Grasscutter Prologue 3

First Published:

• FIXME char-yamoto-dake
• Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi

Prologue 3 - Yamato-Dake

Amaterasu's grandson, Ninigi, was sent to Earth with three treasures: a mirror, a jewel, and the sword. He fell in love with Ko-No-Hana, the princess who makes trees blossom. Her father had an elder daughter, Iha-Naga (Princess-Long-as-the-Rocks). Ninigi was given the choice of either daughter in marriage, but he remained true to the flower princess. Iha-Naga said, had he chosen her their offspring would have lived as long as the rocks, but now his children would bloom and fade as do blossoms. Ninigi's great grandson was Jimmu Tenno, the first emperor of Japan.

The Temple of Amaterasu in Ise is one of the oldest religious sites in Japan, but it is not more than twenty years old. It has been rebuilt every two decades, with a few exceptions, since about 4 B.C., using traditional methods. It is built of hinoki cypress (chamaecyparis obtusa). Early carpenters' tools did not include the cross-cut saw or plane, and these fragrant trees with their grain that runs straight along the length of the timber was ideal for their limited technology. There was also a great abundance of these trees. Ise is located on the southern coast of the island of Honshu.

Yamato-Dake was the youngest son of Emperor Keiko and the hero of numerous campaigns. Many of his victories, though, were the result of cunning, as well as strength - such as disguising himself as a beautiful woman to get close to the brigands of Kumaso or replacing the sword of the outlaw, Takeru, with a wooden imitation, then challenging him to a duel.

"Wo-Usu" was the birth name of this hero. He was given the name Yamato-Dake (Bravest of the Yamato) by one of the Kumaso bandits soon before the prince "ripped him up like a ripe melon and slew him."

Yamato-Dake was married to Princess Ototachibana, a faithful wife who followed him on all his campaigns. As a result, her skin became deeply tanned and her garments soiled and tattered. He met Princess Miyazu, a beauty with skin as delicate as cherry blossoms, and professed his love for her. He promised to one day return and make her his bride. Then he noticed Ototachibana had seen and heard everything. When Yamato-Dake and his entourage were crossing the straits of Kazusu, a great storm arose which threatened to capsize the boats. Ototachibana pleaded to the sea king to accept her life and deliver her husband safely to shore. Whereupon, she threw herself into the water. No sooner had she gone under when the storm abated and the clouds dispersed. Too late, Yamato-Dake realized what a treasure he had lost and remained loyal to Ototachibana's memory, forgetting Princess Miyazu.

The Yemishi that Yamato-Dake was to subjugate are the ancestors of the modern Ainu of Hokkaido Island. In earlier times, the Yemishi extended from the north down the eastern section of Japan, as far south as present-day Tokyo. The Yemishi appeared to have been a peaceful people and offered no resistance. In The Nihongi, they were called "kami of the country" and so were held in some respect by the Japanese. It should be noted that the people of Suruga were not Yemishi.

There are two versions of the story of how the hero was tricked onto the moors. In the first, the Suruga lord suggests a deer hunt. In the other, he invites Yamato-Dake to see an unusually violent lake kami. I chose to incorporate both versions of my story. The area this incident took place in is now called Yakizu, or "The Port of Burning."

Yamato-Dake died in the seventh month of his thirtieth year at Atsuta in Owari Province. It is unclear whether he died from fatigue and exposure or from a poisoned arrow. His spirit ascended to heaven in the form of a white bird.

Kusanagi is a ken or tsurugi-type sword. These swords are about two-and-a-half to three feet long, straight, double-edged, and very heavy. The scabbards were generally made of wood bound with metal bands.

Kusanagi was given to Atsuta Shrine. In the seventh year of the reign of Emperor Tenchi (A.D. 668), a Korean named Dogyo stole the sword, hoping to make it a treasure of his own country. During the voyage to his homeland, a terrible storm appeared. Dogyo begged forgiveness and returned the sword to the shrine. In 686, Emperor Temmu placed the sacred sword in his court.

Prince Yamato-Dake is given flints, a warning, and the sword Murakumo-No-Tsurugi by his aunt. While he is guested by the lord of Suruga province, the lord takes him hunting as a pretext to an assassination attempt. The Prince is saved by the warning, the flints his aunt provided, and the sword, which is no longer Murakumo-No-Tsurugi, but Kusanagi (Grasscutter), in honor of the service it did him.

Last change: 19. May 2003

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Usagi Yojimbo, including all prominent characters featured in the stories and the distinctive likenesses thereof are trademarks of Stan Sakai and Usagi Studios. Usagi Yojimbo is a registered trademark of Stan Sakai. Names, characters, places, and incidents featured in this publication either are the product of the authors imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons (living or dead), events, institutions, or locales, without satiric content, is coincidental.