Page:Nihongi by Aston.djvu/57

26 which was called Naga-chi-ha no Kami. Moreover, he threw down his upper garment, which was called Wadzurahi no Kami. Moreover, he threw down his trowsers, which were called Aki-gui no Kami. Moreover, he threw down his shoes, which were called Chi-shiki no Kami.

Some say that the Even Pass of Yomi is not any place in particular, but means only the space of time when the breath fails on the approach of death. Now the rock with which the Even Pass of Yomi was blocked is called Yomi-do ni fusagaru Oho-kami. Another name for it is Chi-gayeshi no Oho-kami. When Izanagi no Mikoto had returned, he was seized with regret, and said, "Having gone to Nay! a hideous and filthy place, it is meet that I should cleanse my body from its pollutions." He accordingly went to the plain of Ahagi at Tachibana in Wodo in Hiuga of Tsukushi, and purified himself. When at length he was about to wash away the impurities of his body, he lifted up his voice and said, "The upper stream is too rapid and the lower stream is too sluggish, I will wash in the middle stream." The God which was thereby produced was called Ya-so-maga-tsu-bi no Kami, and then to remedy these evils