Page:Nihongi by Aston volume 2.djvu/386

Rh the 12th month of the year Kinoto Tori (685) be absolved from payment."

22nd day. The style of the year was changed to Shuchō, 1st year. [The characters 朱鳥 are read aka-mitori, red-august-bird.] The Palace was accordingly entitled the Palace of Asuka no Kiyomibara.

28th day. Seventy persons of pure conduct were selected to retire from the world. A feast of vegetable food was provided in the Palace in front of the Emperor's muro residence.

In this month the Princes and Ministers made images of Kwannon, for the Emperor's sake. Accordingly the Kwan-ze-on Sutra was expounded in the Great Temple of the Great Palace.

8th month, 1st day. For the sake of the Emperor, eighty priests were received into religion.

2nd day. Priests and nuns, to the number of 100 in all, entered religion. Accordingly, 100 Bosatsu were set up within the Palace, and 200 volumes of the Kwannon Sutra read.

9th day. On account of the illness of the Emperor, prayer was made to the (Shintō) Gods of Heaven and Earth.

13th day. Ihakatsu, Hada no Imiki, was sent to make offerings to the Great God of Tosa.

On this day the Prince Imperial, the Imperial Prince Ohotsu, and the Imperial Prince Takechi had each 400 houses added to their fiefs. The Imperial Princes Kahashima and Osakabe had each additions of 100 houses.

15th day. The Imperial Princes Shiki and Shigi received additions of 200 houses each.

The Temples of Hinokuma, Karu, and Ohokubo were each granted fiefs of 100 houses, limited to a term of thirty years.