Homtsuwake no Mikoto - Homtsuwake no Mikoto

Japanese: 誉津別命 - ほむつわけのみこと

According to the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki, he was the son of Emperor Suinin. His mother was Sahohime. In the Kojiki, he is described as Motomuchiwake no Okimi. He was named Ho (fire) muchiwake because Sahohime was born in a fire while her brother Sahohiko was in the fortress of the fortress, who had plotted a rebellion. Even as an adult, he was unable to speak, but one day, hearing the sound of a swan flying in the sky, he began to speak broken words. So, the swan was captured in Echigo Province (Hokuriku region) and shown to the prince, but it was no use. In the worried emperor's dream, the great god of Izumo (Okuninushi no Mikoto) appeared and told him that if he built his palace like the imperial palace, the prince would be able to speak. So the prince went to Izumo and worshiped the great god, and he was able to speak. There, he married Hinagahime, but when he found out that her true identity was a snake, he fled back to the capital. It is said that the princess followed him partway in grief. The emperor was pleased that the prince had regained freedom of speech, and constructed a shrine for Izumo no Okami, as well as establishing the Tottoribe (a section that catches and offers tribute to swans) and Toriamabe (a section that raises swans). This story makes up one third of the section on Emperor Suinin in the Kojiki, and includes tales of supernatural birth, upbringing, and interspecies marriage. One theory as to why Homutsuwake no Mikoto, who had no children and never ascended to the throne, had such a legend is that the prince is considered the ancestor of the lineage of Emperor Keitai. The legend in the Nihon Shoki does not include any legends related to childbirth in a fire or the rituals of Izumo no Okami, but describes how the mute prince became able to speak by playing with swans, and the establishment of the Tottoribe and Toriamabe. In the words of the Izumo no kuni no miyatsuko, it is written that a live swan was presented to the Imperial Court as a pet, "to please the Emperor with the live white swan and to please the Emperor's heart," and it has been pointed out that this is related to the legend.

(Keiko Terada)

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

Japanese:

『古事記』『日本書紀』によれば,垂仁天皇の皇子。母は狭穂姫。『古事記』には本牟智和気王と記され,狭穂姫が,謀反を企てた兄,狭穂彦の砦にいるとき,燃える炎の中で誕生したため,ホ(火)ムチ(貴)ワケと名づけられた。成人しても,ものをいうことができなかったが,ある日,空を飛ぶ白鳥の声を聞いて片言を発した。そこでその白鳥を越の国(北陸地方)で捕らえさせて皇子に見せたが効果はなかった。心配する天皇の夢に出雲の大神(大国主神)が現れ,自分の宮を皇居のように造営すれば,皇子はものをいうようになると教えた。そこで皇子が出雲に赴き,大神を拝んだところ口がきけるようになった。その地で肥長ヒメと結婚するが,ヒメの正体が蛇であることを知って都に逃げ帰る。ヒメは悲しんで途中まで追ってきたという。皇子が言葉の自在を得たことを天皇は喜び,出雲の大神の神宮を造営し,また鳥取部(白鳥を捕らえ,貢納する部),鳥甘部(白鳥を飼育する部)などを定めた。この物語は『古事記』垂仁天皇条の3分の1を占め,神異的出生,生育,異類婚譚を含む。子もなく即位もしなかった誉津別命がなぜこのような伝承を持ったかについては,この皇子を継体天皇系譜の始祖とする伝があるためとする説がある。『日本書紀』の所伝では火中出産,出雲大神祭祀の関連伝承がなく,口のきけない皇子が白鳥を弄ぶことによって,ものをいうようになったこと,鳥取部,鳥養部などの設置を記す。出雲の国造の神賀詞には「白鵠の生御調の玩物と,倭文の大御心もたしに」と,生きた白鳥を愛玩物として朝廷に献上していたことが記され,当伝承との関連が指摘されている。<参考文献>吉井巌『天皇の系譜と神話二』

(寺田恵子)

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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