My blog on “Kojiki (古事記)” @ Blogger.com has moved to JEN’s blog. That’s why this article is #15. Archives are found over there (My handle name is “Japanese Banzai” @ blogger.com.).
Well, we have been talking about the origin of Japan. Ookuninushi (大国主命) had, as is often the case with historic heros, a very important mission to generate his offsprings. No matter where he travelled, he never failed to get married to local beauties. Sometimes that was the very reason for his travel. And – he successfully accomplished his mission!
Remenber? Ookuninushi’s first wife was Yagamihime (八上比売). However, he brought back Suseribime (須勢理毘売). Yagamihime was not an assertive kind and instantly gave upon her marriage with Okuninushi, leaving for where she was from. Now Suseribime became a first wife or an official wife of Ookuninushi. That didn’t satisfy Ookuninushi at all. He travelled to northern Japan to pay court to Nunakawahime (沼河比売).
Nunakawahime was not only a beauty but also very smart. Ookuninushi didn’t even see her on the first night though he recited a love poem to her. She responded to him only by reciting two love poems. On the next night, she accepted his suit and got married. Kojiki’s episodes develop with so many poems (songs). That makes Kojiki very unique as literature.
Suseribime was extremely sad about all those love stories of her husband but didn’t leave him like Yagamihime. When her husband was about to leave for Nara (奈良) to be engaged in a battle, he saw his wife look very sad. He couldn’t leave her like that and recited a poem to console her while he was jumping on his horse.
“You will say you would never cry if I was leaving for a battle with other many gods. I know, because I love you, that you will definately cry, my dear.”
Then, Suseribime walked to her husband with a container of Sake (酒) and responded to him with this poem.
“My dear husband, you are a man, who sleep with as many young beauties as you can to have your offsprings, unlike me, a woman, who is always waiting for her husband to come home. Still, I will let you do what you want to do because I love you. Please have some Sake to cheer you up before going to the battle.”
The couple exchanged toasts to each other, promising to each other that their love would last forever. When you visit Shinto Shrine (神社) in Japan that enshrines Ookuninushi, you will see the sculpture of them holding each other to show their love to each other.
