まあちゃまの今語り

An Explanation for the Meaning of "tatara"

According to this well-known theory, the tribe to which her grand-father, Mishima-no-mizokui and her mother, Sya-tatara-hime as well as Hime-tatara-isukeyori-hime belonged, should have been a powerful group who produced valuable ironware including swords, arrowheads and halberds or so in old times. Ookume-no-mikoto, who nominated her for the future Oho-kisaki, might take this matter into his consideration in order to strengthen and stabilize their nation after the accession of the Sumera-mikoto. 

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"Tatara" and Iron Product

The authorized explanation is that “tatara,” means bellows which has been used for iron manufacture. As the Izumo-myth suggests, iron has been a special product since ancient times in the Izumo. It seems that the method of “tatara” should have been introduced from the western tribes with technology for iron production, maybe Tartars, through the silk-road.

Japan history politics

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What does "tatara" mean?

By the way, both of mother and daughter, Seya-tatara-hime and Hime-tatara-isukeyori-hime, have a common part in their names, which is “tatara.” Until present time, several scholars have interpreted the meaning of “tatara,” because ancient names often inclined to signify something which expressed their origins or symbols.

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The Transformation of Oomono-nushi-no-kami

Thereafter, Seya-tatara-hime picked the arrow up and laid it down on the floor of her room. To her surprise, the arrow suddenly transformed itself into a graceful youth. The youth, who was Oomono-nushi-no-kami indeed, proposed and married the beautiful lady. Thus, Seya-tatara-hime bored a daughter whose name was Hoto-tayara-isusuki-hime-no-mikoto a. k. a. Hime-tatara-isukeyori-hime. This is the reason why she was regarded as a daughter of a deity.

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Oomono-nushi-no-kami in the Kojiki

The story continues as follows; captivated by Seya-tatara-hime, Oomono-nushi-no-kami of Miwa [Koto-shiro-nushi-no-kami in the Chronicles of Japan] transformed himself into a crimson arrow and visited floating to her rest room. She was so surprised that she left there hurriedly. 

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Seya-tatara-hime in the Kojiki

The report of the marriage between the Sumera-mikoto and Hime-tatara-isuzu-hime-no-mikoto in the Kojiki began with the story of her mysterious birth. Oo-kume-no-mikoto explained the Sumera-mikoto that her mother, whose name was Seya-tatara-hime [Tama-gushi-hime in the Chronicles of Japan], was a daughter of Mishima-no-mizokui [Mishima-mizo-kui-mimi-no-kami in the Chronicles of Japan] and no less beautiful than her daughter. Until now, Mishima-no-mizokui has been dedicated in the Mizokui shrine in Mishima of Settu[Oosaka].

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Hime-tatara-isuzu-hime-no-mikoto: Daughter of a Deity

Oo-kume-no-mikoto informed the Sumera-mikoto concerning Hime-tatara-isuzu-hime-no-mikoto that there was a maiden who was called a daughter of the deity. We understand from this information that the reason why Hime-tatara-isuzu-hime was nominated for the empress was not only that she was beautiful, but also a sacred lady descended from deities.

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The Report of Ookume-no-mikoto in the Kojiki

According to the description of the Kojiki, the subject whom the Sumera-mikoto asked to search for candidates for the empress in future was Oo-kume-no-mikoto, who would have been a chief of the Kume-tribe. Moreover, the report of Oo-kume-no-mikoto to the Sumera-mikoto, that recommended Hime-tatara-isuzu-hime-no-mikoto, was rich in contents.

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Hime-tatara-isuzu-hime-no-mikoto and the Kojiki

The reason why we suggested the marriage with Hime-tatara-isuzu-hime-no-mikoto meant something important in the history of Japan is that the editor of the Kojiki explained her origin more minutely than that of the Chronicles of Japan did. It forms a striking contrast that the latter stated the achievement of the Sumera-mikoto more fully than the former

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The Significance of the Marriage with Hime-tatara-isuzu-hime-no-mikoto

The report that Hime-tatara-isuzu-hime-no-mikoto, who was nominated for the empress, had a good reputation pleased the Sumera-mikoto exceedingly. On the 24^th of September, the Sumera-mikoto conferred the prime consort upon her. Considering the fact that the Sumera-mikoto had married Ahira-tu-hime in Himuka, this marriage with Hime-tatara-isuzu-hime after the eastern expedition would have implied something political intention.

Japan history politics

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