the province of Yamato, not far from the present western capital of
Kioto. He there did honor to the gods, married, built himself a palace,
and deposited in the throne-room the sacred mirror, sword, and ball, the
insignia of the imperial power handed down from the sun-goddess. He
organized two imperial guards, one as a body-guard to protect the
interior of the palace, and the other to act as sentinels around the
palace.

THE "NEHONGI"

The Emperor Kami Yamato Iharebiko's personal name was Hikohoho-demi. He
was the fourth child of Hiko-nagisa-take-ugaya-fuki-ahezu no Mikoto. His
mother's name was Tama-yori-hime, daughter of the sea-god. From his
birth this emperor was of clear intelligence and resolute will. At the
age of fifteen he was made heir to the throne. When he grew up he
married Ahira-tsu-hime, of the district of Ata in the province of Hiuga,
and made her his consort. By her he had Tagishi-mimi no Mikoto and
Kisu-mimi no Mikoto.

When he reached the age of forty-five, he addressed his elder brothers
and his children, saying: "Of old, our heavenly deities Taka-mi-Musubi
no Mikoto, and Oho-hiru-me no Mikoto, pointing to this land of fair
rice-ears of the fertile reed-plain, gave it to our heavenly ancestor,
Hiko-ho no Ninigi no Mikoto. Thereupon Hiko-ho no Ninigi no Mikoto,
throwing open the barrier of heaven and clearing a cloud-path, urged on
his superhuman course until he came to rest. At this time the world was
given over to widespread desolation. It was an age of darkness and
disorder. In this gloom, therefore, he fostered justice, and so governed
this western border.

"Our imperial ancestors and imperial parent, like gods, like sages,
accumulated happiness and amassed glory. Many years elapsed from the
date when our heavenly ancestor descended until now it is over 1,792,470
years. But the remote regions do not yet enjoy the blessings of imperial
rule. Every town has always been allowed to have its lord, and every
village its chief, who, each one for himself, makes division of
territory and practises mutual aggression and conflict.

"Now I have heard from the Ancient of the Sea, that in the East there is
a fair land encircled on all sides by blue mountains. Moreover, there is
there one who flew down riding in a heavenly rock-boat. I think that
this land will undoubtedly be suitable for the extension of the heavenly
task, so that its glory should fill the universe. It is doubtless the
centre of the wo