Kuniyuzuri (国譲り)

[bogo]

I’ve heard the word of “Kuniyuzuri”. This refers to a succession of a country in Japanese. Grrr.

You may be familiar with the following picture in Japanese myths.

This is quite complecated myth with lots of different story. But I tried to study in the simpliest way by omitting some parts. Grrr.

Kuni-yuzuri

In ancient time, there are lots of gods including Amaterasu-Omikami, the most important, lived in a place called Takamagahara (高天原), which literally means “Plain of High Heaven” in Japanese. Saying that they are the ones who should rule Ashihara-no-Nakatsukuni, some gods from Takamagahara were sent to the place where Okuninushi lived. This area refers to Izumo in Shimane Prefecture in Japan.

Incidentally, Amaterasu is the god deifying the sun and one of the most important gods that is said as the origin of the current Japanese Imperial Family. Ashihara-no-Nakatsukuni refers to the earthly land of Japan against Takamagahara where gods live. Like drawn in the following picture, it is said that there are 8 millions of gods in Takamagahara and these gods are called Amatsukami. Grrr.

Amaterasu sent some gods from Takamagahara to Izumo. However, this project was not so easy: Some gods changed their loyalty to Okuninushi and the other tried to be a king of Ashihara-no-Nakatsukuni by marrying the daughter of Okuninushi.

Lastly, Takemikazuchi headed to Izumo and told Okuninushi “Amaterasu says her offsprings are supposed to rule this country.” Asked so, Okuninushi told Takemikazuchi to ask Kotoshironushi, one of his son. Kotoshironush got scared of Takemikazuchi and intended to obey. While Okuninushi is telling Takemikazuchi to ask for this issue to another son named Takemikata-no-kami, Takemikata came and said “What are you speaking in whispers? Let’s make a contest of strength.” Then the fighting started. Grrr.

Takemikazuchi overwhelmed Takemikata by using the powerful sword called “Futsu-no-mitama.” Chasing Takemikata, Takemikazuchi reached the country of Suwa (Nagano Prefecture).

建御名方神は、「ここから出ないし、大国主や事代主がいったとおりでこの国は天津神に譲るから殺さないでくれ」と降参する。

ちなみに、この闘いは相撲の起源とされているんだ。この強い建御雷神は茨城県の鹿島神宮などに祀られている。布都御魂の剣は神格化されて千葉県の香取神宮や群馬県の一之宮貫前神社など祀られる経津主神（ふつぬしのかみ）となる。武神、剣の神、雷神として有名なかっこいい神。ガオ

建御雷神が出雲に戻ると、大国主は、「息子たちが天津神に従うなら、私もこの国を天津神に譲るけど、代わりに私の住むところとして天津神が住むのと同じくらい大きな宮殿がほしい。そうすれば私の百八十柱の子どもたちは天津神に反抗しないだろう」という。ちなみに、ここでできた家が、出雲大社とされている。ガオ

ちゃんおれの感想

神話はけっこうどろどろしていて怖い部分がある。でも意外にも人間的な側面があって面白い。ガオ

同じ神でも神話によって漢字が違ったり呼び名が違ったりする。また、武神として登場した建御雷神だけど、同じく武神として有名な香取神宮に祀られる経津主神と同一視されていたり、別の武神だとされていたりと、様々な説があって勉強するのは難しい。

あと、大国主は国を譲るのをすごい家で良かったのか、ちょっと疑問。ガオ