Read, reflect, pray
Kojiki: The eastern journey and Yatagarasu
Kojiki · Story 14 of 22
東への旅と、八咫烏
The road from Kumano to Yamato.
English translation of this site’s published story summary and reading notes. This is a selected reading guide, not a complete translation of the ancient chronicle.
Story summary
Kamuyamato Iwarebiko, later called Emperor Jinmu, travels eastward from Himuka with his elder brother Itsuse, seeking a place to rule. They stay in various regions and meet guides to sea routes. In fighting toward Yamato the brother is wounded and dies in Kii.
In Kumano the party collapses, but awakens when Takakuraji brings a sword. He says that in a dream Takemikazuchi announced he would send the sword instead of descending himself. The text gives the sword the names Sajifutsu, Mikafutsu, and Futsunomitama.
Following Takagi’s instruction, Yatagarasu is then sent as a guide. The party follows, meeting people in Yoshino who identify themselves as earthly deities, and proceeds toward Yamato. The journey combines divine assistance with accounts of local peoples’ origins.
Reading note
This Kojiki passage does not specify how many legs Yatagarasu has. Features of later iconography have not been added as descriptions in the text.
Compare with the Nihon Shoki
Connected figures
Names and relationships in a chronicle may differ from later traditions. Each figure’s introduction identifies its sources.
Sources and edition (4)
- 青空文庫（武田祐吉注釈校訂） — 『校註 古事記』東征
- 青空文庫（武田祐吉注釈校訂） — 『校註 古事記』速吸の門
- 青空文庫（武田祐吉注釈校訂） — 『校註 古事記』五瀬の命
- 青空文庫（武田祐吉注釈校訂） — 『校註 古事記』熊野より大和へ
English explanations on this page were prepared by Inori no Mori from the cited text and its Japanese explanations. They are not an official translation or a prescribed liturgy.