Usuhi Hill - Usuhi Hill

...Sakamoto (Matsuida Town) at the eastern foot of the pass is about 500m above sea level, and the 6km straight distance to the pass is a difficult place with a 450m climb, but the west side of the pass is a flat plateau. In the ancient "Nihon Shoki," there is a legend that when Emperor Yamato Takeru entered Shinano from the eastern provinces, he came to "Usuhi no Saka" and climbed "Usuhi Ri" to miss Princess Ototachibana, and called out "Azuma Haya." In the "Manyoshu," Volume 14, there is a poem that says, "At sunset, I cross Mount Usui, and my sleeves flutter with my hands," and in Volume 20, there is also a poem about crossing a hill. ...

*Some of the terminology explanations that mention "Usui Hill" are listed below.

Source | Heibonsha World Encyclopedia 2nd Edition | Information

…峠の東麓の坂本(松井田町)は標高約500mで，峠までの直線距離約6kmの間は450mを登る難所だが，峠の西側は平たんな高原となっている。　古く《日本書紀》に，日本武尊が東国から信濃に入る時〈碓日坂（うすひのさか）〉にいたり，〈碓日嶺〉に登って弟橘媛をしのび，〈吾嬬（あづま）はや〉といったという伝説が載る。《万葉集》巻十四に〈日の暮に碓氷の山を越ゆる日はせなのが袖もさやにふらしつ〉があり，巻二十にも坂を越える歌がある。…

※「碓日坂」について言及している用語解説の一部を掲載しています。

出典｜株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典 第２版について | 情報