Page:Nihongi by Aston volume 2.djvu/233

226 brought under cultivation, in the various provinces, uniform provision will be made for causing such work to be executed.'

Give ear to and understand these injunctions."

9th month. The Shōtoko, Kuromaro, Takamuko no Hakase, was sent to Silla to cause them to send a hostage. Ultimately the tribute from Imna was discontinued.

In this month the Emperor occupied the temporary Palace of Kahadzu. [Some books have "detached Palace."]

In this year the rats of the province of Koshi drew together in troops by night and day, and took their departure towards the East.

3rd year, Spring, 1st month, 15th day. There was archery at the Court.

On this day Koryö and Silla sent messengers together to offer tribute.

Summer, 4th month, 29th day. An edict was issued as follows:—

"The Empire was entrusted (by the Sun-Goddess to her descendants, with the words) 'My children, in their capacity of Deities, shall rule it.' [The phrase 惟神 means to follow the way of the Gods, or again to possess in oneself the way of the Gods.] For this reason, this country, since Heaven and Earth began, has been a monarchy. From the time that Our Imperial ancestor first ruled the land, there has been great concord in the Empire, and there has never been any factiousness. In recent times, however, the names, first of the Gods, and then of the Emperors, have in some cases been separated (from their proper application) and converted into the Uji of Omi or Muraji, or they have been separated and made the qualifications of Miyakko, etc. In consequence of this, the minds of the people of the whole country take a strong partisan bias, and conceiving a deep sense of the me and thee, hold firmly each to their names. Moreover the feeble and incompetent Omi, Muraji, Tomo no Miyakko and Kuni no