Hoteru no Mikoto - Hoteru no Mikoto

Japanese: 火照命 - ほでりのみこと

Umisachihiko's real name as recorded in the Kojiki is Ninigi-no-Mikoto and the son of Konohanasakuya-Hime. In the Nihon Shoki, Umisachihiko is recorded as having another divine name, Horohodemi-no-Mikoto, and the circumstances surrounding this are unclear. When his younger brother Yamasachihiko (Hikohohodemi-no-Mikoto) lost a fishing hook that he had lent to Umisachihiko, Umisachi forced him to return it. Yamasachihiko then succeeded in his search with the help of the sea god, and returned the fishing hook with a curse on it. He also controlled the tides at will and drowned Umisachihiko, and finally became his vassal to his younger brother. It is said that his descendants served him for generations, using performing arts skills that mimicked the gestures that Umisachi made when he was drowning. It is a miserable role, but people who lived in an era when it was normal for the youngest son to inherit the kingship tried to convince themselves of the legend that seems unnatural at first glance, and perhaps this psychological force created the image of an overbearing older brother. <References> Saigo Nobutsuna, Kojiki Commentary, Volume 2

(Noritaka Kanda)

Source: Asahi Japanese Historical Biography: Asahi Shimbun Publications Inc. About Asahi Japanese Historical Biography

Japanese:

『古事記』に記された海幸彦の本名,邇邇芸命と木花之佐久夜毘売の子。『日本書紀』の海幸彦には火闌降命という別の神名が記されており,そのあたりの事情は不明。弟の山幸彦(彦火火出見尊)に,貸した釣針をなくされ,命はその返却を強要。すると海神の力添えで探索に成功した山幸彦から呪いを込めた釣針を返され,また潮の干満を自在に操られて溺れさせられたりして,遂に弟に臣従する。子孫は命の溺れたときの仕草をなぞった芸能の技をもって代々仕えたという。損な役まわりだが,末子が王権を相続するという,一見すると不自然に感じられる伝承を,年長者の相続を普通とする時代に生きた人々が,自分達に納得できるよう努めた,その心理的力が横暴な兄の像を生み出したものか。<参考文献>西郷信綱『古事記注釈』2巻

(神田典城)

出典　朝日日本歴史人物事典：（株）朝日新聞出版朝日日本歴史人物事典について　情報

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