and the soil floated about like a fish in the water, but near the
surface; and was called "The Floating Region." The sun, earth and moon
were still attached to each other like a head to the neck, or arms to the
body. They were little by little separating, the parts joining them
growing thinner and thinner. This part, like an isthmus, was called
"Heaven's Floating Bridge." It was on this bridge that Izanagi and
Izanami were standing when they saw a pair of wagtails cooing and billing
sweetly together. The heavenly couple were so delighted with the sight
that they began to imitate the birds. Thus began the art of love, which
mortals have practiced to this day.
While talking together on this Bridge of Heaven, they began to wonder if
there was a world beneath them. They looked far down upon the green seas,
but could see nothing! Then Izanagi took his long jeweled spear and
plunged it into the turbid mass, turning it round and round. As he lifted
it up, the drops which trickled from it hardened into earth of their own
accord; and thus dry land was formed. As Izanagi was cleansing his spear
the lumps of muck and mud which had adhered to it flew off into space,
and were changed into stars and comets.
[It is said that by turning his spear round and round, Izanagi set the
Earth revolving in daily revolutions].
To the land thus formed, they gave the name of "The Island of the
Congealed Drop," because they intended to create a large archipelago and
wished to distinguish this as the first island. They descended from
Heaven on the floating bridge and landed on the island. Izanagi struck
his tall spear in the ground making it the axis of the world. He then
proceeded to build a palace around the spear which formed the central
pillar. [This spot was formerly at the North pole, but is now at Eshima,
off the central eastern coast of Japan]. They then resolved to walk round
the island and examine it. This done, they met together. Izanami cried
out, "What a lovely man!" But Izanagi rebuked her for speaking first, and
said they must try it again. Then they walked round the island once more.
When they met, Izanami held her tongue while Izanagi said, "What a lovely
woman!"
Being now both in good humor, they began the work of creating Japan. The
first island brought up out of the water was Awaji; and then the main
island. After that, eight large islands were created, whence comes one of
the names of Japan, "The Empire of the Eight Great Islands." Six smaller
islands were also produced. The several thousand islets which make up the
archipelago of Everlasting Great Japan were formed by the spontaneous
consolidation of the foam of the sea.
After the country was thus formed the divine pair created eight millions
of earthly gods or kami, and the ten thousand different things on the
earth. Vegetation sprang up over all the land, which was however still
covered with mist. So Izanagi created with his breath the two gods, male
and female of the wind. All these islands are the children of Izanagi and
Izanami, and when first born were small and feeble, but gradually grew
larger and larger, attaining their present size like human beings, which
are at first tiny infants.
As the gradual separation of the land and sea went on, foreign countries
were formed by the congealing of the foam of the sea. The god of fire was
then born of Izanami, his mother. This god often got very angry at any
one who used unclean fire. Izanami then created by herself the gods of
metals, of clay and of fresh water. This latter was told always to keep
the god of fire quiet, and put him out when he began to do mischief.
Izanagi and Izanami, though married but a short time, began to quarrel,
for Izanami had once told her husband not to look at her when she hid
herself. But Izanagi did not do what she requested, but intruded on her
privacy when she was unwell, and stared at her when she wished to be
alone. Izanami then got very angry, and went down to the lower world of
darkness, and disappeared.
In the dark world under the earth Izanami stayed a long time, and after
long waiting, Izanagi went after her. In the darkness of the Under-world
he was horrified at what he saw, and leaving his consort below, tried to
escape to the earth again.
In his struggles several gods were created, one of them coming out of his
staff. When he got up to daylight, he secured a large rock to close up
the hole in the earth. Turning this rock into a god, he commanded him to
watch the place. He then rushed into the sea and continued washing for a
long time to purify himself. In blowing out from his lungs the polluted
air inhaled in the Under-world, the two evil gods sprang forth from his
breath. As these would commit great harm and wickedness, Izanagi created
two other gods to correct their evil. But when he had washed his eyes and
could see clearly again, there sprang out two precious and lovely beings;
one from his left eye, being a rare and glistening maiden, whom he
afterwards named Ama Terasu, or "The Heaven Illuminating Spirit." From
his right eye appeared Susa no O, the "Ruler of the Moon." Being now pure
again, and having these lovely children, Izanagi rejoiced and said, "I
have begotten child upon child, and at the end of my begetting, I have
begotten me two jewel-children." Now the brightness of the person of the
maiden Ama Terasu was beautiful, and shone through Heaven and Earth.
Izanagi, well pleased, said: "Though my children are many, none of them
is like this wonder-child. She must not be kept in this region." So
taking off the necklace of precious stones from his neck and rattling it,
he gave it to her, saying, "Rule thou over the High Plain of Heaven."
At that time the distance between Heaven and Earth was not very great,
and he sent her up to the blue sky by the Heaven-uniting Pillar, on which
the Heavens rested like a prop. She easily mounted it, and lived in the
sun, illuminating the whole Heavens and the Earth. The Sun now gradually
separated from the Earth, and both moved farther and farther apart until
they rested where they now are.
Izanagi next spoke to Susa no O the Ruler of the Moon, and said, "Rule
thou over the new-born Earth and the blue Waste of the Sea, with its
Multitudinous Salt Waters."
[So then the Heavens and the Earth and Moon were created and inhabited.
And as Japan lay directly opposite the sun when it separated from the
Earth, it is plain that Japan lies on the summit of the globe. It is
easily seen that all other countries were formed by the spontaneous
consolidation of the ocean foam, and the collection of mud in the various
seas. The stars were made to guide warriors from foreign countries to the
court of the Mikado, who is the true Son of Heaven].
HOW THE SUN GODDESS WAS ENTICED OUT OF HER CAVE.
When the far-shining goddess, on account of the evil pranks of her
brother, Susa no O, the Ruler of the Moon, hid herself in a cave, there
was no more light, and heaven and earth were plunged into darkness.
A council of all the gods was held in the dry bed of one of the rivers
[which we call the Milky Way] in the fields of Heaven. The question of
how to appease the anger of the goddess was discussed. A long-headed and
very wise god was ordered to think out a plan to entice her forth from
the cave.
After due deliberation, it was resolved that a looking-glass should be
made to tempt her to gaze at herself, and that tricks should be played to
arouse her curiosity to come out and see what was going on.
So setting to work with a will, the gods forged and polished a mirror,
wove cloth for beautiful garments, built a pavilion, carved a necklace of
jewels, made wands, and tried an augury.
All being ready, the fat and rosy-cheeked goddess of mirth with face full
of dimples, and eyes full of fun, named Uzume, was selected to lead the
dance. She had a flute made from a bamboo cane by piercing holes between
the joints, while every god in the great orchestra had a pair of flat
hard wood clappers, which he struck together.
She bound up her long flowing sleeves with a creeper vine, and made for
herself a baton of twigs of bamboo grass, by which she could direct the
motions of the musicians. This she held in one hand while in the other
was a spear wound round with grass, on which small bells tinkled. Great
bonfires were lighted in front of the cave, so that the audience of gods
could see the dance. A large circular box which resounded like a drum
when trod on, was set up for Uzume to dance upon. The row of cocks now
began to crow in concert.
All being ready, the Strong-handed god who was to pull the sun-goddess
out of the cave, as soon as overcome by her curiosity she should peep
forth, hid himself beside the stone door of the cave. Uzume mounted the
box and began to dance. As the drum-box resounded, the spirit of folly
seized her, and she began to chant a song.
Becoming still more foolish, Uzume waved her wand wildly, loosened her
dress, and danced till she had not a stitch of clothing left on her. The
gods were so amused at her foolishness that they all laughed, until the
heavens shook as with claps of thunder.
The Sun-goddess within the cave heard all these strange noises; the
crowing of the cocks, the hammering on the anvil, the chopping of wood,
the music of the koto, the clappering of the hard wood, the tinkling of
the bells, the shouting of Uzume and the boisterous laughter of the gods.
Wondering what it all meant, she peeped out.
As she did so the Doubly Beautiful goddess held up the mirror.
The Far-Shining one seeing her own face in it was greatly astonished.
Curiosity got the better of fear. She looked far out. Instantly the
strong-handed god pulled the rocky door open, and seizing her hand,
dragged her forth. Then all the heavens and earth were lightened, the
trees and grass became green again, and the goddess of colors resumed her
work of tinting the flowers. The gloom fled from all eyes, and human
beings again became "white-faced."
Thus the calamity which had befallen heaven and earth, by the sun-goddess
hiding in the cave became a means of much benefit to mortals. For by
their necessity the gods were compelled to invent the arts of
metal-working, weaving, carpentry, jeweling and many other useful
appliances for the human race. They also on this occasion first made use
of music, dancing, the Dai Kagura (The comedy which makes the gods laugh)
and many of the games which the children play at the present time.
* * * * *
JAPANESE FAIRY WORLD - TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES
Place names and proper names have various spelling throughout the
book. These have been left as written in the original book. Apart from
those items listed below, all parochial, unusual and non-standard
spelling, grammar and punctuation has been left as printed in the
original book.
The use of the macron above the letter "O" in names throughout the
book is inconsistent. The same name may appear either with or without
a macron or the macron may appear above different letters when the
same name is printed in different places through the book. This has
been left as printed in the original book.
In the plain text version, macrons are indicated by [=o] in place of
the letter "O" with the macron above it. Macrons do not appear above
any letter other than "O".
Inconsistencies between the table of contents and the Chapter headings
have been made consistent with the text. That is, the table of
contents has been changed to reflect the heading of the Chapter.
XV
KINTARO, THE WILD BABY. (in table of contents) has been
changed to KINTARO, OR THE WILD BABY. (as it appears in
chapter heading).
XXXI
The Tide Jewels (in table of contents) has been changed
to THE JEWELS OF THE EBBING AND THE FLOWING TIDE. (as it
appears in chapter heading).
between XXV and XXVI
THE WATERFALL OF YORO, OR THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH. - has
been added to table of contents. This chapter appears in
the book, but was not listed in the table of contents.
The following typographical, spelling and grammatical errors have been
identified and corrected as detailed below.
Preface - changed "tattoed" to "tattooed"
in
Some of these stories I first read on the [tattoed] limbs
and bodies of the native foot-runners,
page 7 - changed "staid" to "stayed"
in
The lover-husband [staid] on his side of the river, and
the wife came to him on the magpie bridge, save on the
sad occasion when it rained.
page 18 - changed "phoilosophy" to "philosophy"
in
Then he said to himself: "Old Totsu San (my father) is a
fool, with all his [phoilosophy]."
page 29 - changed "dragoon" to "dragon"
in
Their tomb was carved in the form of a white [dragoon],
which to this day, in spite of mosses and lichens, may
still be seen among the ancient monuments of the little
hamlet.
page 31 - changed "sarely" to "sorely"
in
The sorrowful old man grieved [sarely] for his pet, and
after looking in every place and calling it by name, gave
it up as lost.
page 59 - changed "shinning" to "shining"
in
with Fuji yama and cranes flying in the air, and a
crimson sun [shinning] through the bamboo,
page 61 - changed "masters'" to "master's"
in
It danced a jig on the tight rope, and walked the slack
rope, holding a fan, or an umbrella in his paw, stood on
his head, and finally at a flourish of his [masters'] fan
became a cold and rusty tea-kettle again.
page 100 - changed "way" to "away"
in
For a moment the dense volume of sound filled the ears of
all like a storm, but as the vibrations died [way], the
bell whined out
page 136 - changed "faught" to "fought"
in
On one occasion, after a hard [faught] battle, Jiraiya
fled and took refuge in a monastery, with a few trusty
vassals, to rest a short time
page 160 - changed "crysanthemums" to "chrysanthemums"
in
or blossom out like [crysanthemums]
page 162 - changed "accompainment" to "accompaniment"
in
It sounds as if a band with many instruments was playing
to the [accompainment] of a large choir of voices."
page 170 - changed "maccaroni" to "macaroni"
in
The solids were thunder-cakes, egg-cracknels, boiled
rice, daikon radishes and [maccaroni]
page 174 - changed "midado's" to "mikado's"
in
the beast with swaying head crept along the great roof to
the place on the eaves directly under the [midado's]
sleeping-room.
page 175 - changed "markmanship" to "marksmanship"
in
All congratulated Yorimasa on his valor and
[markmanship].
page 206 - changed "ells" to "eels"
in
Eating his boiled rice, and snuffing in the odors of the
broiled [ells], as they were wafted in, he enjoyed with
his nose, what he would not pay for to put in his mouth.
page 207 - changed "ells" to "eels"
in
"Why yes, I have paid you. You have charged me for the
smell of your [ells], and I have paid you with the sound
of my money."
page 212 - changed "suprise" to "surprise"
in
Greater still was the [suprise] of the Suruga people.
page 224 - changed "neans" to "means"
in
Now Kaname [neans] the rivet in a fan, that holds all the
sticks together, and they gave the name "rivet-rock,"
because it is the rivet that binds the earth together.
page 227 - changed "dilligent" to "diligent"
in
Only a few years ago there was a gentleman in Fukui,
Japan, who had a son, a bright lad of twelve, who was
very [dilligent] at school and had made astonishing
progress in his studies.
page 238 - changed "vessals" to "vassals"
in
These were all retainers or friendly [vessals] of Lord
Long-legs.
page 247 - changed "crysanthemum" to "chrysanthemum"
in
Other bearers followed, keeping step and carrying the
regalia, consisting of [crysanthemum] stalks and
blossoms.
page 264 - changed "attendent" to "attendant"
in
She was one of the fifteen glistening virgins that wait
[attendent] upon the moon in her chambers in the sky.
page 272 - changed "villiagers" to "villagers"
in
So he prevailed upon the simple [villiagers] to build a
railing of stone around the now sacred pine.
page 275 - changed "darling" to "daring"
in
She, now having the power, resolved to carry out her
[darling] plan of invading Corea.
page 280 - changed "engulphed" to "engulfed"
to
In a snap of the finger, the ocean rolled up into a wave
many tens of feet high and [engulphed] the Corean army,
drowning them almost to a man
page 302 - changed "too" to "to"
in
All being ready, the Strong-handed god who was [too] pull
the sun-goddess out of the cave, as soon as overcome by
her curiosity she should peep forth, hid himself beside
the stone door of the cave.
page 304 - changed "carpentery" to "carpentry"
in
For by their necessity the gods were compelled to invent
the arts of metal-working, weaving, [carpentery],
jeweling and many other useful appliances for the human
race.
End of Project Gutenberg's Japanese Fairy World, by William Elliot Griffis