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Hotsuma-Tsutae

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This page includes contemporary translations of the Hotsuma-Tsutae in both Japanese and English. Though only partially complete, we will add more sections as time goes on.
We welcome your opinions or thoughts on this subject at info2@jtc.co.jp

What is the Hotsuma-Tsutae?

The Hotsuma-Tsutae is an epic poem of more than 10,000 lines written in "yamato-kotoba", an ancient form of Japanese.
It tells the story of the "gods" who inhabited Japan in the Late Jomon, Yayoi, and Early Kofun eras (spanning more than a thousand years from the 8th century BC to the 3rd century AD).
Its authors are given as Kushimikatama, Minister of the Right in the reign of the Emperor Jimmu, and Ohotataneko, who lived during the reign of the Emperor Keiko. Kushimikatama wrote the first two volumes (The Book of Heaven and The Book of the Earth). Ohotataneko edited these and added the third volume (The Book of Man).

About the Translation

On these pages you will find modern interpretations of the Hotsuma-Tsutae in English and Japanese. The source material has been adapted into contemporary Japanese by Seiji Takabatake, and this in turn adapted into English by Andrew Driver.

Our work is by no means a word-for-word translation of the Hotsuma-Tsutae. Nor would we even presume to do so, as so much of the original is shrouded in the mists of ancient allegory and ritual. Many elements of the vocabulary have no modern counterpart, and much of the content is open to debate.

Nevertheless, as time goes by, each of the 40 "aya" or chapters of the Hotsuma-Tsutae will receive a counterpart representing a greater part of its content in Japanese and English. These counterparts may not appear in the same sequence as the original 40; but, one day, the aim is to have such counterparts for the entire Hotsuma-Tsutae.

In the CONTENTS, you will find the 40 "aya" listed in order, with counterpart versions added to the titles as and when complete. Click on the title to see the counterpart - and share this journey of discovery with us.

About the Translator

Seiji Takabatake, President of the Japan Translation Centre in Tokyo, has been involved in research of the Hotsuma-Tsutae for some thirty years. As well as maintaining close contact with Yoshinosuke Matsumoto, who was responsible for unearthing the Hotsuma-Tsutae following a chance find in 1966, Mr. Takabatake also hosts regular monthly meetings of a Hotsuma-Tsutae Research Group in Tokyo.

CONTENTS OF THE HOTSUMA-TSUTAE

Note: English titles of Hotsuma-Tsutae chapters are tentative and subject to change.

Awa-no-Uta

The Awa-no-Uta is a song that starts with the letter "a" and ends with "wa", hence its name. It contains each character in the 48-syllable script of ancient Japan (the "Hotsuma script"), and appears in the first chapter of the Book of Heaven.
The Hotsuma Futomani Divination Chart
Introduction

Hotsuma tsutae o nobu ("About the Hotsuma-Tsutae")

Dedication by Ohotataneko, the Lord Miwa

Koto nobe no nagauta ("Song to Introduce the Story")

Dedication by Ohokashima, the Lord Mikasa and Divine Lord of Ise

The Book of Heaven (Chapters 1-16)

1 Kitsu no na to homushi saru aya (Added 1/12/98)

"The Names of East and West and the Dispersal of Rice Insects"

2 Ame nanayo tokomiki no aya (Added 4/1/00)

"Seven Heavenly Generations and the Ritual Beverage"

3 Hihime mio umu tono no aya (Added 5/10/00)

"The Birthplaces of One Daughter and Three Sons"

4 Hi no kami no mizu mina no aya (Added 6/9/00)

"The August Name of the Sun God"

5 Waka no makura kotoba no aya (Added 7/7/00)

"The Hidden Meanings of Songs"

6 Hi no kami sofu kisaki no aya (Added 10/3/00)

"The Twelve Consorts of the Sun God"

7 Nokoshi bumi saga o tatsu aya (Added 1/11/01)

"A Last Testament and the Chastisement of Ills"

8 Tamagaeshi hatare utsu aya (Added 10/2/01)

"Rebirth and the Smiting of Rebels"

9 Yagumo uchi koto tsukuru aya (Added 3/2/02)

"The Conquest of Izumo and the Making of Zithers"

10 Kashima dachi tsuri tai no aya (Added 13/11/02)

"The Departure from Kashima and Bream Fishing"

11 Mikusa yuzuriuke no aya (Added 4/7/03)

"Surrender of the Three Treasures"

12 Akitsu hime amagatsu no aya (Added 4/4/99)
"The Talisman of Princess Akitsu"

13 Wakahiko ise suzuka no aya (Added 30/10/03)
"Wakahiko and Suzuka in Ise"

14 Yotsugi norunoto koto no aya (Added 6/1/04)
"Prayers and Magic Charms for an Heir"

15 Mike yorozu narisome no aya (Added 1/4/02)
"The Origin of all Edible Things"

15-2 Mike yorozu narisome no aya (Added 1/3/04)
"Amateru's Discourse on Healthy Eating and the Five Elements of Universal Creation"

16 Harami tsutsushimu obi no aya
"Moderation when Carrying a Child"

The Book of the Earth (Chapters 17-28)

17 Kan kagami yata no na no aya
"The Heavenly Mirror and the Name of Yata"

18 Wonokoro to majinafu no aya
"Magic Charms for Peaceful Government"

19-1 Nori nori hito nukima no aya
"Rules for Horseriding and the Hito-Nukima Style"

19-2 Nori no fumi terutae no aya
"Records of Horseriding and the Terutae Style"

20 Sume mimago togusa eru aya
"Sovereign Grandchild Wins the Ten Treasures"

21 Nihari miya nori sadamu aya
"Rules for Building the Nihari Palace"

22 Okitsu hiko himizu no harai
"Prince Okitsu's Purge of Fire and Water"

23 Miha sadame tsurugi na no aya
"Selection of the August Garment and the Name of the Sword"

24 Koyekuni harami yama no aya (Added 18/08/98)
"The Land of Koye and Mount Fuji"

25 Hiko mikoto chi o eru no aya (Added 04/07/02)
"Hohodemi and the Lost Fish-Hook"

26 Ugaya aoi katsura no aya (Added 04/07/02)
"Prince Ugaya, Hollyhocks, and Katsura"

27 Mioya kami funatama no aya (Added 26/07/02)
"The August Parent and the Making of Boats"

28 Kimi tomi nokoshi nori no aya
"Rules Passed Down by Lords and Ministers"

The Book of Man (Chapters 29-40)

29 Takehito yamato uchi no aya (Added 04/12/02)
"Takehito's Conquest of Yamato"

30 Amakimi miyako tori no aya (Added 13/09/02)
"The Heavenly Rule Likened to a Bird"

31 Naori kami miwa kami no aya (Added 13/09/02)
"The Lord Miwa's Return to Grace"

32 Yama to awa umi mizu no aya (Added 07/01/03)
"Mount Fuji and Lake Biwa"

33 Kami agame eyami tasu aya (Added 31/01/03)
"The Reverence of Deities and Pestilence Driven Out"

34 Mimaki no miyo mimana no aya (Added 13/02/03)
"The Reign of Mimaki and Korea"

35 Hiboko kitaru sumai no aya (Added 16/06/03)
"The Coming of Hiboko and the Test of Strength"

36 Yamatohime kami shizumu aya (Added 01/04/04)
"Princess Yamato Pacifies the Deity"

37 Toriawase tachibana no aya (Added 01/04/04)
"The Gathering of Birds and the Tachibana Orange"

38 Hishiro no yo, kumaso utsu aya (Added 02/02/05)
"The Reign at Hishiro and the Smiting of the Kumaso"

39 Hotsuma uchi tsuzu uta no aya (Added 01/08/05)
"The Conquest of Hotsuma and the Nineteen-Beat Poem"

40 Atsuta kami yo o inamu aya (Added 13/02/07)
"The Passing of Lord Atsuta"

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