The Tale of Yata-garasu as a source on the events of the late Yayoi – early Kofun

   The article examines the materials of the legend of Yata-garasu in ancient Japanese sources.

   The purpose of the work is to define the historical basis of this legend.

   The urgency of the work is determined by the weak degree of research on this topic.

   The work uses historical, logical and historical-comparative methods of scientific-historical research. It was determined that initially it was a legend about an associate of the founder of the Yamato dynasty and the Yamato state – Kamu-yamato-iware-biko (ruler Jimmu) named Kamo-no Take-tsunomi-no mikoto, about a noble person, who came from southeastern Kyushu (from the Himuka region) and even before the Eastern campaign ruler Jimmu who settled in central Japan. Kamo no Take-tsunomi-no mikoto (future Yata-garasu) came from Kyushu Island (from the So district of the Himuka region). The name of the Kamo-no Take-tsunomi-no mikoto’s father is known – Tsuno-kori-(tama)-no mikoto, who was the ancestor of the Chikara-be corporation. It is revealed that they were descendants of Nigi-hayahi-no mikoto’s associates in his relocation from Kyushu to Kinai in the middle of the 3^rd century CE. It is determined that his nickname is “leader Yata-garasu” (Jap. kashira Yata-garasu, which can be interpreted as “a leader [similar to the mythical] Yata-garasu”) Kamo no Take-tsunomi-no mikoto received from the ruler Kamo-yamato-iware-biko (Jimmu) for his black clothes’ external similarity with a huge raven, as well as his special manner of moving on trees as a spy. It is determined that at the end of the Eastern campaign, Take-tsunomi-no mikoto (nicknamed Yata-garasu), received awards, and may also have been associated with military affairs, since his descendants were the leaders of the tomori-be – the guards of the palace or temple in the Kadono (Katsurano) area. According to the materials of “Sumiyoshi-ki” (if there is no mistake in this), it was established that Take-tsunomi-no mikoto (Yata-garasu) lived to the time of the Korean campaign of the empress Okinaga-tarashi-hime (Jingū), which according to Korean sources dates from 346 CE. At that time, Take-tsunomi-no mikoto was about 66 years old. At the same time, his children (sons) lived. The result of the study is the conclusion that information about the person Take-tsunomi-no mikoto (who lived in the late 3^rd – first half of the 4^th centuries), in connection with his nickname “Yata-garasu” (“Raven in Eight ta”), due to misunderstandings and distortions in the following times, turned into a fabulous legend about a certain huge three-legged “Golden Raven” who flew in front of the army of emperor Jimmu, showing him the way to the interior of central Japan.

1. Feldman-Konrad N. I. Japanese-Russian training dictionary of characters. Moscow, Russkij jazyk Publ., 1977, 680 p.

2. Big Japanese-Russian dictionary. Moscow, Russkij jazyk – Zhivoj jazyk Publ., 2000, vol. I, 824 p.; vol. II, 920 p.

3. Emperor Jimmu [Web resource]. URL: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6b/Emperor_Jimmu.jpg/389px-Emperor_Jimmu.jpg (accessed May 27, 2022).

4. Yata-garasu’s legs – actually three of them, part 5 [Web resource]. URL: http://www.kenkenfukuyo.org/reki/ormoru/yatagarasu/yatagarasu05.html (accessed May 27, 2022). (In Japanese)

5. Records of ancient matters (The complete collection of Japanese classical literature). Tokyo, Shōgakkan Publ., 2001, 464 p. (In Japanese)

6. Gleanings from Ancient Stories. In: Gleanings from Ancient Stories new note: Revision. Tokyo, Ōjkayama shoten Publ., 1928, 732 p. (In Japanese)

7. A chronicle of gods and sovereigns, scrolls 1^st–3^rd. In: A chronicle of gods and sovereigns with comments and interpretation. Tokyo, Meiji-shoin Publ., 1925, 304 p. (In Japanese)

8. Kojiki: Records of ancient matters: scrolls 2^nd and 3^rd. Vol. 2. Saint Petersburg, Shar Publ., 1994, 256 p. (In Rus.)

9. Nihon-shoki: Annals of Japan. Vol. 1. Saint Petersburg, Giperion Publ., 1997, 496 p. (In Rus.)

10. Shinto: the path of Japanese gods. Vol. 2. Saint Petersburg, Hyperion Publ., 2002, 496 p. (In Rus.)

11. Big Chinese-Russian dictionary. Moscow, Nauka Publ., 1983, vol. 1, 552 p.; vol. 2, 1100 p.; vol. 3, 1104 p.; vol. 4, 1062 p.

12. Annals of Japan with commentaries. In: A Great Series of State History. Vol. 7. Tokyo, Keizai zasshi-sha Publ., 1901, pp. 509–934. (In Japanese)

13. Basic records of ancient matters of past centuries. In: A Great Series of State History. Vol. 7. Tokyo, Keizai zasshi-sha Publ., 1901, pp. 171–418. (In Japanese)

14. The Chronicle of Japan (A Great Series of State History). Part 1, vol. 1. Tokyo, Yoshikawa kobunkan Publ., 1957, 417 p. (In Japanese)

15. Nihongi: Chronicles of Japan from the earliest times to A.D. 697. Part 2. London, Allen Publ., 1956, 444 p.

16. Ermakova L. M. When Heaven and Earth were revealed: myth, ritual, poetry of early Japan: in 2 vols. Vol. II: Translations. Moscow, Nauka Publ., Oriental literature Publ., 2020, 591 p. (In Rus.)

17. Newly collected records of clans and surnames. In: Group Book Class Series. Iss. 16. Tokyo, Keizai zasshi-sha Publ., 1902, pp. 128–219. (In Japanese)

18. Newly collected records of clans and surnames, in three parts. In: Saeki Arikiyo. Research of Newly collected records of clans and surnames. Tokyo, Yoshikawa kobunkan Publ., 1962, pp. 149–350. (In Japanese)

19. Newly collected records of clans and surnames, 16th scroll (Saeki Arikie. Research of Newly collected records of clans and surnames. The original text. Tokyo, Yoshikawa kobunkan, 1962 [Web resource]. URL: http://www.h4.dion.ne.jp/~munyu/sujroku/20syouji.htm (accessed May 27, 2018). (In Japanese)

20. Newly collected records of clans and surnames, 16th scroll // Yata-garasu’s legs – actually three of them, part 9 [Web resource]. URL: http://www.kenkenfukuyo.org/reki/ormoru/yatagarasu/yatagarasu09.html (accessed May 27, 2018). (In Japanese)

21. Shinsen Shojiroku: Newly drawn up lists of clans, 815 AD. In: Shinto: the path of Japanese gods. Vol. 2. Saint Petersburg, Hyperion Publ., 2002, pp. 177–193. (In Rus.)

22. He traps Taka Castle in Uda [Web resource]. URL: https://shinshomap.info/book/9784106107634.html (accessed May 27, 2018). (In Japanese)

23. Kogoshui. In: Shinto: the path of the Japanese gods. Vol. II. Saint Petersburg, Hyperion Publ., 2002, pp. 84–100. (In Rus.)

24. Gleanings from Ancient Stories. In: Lectures on Gleanings from Ancient Stories. ŌSaka, Bunyōdōzjhan Publ., 1893, 344 p. (In Japanese)

25. Kogoshūi: Gleanings from Ancient Stories. Tokyo, Meiji Japan Society Publ., 1926, 120 p.

26. Engi-shiki: Procedures of the Engi Era. VI–X books. Vol. II. Tokyo, Sophia University Press, 1972, 190 p.

27. Surowen D. A. The Story of the “downward moving” of Nigi-hayahi-no mikoto as a source of the migration of a population group from Kyushu Island to Central Japan in the middle of the 3^rd century AD. Vestnik of North-Eastern Federal University. Series Epic Studies. 2020, no. 2, pp. 38–63. DOI: 10.25587/z6009-7265-9954-k. (In Rus.)

28. Surowen D. A. Composition of settlers from Kyushu Island and places of their settlement in Central Japan during the middle of the 3^rd century A.D. according to the Story about the “downward moving” of Nigi-hayahi-no mikoto (abstracts of the report ). In: II Siberian Forum of Folklorists dedicated to the 90th anniversary of the birth of A. B. Soktoev, founder of the series “Monuments of Folklore of the Peoples of Siberia and the Far East”, October 18–20, 2021, Novosibirsk. Abstracts of reports. Novosibirsk, Alekspress Publ., 2021, pp. 139–141.

29. Surowen D. A. Composition of settlers from Kyushu Island and places of their settlement in Central Japan during the middle of the 3^rd century A.D. according to the Story about the “downward moving” of Nigi-hayahi-no mikoto. Vestnik of North-Eastern Federal University. Series Epic Studies. 2020, no. 2, pp. 38–63. DOI: 10.25587/y9740-5877-9395-z. (In Rus.)

30. Records of ancient matters, in 10 scrolls. Basic records of ancient matters of past centuries, scrolls 1^st–10^th [Web resource]. URL : https://miko.org/~uraki/kuon/furu/text/sendaikuji/sendaikuji_top.htm (accessed July 12, 2018). (In Japanese)

31. Ermakova L. M. Speeches of Gods and songs of people: ritual-mythological origins of Japanese literary aesthetics. Moscow, Oriental literature Publ., 1995, 272 p. (In Rus.)

32. Kosarev V. D., Sokolov A. M. Ama of Japan and other “peoples of the sea”. From origins to the 21^st century. Saint Petersburg, MAE RAS Publ., 2017, 680 p.

33. Surowen D. A. The upper layers of the tale of the two brothers and sea and mountain luck as a source on the history of south-western Japan during late Yayoi. Vestnik of North-Eastern Federal University. Series Epic Studies. 2018, no. 3, pp. 63–91. (In Rus.)

34. Furuta Takehiko. The truth of Descent from Heaven [Web resource]. URL: http://www.furutasigaku.jp/efuruta/kourine/kourine.html (accessed May 27, 2018).

35. Akima Toshio. The myth of the Goddess of the Undersea World and the Tale of Empress Jingū’s subjugation of Silla. Japanese journal of religious studies. 1993, no. 20/2-3, pp. 95–185.

36. Surowen’ D. A. Early form of state and first political associations in ancient Japan. In: Problems of the history of society, state and law. Iss. 6. Ekaterinburg, UrGIuU Publ., 2019, pp. 110–268. (In Rus.)

37. Lost texts’ surviving fragments of Ancient Description of lands and customs. Compiler Kurita Hiroshi. Part I. Tokyo, Dai-nihon jusho kabushiki-shakai Publ., 1898, 22, 80 p. (In Japanese)

38. Lost texts’ surviving fragments of Description of lands and customs of Yamashiro province [Web resource]. URL: http://miko.org/~uraki/kuon/furu/text/fuudo/itubun/itubun01.htm#yamasiro (accessed May 27, 2018). (In Japanese)

39. Lost texts’ surviving fragments of Description of lands and customs of Yamashiro province [Web resource]. URL: http://homepage2.nifty.com/toka3aki/geography/fudoits1.html (accessed May 27, 2018). (In Japanese)

40. Ishii Eshimi. Study of the spread of the ancient period place name (the circle place name of Ito) which were watched from the viewpoint of sound engineering. Study bulletin. (Tōkyō toritsu kōkū kōgyō kōto semmon gakkō denshi kōgakuka). 1999, no. 36, pp. 49–64. (In Japanese)

41. Ishii Eshimi. A numerical value experiment about the ancient period place name spread: Legitimacy of East Move Legend. Study bulletin (Tōkyō toritsu kōkū kōgyō kōto semmon gakkō denshi kōgakuka). 2000, no. 37, pp. 27–38. (In Japanese)

42. Svetlov G. E. Cradle of Japanese civilization: history, religion, culture. Moscow, Iskusstvo Publ., 1994, 271 p. (In Rus.)

43. Iofan N. A. Culture of ancient Japan (up to 8^th cent.). Moscow, Nauka Publ., 1974, 261 p.

44. The Cambridge history of Japan: Ancient Japan. Vol. 1. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 1993, 602 p.

45. Ito Yoshiaki. The way where Jimmu came to. Higashi-ōsaka, Furuta shigaku-no kai Publ., 2005, 68 p. (In Japanese)

46. Furuta Takehiko. The Jimmu’s songs and ballads revived [Web resource]. URL: https://wiki2.org/en/Takehiko_Furuta (accessed May 15, 2015). (In Japanese)

47. Metevelis Peter [revew]: Hiraizumi Kiyoshi. The Story of Japan. Vol. 1: History from the Founding of the Nation to the Height of Fujiwara Prosperity. Transl. by Sey Nishimura and committee. Ise City, Japan, Seisei Kikaku, 1997, viii + 219 + xi pages. Asian folklore studies. 1998, vol. 57/2, pp. 363–366.

48. Ermakova L. M. “Nihon-shoki” – cultural polycentrism and cultural choice. In: Nihon-shoki: Annals of Japan. Vol. I. Saint Petersburg, Hyperion Publ., 1997, pp. 5–70. (In Rus.)

49. Barnes Gina L. Paddy field archaeology in Nara, Japan. Journal of field archaeology. 1986, vol. 13, no. 4, pp. 371–379.

50. Barnes Gina L. State formation in Japan: Emergence of a 4^th-century ruling elite. London-New York, Routledge Taylor & Francis Group, 2001, xxi, 261 p.

51. Vorobiev M. V. Japan in the 3^rd–7^th centuries. Moscow, Nauka Publ., 1980, 344 p. (In Rus.)

52. Kujira Kiyoshi. Mystery of the Japan state’s birth. Tokyo, Nihon bungeisha Publ., 1978, 268 p. (In Japanese)

53. Deopik D. V., Kryukov M. V. Ancient Japanese states. In: History of the Ancient East. Ed. V. I. Kuzishchin. Moscow, Vysshaya shkola Publ., 1988, pp. 396–398. (In Rus.)

54. The founding of Japan. Tokyo, Tōkyō-daigaku shuppankai-kan Publ., 1957, pp. 1–216. (In Japanese)

55. Ueda Masaaki, Mori Koichi, Yamada Munemutsu. Ancient History of Japan. Tokyo, Chikuma shobo Publ., 1980, 337 p. (In Japanese)

56. Matsumoto Seichō. History of Seichō. Vol. 2. Tokyo, Kōdansya Publ., 1977, 280 p. (In Japanese)

57. Mori Kiyoto. Japanese new history. Tokyo, Kinseisha Publ., 1962, 366 p. (In Japanese)

58. Kojiki: Records of ancient matters. Transl. by B. H. Chamberlain. Tokyo, Charles E. Tuttle Company Publ., 1982, pp. 1–428.

59. Kanzaki Ivan Hisao. San kan seibatsu: The Yamato invasion of Korea and the origins of the Japanese nation. A paper submitted to the Faculty of the Department of history in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a degree with honors. Annapolis, Maryland, United States Naval Academy, 16 December 2002, 10 p.

60. Surowen’ D. A. To the question of the time of the founding of the Yamato dynasty and the reign of King Jimmu. Genesis: historical researches. 2015, no. 3, pp. 136–220. (In Rus.)

61. Surowen’ D. A. Foundation of the Yamato state and the problem of the Eastern campaign of Kamuyamatoivare-biko. In: Historical-legal studies of Russian and foreign countries. Ekaterinburg, UrGIuA Publ., 1998, pp. 175–198. (In Rus.)

62. Arutyunov S. A. Jimmu-tenno: mythical fiction and historical reconstruction. In: Siberia, Central and East Asia in the Middle Ages. Novosibirsk, Nauka Publ., 1975, pp. 9–12. (In Rus.)

63. Svetlov G. E. The Path of the Gods: Shinto in the History of Japan. Moscow, Mysl’ Publ., 1985, 240 p. (In Rus.)

64. The Jinmu East Expedition is true! [Web resource]. URL : http://www.geocities.jp/niginiginomiko/jinnmutousei.htm (accessed May 27, 2018). (In Japanese)

65. Tsybulsky V. V. Lunar-solar calendar of East Asian countries. Moscow, Nauka Publ., 1987, 384 p. (In Rus.)

66. History of the empire of Japan. Compiled by Takatsu Kuwasaburo, Mikami Sanji, Isoda Masaru, revised by Shigeno Yasuyori, Hoshino Hisashi. Chicago-Tokyo, Dai Nippon Tosho Kabushiki Kwaisha Publ., 1893, 428 p.

67. Konrad N. I. Japan: people and state. Petrograd, Nauka Publ., Shkola Publ., 1923, 168 p. (In Rus.)

68. Surowen D. A. The Yan state of the Gongsun dynasty in southern Manchuria and its foreign policy ties with Japan in the first half of the 3^rd century. In: China: history and modernity. Materials of the VI International Scientific and Practical Conference, Yekaterinburg, November 20–21, 2012. Yekaterinburg, Publ. House of the Ural University, 2013, pp. 146–154. (In Rus.)

69. Emperor Jimmu [Web resource]. URL : https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Император_Дзимму#/media/Файл:Tennō_Jimmu.jpg (accessed May 27, 2018).

70. Nihon shoki, scroll three [2]. In: Ermakova L. M. When Heaven and Earth opened: Myth, ritual, poetry of early Japan: in 2 vol. Vol. II: Translations. Moscow, Nauka Publ., Oriental literature Publ., 2020, pp. 172–197. (In Rus.)

71. Lost texts’ surviving fragments of Ancient Description of lands and customs. Tokyo, Ōokayama shoten Publ., 1927, 387 p. (In Japanese)

72. Lost texts’ surviving fragments of Ancient Description of lands and customs of Ise province. In: Description of lands and customs. New Collection of Classical Literature [Web resource]. URL : http://miko.org/~uraki/kuon/furu/text/fuudo/itubun/itubun01.htm#ise (accessed May 27, 2018). (In Japanese)

73. Lost texts’ surviving fragments of Ancient Description of lands and customs of Ise province [Web resource]. URL: http://miko.org/~uraki/kuon/furu/text/fuudo/itubun/itubun01.htm#ise (accessed May 27, 2018). (In Japanese)

74. Jinnō-shōtōki // Kitabatake Chikafusa. A chronicle of gods and sovereigns: Jinnō-shōtōki. Transl. by Paul Varley. New York, Columbia university press, 1980, 300 p.

75. Sendai kuji hongi, 10^th scroll “Kuni-no-miyatsuko-hongi” (Description of the rulers of the regions). In: Shinto: the path of the Japanese gods. Saint Petersburg, Hyperion Publ., 2002, vol. II, pp. 112–127. (In Rus.)

76. Japanese-Russian dictionary. Moscow, Russkij jazyk Publ., 1984, 696 p.

77. Engi-shiki. In: Engi-shiki: revised. Vol. 2. Tokyo, Ōokayama shoten Publ., 1931, pp. 725–1417. (In Japanese)

78. Surowen D. A. Japan in the middle – second half of the 4^th century. Yekaterinburg, Alfaprint Publ., 2021, 408 p. (In Rus.)

79. The Sumiyoshi Shinto shrine records. Kurita Hiroshi. Historical investigation of The Sumiyoshi Shinto shrine’s records on Gods era. In: Miscellanea of master Ritsuri. Ed. Kurita Tsutomu. Vol. 1, part 2. Tokyo, Yoshikawa kobunkan Publ., 1901, pp. 1–93. (In Japanese)

80. Surowen D. A. On the chronology of the reigns of Okinaga-tarashi-hime (Empress Jingū) and Homudawake (emperor Ōjin). Genesis: historical research. 2015, no. 6, pp. 1–226. (In Rus.)

81. Empress Jingū [Web resource]. URL : https://wiki2.org/ru/%D0%98%D0%BC%D0%BF%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B0%D1%82%D1%80%D0%B8%D1%86%D0%B0_%D0%94%D0%B7%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%B3%D1%83 (accessed May 27, 2018).

82. The Sumiyoshi Shinto shrine records. In: Research of Sumiyoshi-taisha-shindai-ki. Compiler Tanaka Takashi. Collection 7^th, Zushokankokai [Web resource]. URL : http://kamnavi.jp/sumiyosi/index.htm (accessed May 27, 2018). (In Japanese)

83. The Sumiyoshi Shinto shrine records. In: Story of Sumiyoshi-jinja shindai-ki [Web resource]. URL: https://miko.org/~uraki/kuon/furu/text/syaden/sumiyosi_jindaiki.htm (accessed May 27, 2018). (In Japanese)

84. Kim Busik. History of the Three [Korean] states. Moscow, Oriental literature Publ., 1959. Vol. I. 384, VI, 202, VIII pp.

85. History of the Three [Korean] states, records of Silla, p. 1–254. In: Kim Busik. History of the Three [Korean] states (hieroglyph.text). Vol. I. Moscow, 1959, pp. 1–128. (In Korean)

86. History of the Three [Korean] states, scrolls 1^st–50^th. Seoul, Joseon sahak-hwe Publ., 1928, 510 p. (In Korean)

87. Comprehensive Mirror of East state, scrolls 4^th–5^th. Book 3^rd. Tokyo, Izumo-ji shōhaku-dō Publ., 1883, 150 p. (In Korean)

88. Konrad N. I. Ancient History of Japan. In: Selected Works: History. Moscow, Nauka Publ., 1974, pp. 11–74. (In Rus.)

89. Kidder J. E. Japan before Buddism. New York, Frederick A. Praeger Publ., 1959, 282 p.

90. Surowen D. A. Korean campaign of Okinaga-tarashi-hime (empress Jingū). Problems of history, philology, culture. Moscow-Magnitogorsk, Institute of archeology of the Russian Academy of Sciences Publ., Magnitogorsk State Pedagogical Institute Publ., 1998, no. 5, pp. 160–167. (In Rus.)

91. Surowen D. A. The campaign of the Yamato state in Silla 346. Scientific dialogue. 2015, no. 1, pp. 8–65. (In Rus.)

92. Surowen D. A. The regency period of Okinaga-tarashi-hime (empress Jingu). Problems of history, philology, culture. Moscow-Magnitogorsk, Institute of archeology of the Russian Academy of Sciences Publ., Magnitogorsk State Pedagogical Institute Publ., 1998, no. 6, pp. 174–180. (In Rus.)