Generals of the Four Paths

During the reign of Emperor Sujin, it is said that the generals were dispatched to Hokuriku, Tokai, Saido, and Tamba. However, the Kojiki states that during the reign of Emperor Korei, Okibitsuhiko-no-Mikoto and Wakatake-kibitsuhiko-no-Mikoto were dispatched to Kibi, and then during the reign of Emperor Sujin, Ohiko-no-Mikoto was dispatched to Koshi-michi, Takenu-nakawawake-no-Mikoto to the Twelve Eastern Roads, and Hikomasu-no-Mikoto to Tamba, resulting in a tale of dispatches to three roads during the reign of Emperor Sujin. The names of the generals are also different from those in the Nihon Shoki, which states that Kibitsuhiko was dispatched to Saido and Tamba Michinushi-no-Mikoto was dispatched to Tamba. A type of tale about dispatching generals that tells of the expansion of the Yamato royal authority.

[Masaaki Ueda]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

崇神(すじん)天皇の代に北陸、東海、西道、丹波(たんば)に派遣されたと伝える将軍。ただし『古事記』では、孝霊(こうれい)天皇の代に、まず大吉備津日子命(おおきびつひこのみこと)と若建(わかたけ)吉備津日子命を吉備へ派遣し、ついで崇神天皇の代に大毘古命(おおひこのみこと)を高志(こし)道へ、建沼河別命(たけぬなかわわけのみこと)を東方十二道へ、日子坐王(ひこいますのみこ)を丹波へ遣わしたとしており、崇神朝では三道派遣の説話になっている。また『日本書紀』が吉備津彦を西道に、丹波道主命(みちぬしのみこと)を丹波に遣わしたとするのとも、将軍名が異なっている。倭(やまと)王権の勢威拡張を物語る将軍派遣説話の一種。

［上田正昭］

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