Read, reflect, pray
Nihon Shoki: Futsunushi and Takemikazuchi receive the land
Nihon Shoki · Story 12 of 17
経津主神と武甕槌神の国譲り
Governing the visible world and governing sacred affairs.
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.
A variant account (issho, introduced as “one writing says”) is a different tradition preserved beside the main narrative. It is labeled separately below.
Main narrative
Book 2, section 9
Takamimusubi sends deities to make the heavenly grandchild lord of the Central Land. After repeated failures of envoys to report, Futsunushi and Takemikazuchi descend to Izumo and ask whether Ōnamuchi will yield the land.
Ōnamuchi asks his son Kotoshironushi, who replies that he will obey the heavenly command. Ōnamuchi too decides to withdraw, handing the two deities the spear used to pacify the country and announcing that he will conceal himself.
Variant account (issho)
Book 2, section 9 variant 2
Here conditions are stated: a palace and sea-going ship are to be prepared for Ōnamuchi, and Amenohohi will conduct worship. Ōnamuchi replies that visible worldly affairs will be entrusted to the heavenly grandchild, while he governs hidden sacred affairs.
Compare with the Kojiki
In the Kojiki, Amenotorifune accompanies Takemikazuchi, unlike the main Nihon Shoki pair of Futsunushi and Takemikazuchi. The main narrative here also contains no strength contest with Takeminakata.
The transfer of the land →Connected figures
Names and relationships in a chronicle may differ from later traditions. Each figure’s introduction identifies its sources.
Sources and edition (2)
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.