#umisachi

Japanese Mythology & Deities

Major Gods in the Chronicles (55)

Hoori-no-mikoto (Firebreaker) ～The tale of Yamasachihiko and Umisachihiko, Part 1

Hoori-no-mikoto, known as Yamasachihiko, was the youngest of three brothers: the eldest was Hoderi-no-mikoto, the Umisachihiko, the second was Hossuseri-no-mikoto, the father was Ninigi-no-mikoto, a descendant of the gods of heaven, and the mother was Konohana-no-Sakuyabime. Although he is regarded as the youngest son, Hoori is the only legitimate offspring.

All three deities were born when Konohanosakuyabime, enraged by Ninigi no Mikoto's suspicion of her chastity, set fire to her maternity home in order to give birth.

Hoderi, as Umisachihiko (a tribe of Hayato people), caught many kinds of fish. Hoori, as Yamasachihiko (a tribe of descendants of the gods), hunted for various kinds of wild animals.

One day, Hoori proposed to his brother Hoderi that they exchange their tools. Hoderi refused three times, but eventually decided to exchange for a short while.

Hoori tried to catch a fish with his brother's fishhook (umi-sachi), but failed to catch a single fish, moreover lost the hook in the sea. His elder brother Hoderi also failed to catch any prey, and tried to have his own tools returned to him, saying: "You cannot have the harvest without your own tools in either mountains or the sea.” When Hoderi told him that he had lost his brother's fishhook, Hoderi blamed Hoderi and took him to task.

Hoori crushed his own special sword of gods and made five hundred, even a thousand fishhooks to pay for it, but Hoderi refused to accept them.

While Hoori was weeping by the sea, Shiotsuchi-no-kami (the god of tides) came to him. When Hoori told him what had happened, Shiotsuchi, the god of tides  made a small boat, took Hoori on board and told him to go to the palace of Watatsumi, the god of the sea.

While Hoori was wailing on the seashore, Shiotsuchi-no-kami (the god of tides) came to him. When Hoori told him what had happened, Shiotsuchi made a small boat, took Hoori on board and told him to go to the palace of Watatsumi, the god of the sea.

【To be continued】

日本神話と神様たち

記紀に登場する主な神々(55)

火遠理命（ほおりのみこと：火折尊）～山幸彦と海幸彦の神話・その１

火遠理命（ほおりのみこと：山幸彦）は、三人兄弟の末子で、長兄は火照命（ほでりのみこと：海幸彦）、次兄は火須勢理命(ほすせりのみこと)、父神は天孫の瓊瓊杵命(ににぎ)、母神は木花之佐久夜毘売(このはなのさくやびめ)。

いずれの神も瓊瓊杵命(ににぎ)に貞操を疑われて憤慨した木花之佐久夜毘売(このはなのさくやびめ)が、産屋に火を放って出産に臨んだときに生まれたので、火をモチーフにした神名をもつ。末子とされてはいるが、火遠理命（ほおり）こそが唯一、天孫の嫡流である。

火照命（ほでり）は海幸彦（うみさちひこ：隼人族）としていろいろな魚をとった。火遠理命（ほおり）は山幸彦（やまさちひこ：天孫族）としていろいろな獣をとった。

ある日、火遠理命（ほおり）は兄の火照命にお互いの道具の交換を提案した。火照命（ほでり）は三度断ったが、少しの間だけ交換することにした。火遠理命（ほおり）は兄の釣針（海佐知）で魚を釣ろうとしたが1匹も釣れず、さらに海中でその針を失ってしまった。兄の火照命（ほでり）も獲物をとることができず、「山の幸も海の幸も、自分の道具でなくては得られない」と言って自分の道具を返してもらおうとした。火遠理命（ほおり）が釣針をなくしたと告げると、火照命（ほでり）は火遠理命（ほおり）を責め取り立てた。

火遠理命(ほおり)は自分の十束の剣(とつかのつるぎ)をつぶして、5百の釣針をつくり、弁償しようとしたが、火照命(ほでり)は受け取らず、また、千もの釣針をつくって、弁償しようとしたが、兄はそれも拒否して、「やはり、お前が無くした釣針が欲しいのだ」と言い張った。

火遠理命（ほおり）が海辺で泣き悲しんでいると、塩椎神（しおつちのかみ：潮流の神）がやって来た。火遠理命が事情を話すと、塩椎神（しおつちのかみ)は小船を作って火遠理命を乗せ、綿津見神（わたつみ：海神）の宮殿へ行くように言った。