Read, reflect, pray
Kojiki: The long journey of the kami who helped a hare
Kojiki · Story 8 of 22
兎を助けた神の、長い旅
From Ōnamuji to Ōkuninushi.
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
Traveling to Inaba carrying the baggage of his many brothers, Ōnamuji meets an injured hare. Having tricked sea wani to cross the water, it was stripped of its skin and made its wounds worse by following the brothers’ advice. Ōnamuji tells it to wash in water and lie on a bed of cattail pollen; the hare returns to its former condition.
When Yagamihime chooses Ōnamuji, the brothers become angry and attempt to kill him. With help from the shell goddesses sent by Kamimusubi in response to his mother’s plea, and from his mother herself, he survives. Eventually he goes to Susanoo’s land of Ne no Katasukuni.
There he joins with Suseribime and, aided by her and a mouse, survives trials in chambers of snakes and bees and a field set on fire. When the pair flee, Susanoo pursues, calling on him to become Ōkuninushi and govern the land. The deity who helped others is repeatedly helped in turn, then moves toward nation-building.
Reading note
Across these episodes the name changes from Ōnamuji early in the journey to Ōkuninushi in Susanoo’s address. The many names of one deity help readers follow the story.
Connected figures
Names and relationships in a chronicle may differ from later traditions. Each figure’s introduction identifies its sources.
Sources and edition (3)
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.