Kojiki Preface


from
Philippi, Donald, trans. Kojiki. Princeton, NJ and Tokyo: Princeton UP and U of Tokyo P, 1968.

as seen at: http://www.personal.psu.edu/users/a/c/acj2/Kojikip.html

 


Preface


I, Yasumaro, do say:


When the primeval matter had congealed but breath and form had not yet appeared, there were no names and no action. Who can know its form?


However, when heaven and earth were first divided, the three deities became the first of all creation. The Male and Female here began, and the two spirits were the ancestors of all creation.
Whereupon after the going in and coming out from the seen and unseen worlds, the sun and moon were revealed in the washing of the eyes.


After the floating and sinking in the sea-waters, the deities were revealed in the washing of the body.
Thus, though the primeval beginnings be distant and dim, yet by the ancient teachings do we know the time when the lands were conceived and the islands born; though the origins be vague and indistinct, yet by relying upon the sages of antiquity do we perceive the age when the deities were born and men were to stand.
Truly, after the hanging up of the mirror and the spitting out of the jewels, the hundred kings followed in succession; after the chewing of the sword and the slaughtering of the serpent, the myriad deities flourished.
Conferring by the Yasu river, they pacified the kingdom; disputing by the beach, they purified the land.
At this, Po-no-ninigi-no-mikoto first descended to Taka-to-po peak, and the emperor Kamu-yamato passed through [the island of] Aki-du-sima.


The ghostly bear came forth from the river, and the heavenly sword was obtained from Taka-kura.
Men with tails blocked the road, and large crow led the way to Yesino.
Dancing in rows, they swept aside the bandits; hearing the song, they vanquished the foe.
Then, warned by a dream, he reverenced the gods, and therefore was lauded as the wise emperor.
He looked at the smoke and treated the people with benevolence, and to this day is reputed a saintly ruler.
The borders were determined and the lands were developed during the reign at Tika-tu-Apumi, and the titles were corrected and the clan-names selected during the rule at Topo-tu-Asuka.


Although each reign differed in the degree of swiftness or slowness, and each was not the same in refinement and simplicity; yet there was not one [ruler] who did not by meditating upon antiquity straighten manners which had collapsed, and who did not by comparing the present with antiquity strengthen morals and teachings verging on extinction.


Coming now to the reign of the emperor who ruled Opo-ya-sima in the great palace of Kiyomipara in Asuka:
Already as latent dragon he embodied the royal qualities, and the repeated thunder-peals responded to the times.
Hearing the song in a dream, he thought to inherit the Throne; arriving at the water by night, he knew that he was to receive the Dignity.


But the time of Heaven had not yet come, and cicada-like he shed his wrappings in the southern mountains.
As popular support grew for his cause, he walked tiger-like in the eastern lands.
The imperial chariot proceeded with quick willingness, crossing over the mountains and rivers.
The six regiments shook like thunder, and the three armies moved like lightning.
The spears and javelins revealed their might, and the fierce warriors rose up like smoke.
The crimson banners gleamed upon the weapons, and the treacherous band collapsed like tiles.
Before a fortnight had elapsed, the foul vapors had been purified.
Thus they released the cattle and rested the steeds, and returned peacefully to the capital.
Furling the banners and putting away the halberds, they remained singing and dancing in the city.
As the star rested in the region of the Cock, in the second month, in the great palace of Kiyomipara he ascended [the throne] and assumed the Heavenly Dignity.


In the Way he excelled the Yellow Emperor; in Virtue he surpassed the king of Chou.
Grasping the regalia, he ruled the six directions; gaining the Heavenly Lineage, he embraced the eight corners.
Adhering to the Two Essences, he put the five elements in right order.
He set forth profound principles to implant good practices, and he proposed noble manners to issue throughout the land.


Not only this, his wisdom was vast as the sea, searching out antiquity; his mind was bright as a mirror, clearly beholding former ages.


Whereupon, the Emperor said:
"I hear that the Teiki and Honji handed down by the various houses have come to differ from the truth and that many falsehoods have been added to them.
"If these errors are not remedied at this time, their meaning will be lost before many years have passed.
"This is the framework of the state, the great foundation of the imperial influence.
"Therefore, recording the Teiki and examining the Kuji, discarding the mistaken and establishing the true, I desire to hand them on to later generations."


At that time there was a court attendant whose surname was Piyeda and his given name Are. He was twenty-eight years old.


He possessed such great native intelligence that he could repeat orally whatever met his eye, and whatever struck his ears was indelibly impressed in his heart.
Then an imperial command was given to Are to learn the Sumera-mikötö nö pi-tugi and the Saki-nö-yö nö puru-götö.


However, the times went on and the reign changed before this project was accomplished.