Thereupon he sank the jars in the river with their mouths downward.
After a while the fish all came to the surface gaping, gasping as they
floated down the stream. Then Shihi-netsu-hiko, seeing this, represented
it to the emperor, who was greatly rejoiced, and plucking up a
five-hundred-branched masakaki tree of the upper waters of the River
Nifu, he did worship therewith to all the gods. It was with this that
the custom began of selling sacred jars.
At this time he commanded Michi no Omi no Mikoto, saying: "We are now in
person about to celebrate a public festival to Taka-mi-Musubi no Mikoto,
and I appoint thee ruler of the festival, and I grant thee the title of
Idzu-hime. The earthen jars which are set up shall be called the Idzube
or sacred jars, the fire shall be called Idzu no Kagu-tsuchi or
sacred-fire-elder, the water shall be called Idzu no Midzu-ha no me or
sacred-water-female, the food shall be called Idzuuka no me, or
sacred-food-female, the firewood shall be called Idzu no Yama-tsuchi or
sacred-mountain-elder, and the grass shall be called Idzu no no-tsuchi
or sacred-moor-elder."
Winter, 10th month, 1st day. The emperor tasted the food of the Idzube,
and arraying his troops set forth upon his march. He first of all
attacked the eighty bandits at Mount Kunimi, routed and slew them. It
was in this campaign that the emperor, fully resolved on victory, made
these verses, saying:
"Like the Shitadami
Which creep round
The great rock
Of the Sea of Ise,
Where blows the divine wind--
Like the Shitadami,
My boys! My boys!
We will creep around
And smite them utterly,
And smite them utterly."
In this poem, by the "great rock" is intended the Hill of Kunimi.
After this the band which remained was still numerous, and their
disposition could not be fathomed. So the emperor privately commanded
Michi no Omi no Mikoto, saying: "Do thou take with thee the Oho Kume,
and make a great _muro_ at the village of Osaka. Prepare a copious
banquet, invite the enemy to it, and then capture them." Michi no Omi no
Mikoto thereupon, in obedience to the emperor's sacred behest, dug a
_muro_ at Osaka, and having selected his bravest soldiers, stayed
therein mingled with the enemy. He secretly arranged with them, saying:
"When they have got tipsy with _sake_, I will strike up a song. Do you
when you hear the sound of my song, all at the same time stab the
enemy."
Having made this arrangement they took their seats, and the drinking
bout proceeded. The enemy, unaware that there was any plot, abandoned
themselves to their feelings, and promptly became intoxicated. Then
Michi no Omi no Mikoto struck up the following song:
"At Osaka
In the great Muro-house,
Though men in plenty
Enter and stay,
We the glorious
Sons of warriors,
Wielding our mallet-heads,
Wielding our stone-mallets,
Will smite them utterly."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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