Ugayafukiaezu
Encyclopedia
, commonly shortened to Ugayafukiaezu, is a Japan
ese deity
(kami
) and in Japanese mythology
, he is the father of Japan's (mythical) first emperor, Emperor Jimmu
. In Kojiki
, his name appears as Amatsuhitaka-hiko'nakisatake-ugayafukiaezu-no-Mikoto (天津日高日子波限 建鵜草葦不合命), and in the Nihonshoki he is called Hiko'nagisatake-ugayafukiaezu-no-Mikoto (彦波瀲武鸕鶿草葺不合尊).
Ugayafukiaezu was a child of Hoori
, a son of Ninigi-no-Mikoto
, and Toyotama-hime
, a daughter of Ryūjin
. Though Toyotama-hime became pregnant at Ryūgū
, the undersea palace, she opted not to bear the child in the ocean and decided to head to shore. Both Hoori and Toyotama-hime attempted to build a house in which she could give birth, and attempted to contstruct the roof with feathers of cormorant instead of saw grass. However, while they were finishing the roof, she went into labor. So the child was named Ugayafukiaezu (lit. the roofing cormorant alternative to saw grass was not in time).
While in labor, Toyotama-hime said to Hoori, "people in other countries change back to their original form when delivering a child. Because I think I too am changing back to my original form, do not look in the house no matter what, while I am delivering the child". However, Hoori looked in the house and saw Toyotama-hime in her original form of a shark, and he fled. Feeling shamed, she returned to the sea, leaving her newborn child behind and sending her younger sister Tamayori-hime to raise the child in her place. Another take on the legend states that feeling completely humiliated, she rushed back to the sea, dropping the child on the shore; the cries of the newborn infant reached Tamayori-hime's ears and she opted to raise the child instead.
Later, when Ugayafukiaezu reached adulthood, he married Tamayori-hime, and they had four children: Itsuse-no-Mikoto, Inahi-no-Mikoto, Mikenu-no-Mikoto, and Kamuyamato Iwarebiko
. Mikenu traveled to Tokoyo (lit. "the normal world", though some texts hint that it is the afterworld), and Inahi went to the ocean to be with his mother. Kamuyamato Iwarebiko, their youngest child, would later become Emperor Jimmu.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese deity
Deity
A deity is a recognized preternatural or supernatural immortal being, who may be thought of as holy, divine, or sacred, held in high regard, and respected by believers....
(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...
) and in Japanese mythology
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...
, he is the father of Japan's (mythical) first emperor, 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....
. In 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...
, his name appears as Amatsuhitaka-hiko'nakisatake-ugayafukiaezu-no-Mikoto (天津日高日子波限 建鵜草葦不合命), and in the Nihonshoki he is called Hiko'nagisatake-ugayafukiaezu-no-Mikoto (彦波瀲武鸕鶿草葺不合尊).
Ugayafukiaezu was a child of Hoori
Hoori
, 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 ,...
, a son of 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 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...
, a daughter of 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...
. Though Toyotama-hime became pregnant at Ryūgū
Ryugu-jo
In Japanese mythology, Ryūgū-jō is the undersea palace of Ryūjin, the dragon god of the sea. Depending on the version of the legend, it is built from red and white coral, or from solid crystal. The inhabitants of the palace were Ryūjin's servants, which were various denizens of the sea...
, the undersea palace, she opted not to bear the child in the ocean and decided to head to shore. Both Hoori and Toyotama-hime attempted to build a house in which she could give birth, and attempted to contstruct the roof with feathers of cormorant instead of saw grass. However, while they were finishing the roof, she went into labor. So the child was named Ugayafukiaezu (lit. the roofing cormorant alternative to saw grass was not in time).
While in labor, Toyotama-hime said to Hoori, "people in other countries change back to their original form when delivering a child. Because I think I too am changing back to my original form, do not look in the house no matter what, while I am delivering the child". However, Hoori looked in the house and saw Toyotama-hime in her original form of a shark, and he fled. Feeling shamed, she returned to the sea, leaving her newborn child behind and sending her younger sister Tamayori-hime to raise the child in her place. Another take on the legend states that feeling completely humiliated, she rushed back to the sea, dropping the child on the shore; the cries of the newborn infant reached Tamayori-hime's ears and she opted to raise the child instead.
Later, when Ugayafukiaezu reached adulthood, he married Tamayori-hime, and they had four children: Itsuse-no-Mikoto, Inahi-no-Mikoto, Mikenu-no-Mikoto, and Kamuyamato Iwarebiko
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....
. Mikenu traveled to Tokoyo (lit. "the normal world", though some texts hint that it is the afterworld), and Inahi went to the ocean to be with his mother. Kamuyamato Iwarebiko, their youngest child, would later become Emperor Jimmu.