Page:Nihongi by Aston.djvu/285

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BOOK X.

THE EMPEROR HOMUDA.

(ŌJIN[1] TENNŌ.)

The Emperor Homuda[2] was the 4th child of the Emperor Tarashi Nakatsu-hiko. His mother's name was Okinaga Tarashi-hime no Mikoto. The Emperor was born at Kata in Tsukushi in the 12th month, Winter, of the year Kanoye Tatsu,[3] being the year in which the Empress smote Silla. From a child he was intelligent, penetrating, and far-sighted. In his bearing and conduct there were amazing indications of sageness. In the third year of the Grand Empress's administration of the Government, he was raised to the rank of Prince Imperial. Before this time, when the Emperor was in the womb, the Gods of Heaven and Earth granted to him the three Han.[4] When he was born there was flesh growing on his arm in shape like an elbow-pad.[5] As to this resemblance, the Empress judged that it was the elbow-pad worn as a manly accoutrement. Therefore he was styled by this name, and called the Emperor Homuda.

In the earliest antiquity, the tomo was commonly called Homuda.

One account says:—"In the beginning, when the Emperor was made Heir to the Throne, he went to the
  1. Responding to the Gods.
  2. The "Kojiki" calls him Homuda wake. Homuda or Honda is the name of a place.
  3. 17th of the Cycle.
  4. Corea.
  5. The tomo or leather shield worn on the fore-arm by archers as a protection against the recoil of the bow-string.