:—
The morning hoar-frost[4]
August tree pole-bridge!
The Lords of the Presence
Pass over it—
The august tree pole-bridge!
The Emperor inquired, saying:—"What tree is this?" There was there an old man who said:—"This tree is a Kunugi tree.[5] Before it fell down, when the rays of the morning sun fell on it, it overshadowed the Hill of Kishima; when the rays of the evening sun fell on it, it covered Mount Aso." The Emperor said:—"This tree is a divine tree. Therefore let this country be called the Land of Mike."[6]
(VII. 17.) 7th day. He reached the district of Yame, where, crossing Mount Mahe, he looked down to the south upon Aha no Saki, and spake, saying:—"The peaks and glens of this mountain follow each other fold upon fold. They are exceedingly beautiful. May it be that a God dwells in this mountain?" Then Saru-ohomi,[7] the Agata-nushi of Minuma, represented to the Emperor, saying:—"There is a female Deity named Yame-tsu hime, who dwells always among these mountains." This is therefore the reason why this country is called the Land of Yame.
8th month. He arrived at the village of Ikuha,[8] where he
- ↑ Aso is a dialectical variation for nanzo or nazo, how or why.
- ↑ August tree.
- ↑ Now Chikugo.
- ↑ Morning hoar-frost is a makura-kotoba. The only connection between it and the rest of the poem is that hoar-frost melts, and that ke (for ki) tree is also the first syllable of kesu, to melt. The Presence is of course the Imperial Presence.
- ↑ Quercus Serrata, Hepburn.
- ↑ August tree.
- ↑ Monkey-great-sea.
- ↑ In Chikugo.
