Hoori
Encyclopedia
, also known as Hikohohodemi no Mikoto, was, in Japanese mythology
, the third and youngest son of the kami
Ninigi-no-Mikoto
and the blossom princess Konohanasakuya-hime
. He is one of the ancestors of the Emperors of Japan
. He is also called Hohodemi and is most frequently known as Yamasachihiko (lit. the prince of the mountain of fortune).
Hoori's legend is told in both the Kojiki
and the Nihonshoki. Hoori was a hunter, and he had an argument with his brother Hoderi
, a fisherman, over a fish-hook that Hoori had forced his elder brother to lend him and had lost. Hoderi claimed that Hoori should give back the fish-hook, for he refused to accept another one (due to the belief that each tool is animated and hence unique). Hoori then descended to the bottom of the sea to find it, but was unable to. Instead, he found Toyotama-hime
(Princess Toyotama)also known as Otohime , the daughter of the sea god, Ryūjin
. The sea god helped Hoori find Hoderi's lost hook, and Hoori later married the sea god's daughter Toyotamahime.
Hoori lived with his wife in a palace under the sea for three years, but after that Hoori became home-sick and wished to return to his own country. His brother forgave him after he returned the hook, and Toyotamahime gave birth to a son named Ugayafukiaezu
. During the time when Toyotamahime was giving birth to her child, she had Hoori swear not to attempt to see her real figure. But he broke his promise and discovered her true form as a dragon
or a wani
. She was ashamed and returned to her father, never to return. Ugayafukiaezu married Toyotama-hime's sister, who brought him up, and she gave birth to Emperor Jimmu
, who is known as the first Emperor of Japan
. Hoori reigned in Takachiho, Hyuga Province
for 560 years.
Hoori's cult is often associated with both his parents and his wife. He is worshiped mainly as a god of cereal
s or grain
. In mythology it was said that the ho (火) part of his name meant fire, but etymologically it is a different character pronounced ho (穂), which refers to crops, particularly rice. Ori (折り, to bend) incidates a crop that is so rich, it bends under its own weight. His alias Hohodemi means many harvests.
In folklore
, Hoori known as Yamasachihiko, travels lead him to a visit to the sea god Ryūjin. Where he(Hoori) gets married to Otohime the daughter of Ryūjin, Otohime is also known as Toyotama-hime
(Japanese for "luminous jewel").
Japanese mythology
Japanese mythology is a system of beliefs that embraces Shinto and Buddhist traditions as well as agriculturally based folk religion. The Shinto pantheon comprises innumerable kami...
, the third and youngest son of the kami
Kami
is the Japanese word for the spirits, natural forces, or essence in the Shinto faith. Although the word is sometimes translated as "god" or "deity", some Shinto scholars argue that such a translation can cause a misunderstanding of the term...
Ninigi-no-Mikoto
Ninigi-no-Mikoto
is in Japanese mythology the son of Ame no Oshihomimi no Mikoto, and grandson of Amaterasu, who sent him down to earth to plant rice there. He was the great-grandfather of Emperor Jimmu. His name also appears as .Amaterasu sent him to pacify Japan by bringing the three celestial gifts used by the...
and the blossom princess Konohanasakuya-hime
Konohanasakuya-hime
Konohanasakuya-hime , in Japanese mythology, is the blossom-princess and symbol of delicate earthly life. She is the daughter of the mountain god Ohoyamatsumi. She is often considered an avatar of Japanese life, especially since her symbol is the Sakura, She is the wife of Ninigi...
. He is one of the ancestors of the Emperors of Japan
Emperor of Japan
The Emperor of Japan is, according to the 1947 Constitution of Japan, "the symbol of the state and of the unity of the people." He is a ceremonial figurehead under a form of constitutional monarchy and is head of the Japanese Imperial Family with functions as head of state. He is also the highest...
. He is also called Hohodemi and is most frequently known as Yamasachihiko (lit. the prince of the mountain of fortune).
Hoori's legend is told in both the Kojiki
Kojiki
is the oldest extant chronicle in Japan, dating from the early 8th century and composed by Ō no Yasumaro at the request of Empress Gemmei. The Kojiki is a collection of myths concerning the origin of the four home islands of Japan, and the Kami...
and the Nihonshoki. Hoori was a hunter, and he had an argument with his brother Hoderi
Hoderi
Hoderi-no-Mikoto, in Japanese mythology, was the eldest son of the god Ninigi-no-Mikoto and the blossom princess Konohanasakuya-hime. His name, Hoderi, means 'fire shine'. He was a fisherman, and the older brother of Hosuseri-no-Mikoto and Hoori-no-Mikoto....
, a fisherman, over a fish-hook that Hoori had forced his elder brother to lend him and had lost. Hoderi claimed that Hoori should give back the fish-hook, for he refused to accept another one (due to the belief that each tool is animated and hence unique). Hoori then descended to the bottom of the sea to find it, but was unable to. Instead, he found Toyotama-hime
Toyotama-hime
, better known as , is a goddess in Japanese mythology, and is featured in the Kojiki as well as Nihon Shoki. She is the beautiful daughter of Ryūjin, the god of the sea. She married the hunter Hoori and gave birth to a son, who in turn produced Emperor Jimmu, the first Emperor of Japan...
(Princess Toyotama)also known as Otohime , the daughter of the sea god, Ryūjin
Ryujin
, also known as Ōwatatsumi, was the tutelary deity of the sea in Japanese mythology. This Japanese dragon symbolized the power of the ocean, had a large mouth, and was able to transform into a human shape. Ryūjin lived in Ryūgū-jō, his palace under the sea built out of red and white coral, from...
. The sea god helped Hoori find Hoderi's lost hook, and Hoori later married the sea god's daughter Toyotamahime.
Hoori lived with his wife in a palace under the sea for three years, but after that Hoori became home-sick and wished to return to his own country. His brother forgave him after he returned the hook, and Toyotamahime gave birth to a son named Ugayafukiaezu
Ugayafukiaezu
, commonly shortened to Ugayafukiaezu, is a Japanese deity and in Japanese mythology, he is the father of Japan's first emperor, Emperor Jimmu...
. During the time when Toyotamahime was giving birth to her child, she had Hoori swear not to attempt to see her real figure. But he broke his promise and discovered her true form as a dragon
Japanese dragon
Japanese dragons are diverse legendary creatures in Japanese mythology and folklore. Japanese dragon myths amalgamate native legends with imported stories about dragons from China, Korea and India. The style of the dragon was heavily influenced by the Chinese dragon...
or a wani
Wani (dragon)
was a dragon or sea monster in Japanese mythology. Since it is written using the kanji 鰐 wani is translated as "crocodile", or sometimes "shark" ....
. She was ashamed and returned to her father, never to return. Ugayafukiaezu married Toyotama-hime's sister, who brought him up, and she gave birth to Emperor Jimmu
Emperor Jimmu
was the first Emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. He is also known as Kamuyamato Iwarebiko and personally as Wakamikenu no Mikoto or Sano no Mikoto....
, who is known as the first Emperor of Japan
Emperor of Japan
The Emperor of Japan is, according to the 1947 Constitution of Japan, "the symbol of the state and of the unity of the people." He is a ceremonial figurehead under a form of constitutional monarchy and is head of the Japanese Imperial Family with functions as head of state. He is also the highest...
. Hoori reigned in Takachiho, Hyuga Province
Hyuga Province
was an old province of Japan on the east coast of Kyūshū, corresponding to the modern Miyazaki Prefecture. It was sometimes called or . Hyūga bordered on Bungo, Higo, Ōsumi, and Satsuma Province.The ancient capital was near Saito.-Historical record:...
for 560 years.
Hoori's cult is often associated with both his parents and his wife. He is worshiped mainly as a god of cereal
Cereal
Cereals are grasses cultivated for the edible components of their grain , composed of the endosperm, germ, and bran...
s or grain
GRAIN
GRAIN is a small international non-profit organisation that works to support small farmers and social movements in their struggles for community-controlled and biodiversity-based food systems. Our support takes the form of independent research and analysis, networking at local, regional and...
. In mythology it was said that the ho (火) part of his name meant fire, but etymologically it is a different character pronounced ho (穂), which refers to crops, particularly rice. Ori (折り, to bend) incidates a crop that is so rich, it bends under its own weight. His alias Hohodemi means many harvests.
In folklore
Folklore
Folklore consists of legends, music, oral history, proverbs, jokes, popular beliefs, fairy tales and customs that are the traditions of a culture, subculture, or group. It is also the set of practices through which those expressive genres are shared. The study of folklore is sometimes called...
, Hoori known as Yamasachihiko, travels lead him to a visit to the sea god Ryūjin. Where he(Hoori) gets married to Otohime the daughter of Ryūjin, Otohime is also known as Toyotama-hime
Toyotama-hime
, better known as , is a goddess in Japanese mythology, and is featured in the Kojiki as well as Nihon Shoki. She is the beautiful daughter of Ryūjin, the god of the sea. She married the hunter Hoori and gave birth to a son, who in turn produced Emperor Jimmu, the first Emperor of Japan...
(Japanese for "luminous jewel").
External links
- The Story of Hoderi and Hoori from Myths and Legends of Japan by F. Hadland Davis