<departmental bulletin paper>
Narrative of Tenson-Kōrin and the Families of Nakatomi and Fujiwara
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Abstract | According to the narrative of Tenson-Korin (the descent to earth of the descendants of the Sun-Goddess), Ninigi, grandson of the Sun-Goddess Amaterasu, under the order of Amaterasu, descended from the... celestial world, Takamagahara, to the lower world, Ashiharano-nakatsukuni, namely to the territory of Japan and established his sovereign power. This narrative is described in the various books such as Nihonshoki, Kojiki and others. There are 15 kinds of this narrative in all. If we, in accordance to the steps of development of the narrative, arrange in sequence those six kinds of the narrative which have concrete contents of description, we can find that the narrative removes from simple constructive contents to more complete ones. A noteworthy Fact is that there is a sharp difference in contents between the former 3 and the later 3 out of six kinds of the narrative. For example, the god issuing the order of descent is Takamimusubi according to the former 3 kinds of the narrative, while in the later 3 it is Takamimusubi (Takagi) and Amaterasu or Amaterasu only who order the descent. The god who receives orders and descends to the lower world is Ninigi in the former 3 kinds, while in the later 3, to begin with Amenooshihomimi, son of the Sun-Goddess Amaterasu, receives orders and thereafter his son, Ninigi, is substituted. And five gods with Amenokoyane as leader are added to him as the gods who descend in attendance on Ninigi from Takamagahara to the lower world. It is in the later 3 kinds that the divine mirror and the Three Sacred Treasures of the Imperial House (a mirror, gems, a sword) are bestowed on Ninigi by the Goddess Amaterasu. Thus we can know that Amaterasu-Amenooshihomimi, her son-Amenokoyane- the divine treasures are added on a step in the course of development of the narrative. It can be assumed that the family of Nakatomi made mainly these fittings. This family is the descendants of Amenokoyane and the trade of this family is the officiating priest in the Court, especially having close connection with the festival of the Goddess Amaterasu. Nakatomi-no-Oshima, a relative of the family, became a member of editors of Japanese history by order of the Emperor Tenmu (631-686), and took office as Chief of the Priests in charge of festival of the gods with Amaterasu as the Highest. It is closely connected with the status and glory of the family Nakatomi to bring forward the Goddess Amaterasu besides Takamimusubi as the god ordering the descent. The tutelary deity of the family Nakatomi is Amenokoyane who gave service to the Goddess Amaterasu and descended to the lower world in attendance on Ninigi. Moreover, the god who descended by order is Ninigi only in the former 3 kinds of the narrative, while in the later 3 kinds Amenooshihomimi is added to Ninigi. This change seems to reflect the circumstances that the Emperor Jito (645-702) wished strongly the enthronement of Karuo, his grandson. The Prince Kusakabe, father of Karuo, was son of the Emperor Jito, but died at the age of twenty eight before enthronement. The Emperor Jito expected future greatness of Karuo who was then at the age of seven. But in the Court there were objections to Karuo's accession to the throne, So it was necessary to justify the enthronement of Karuo. The conception that the Goddess Amaterasu did not give the order to govern the territory to Ninigi directly, but first gave the order to Amenooshihomimi, her son, and thereafter, at Amenooshihomimi's desire, to Ninigi, her grandson-the conception defends, so we can interprete, the righteousness of the government of Ninigi, namely the righteousness of the enthronement of Karuo. It is noteworthy that Amaterasu was taken for the same female as the Emperor Jito. And it was Fujiwara-no-Fubito, a relative of the family Nakatomi, who at this time aided the Emperor Jito and cleared the way for the enthronement of Karuo.show more |
Table of Contents | 一、天孫降臨説話の問題点 二、アメノコヤネと神々 三、神宝と神勅 四、中臣大嶋と藤原不比等 |
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Created Date | 2019.05.27 |
Modified Date | 2020.09.28 |