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Isetsuhiko-no-mikoto (伊勢都彦命 or 伊勢都比古命) is an obscure Japanesegod ofthe wind who appears in both theFudoki ofIse Province (surviving only in the form of excerpts found in other writings) and theFudoki ofHarima Province.
Two stories about Isetsuhiko appear in the extant fragments of the IseFudoki. One excerpt[1][2][3] involves his surrender of his land (what would become Ise) to Amenohiwake-no-mikoto (天日別命), who claimed it in the name of theEmperor Jimmu.
The following is said in the IseFudoki:
- The land of Ise was pacified by Amenohiwake-no-mikoto, a twelfth-generation descendant ofAmenominakanushi-no-mikoto.
- At the time when Amenohiwake-no-mikoto accompanied the Sovereign (Sumera-mikoto)Kamu-Yamato-Iwarehiko when he set out fromthe western palace in order to conquer this eastern land, he arrived with the Sovereign inthe village of Kumano inthe land of Kii. Then, under the guidance of a golden crow, they enteredthe central land, arriving at Shimotsu-agata inUda.
- The Sovereign commanded Ōtomo-no-Hiomi-no-mikoto, 'Quickly subjugate the rebellious Nagasune ofIkoma.' He then ordered Amenohiwake-no-mikoto, 'There is a land in the east[4] (lit. 'in the direction of heaven (?)'); pacify that land.'
- He then bequeathed to him a sword as a symbol of his commission (shirushi-no-tsurugi). Upon receiving the command, Amenohiwake-no-mikoto went several hundreds ofri east.
- There was akami in that area whose name was Isetsuhiko. Amenohiwake-no-mikoto asked him, 'Will you give your land to the Heavenly Grandson?'
- He answered, 'I have sought for this land and have lived here long. I will not obey your command.'
- Amenohiwake-no-mikoto then dispatched troops to kill that god. At once, [Isetsuhiko] gave in out of fear and said submissively, 'I surrender the whole land to the Heavenly Grandson. I will not live in it any longer.'
- Amenohiwake-no-mikoto asked, 'When you leave, how can I be sure [of your departure]?'
- [Isetsuhiko] said, 'Tonight I shall cause the eight winds to blow over the waters of the sea and ride the waves to go east. Thus will I depart.' Amenohiwake-no-mikoto, making ready his troops, kept watch on him.
- Around midnight, a great wind blew from all four directions, creating strong waves shining like the sun、so that both land and sea became bright. Riding upon the waves, [Isetsuhiko] then headed east—whence comes the old saying,
- The land of Ise, of thedivine wind, whither waves from eternal Tokoyo repair.
- (The god Isetsuhiko was made to live in the nearby province of Shinano.) Upon taming this land, Amenohiwake-no-mikoto sent word back to the Sovereign. The Sovereign, greatly pleased, ordered the land be called 'Ise' after the god of the land's name and gave it to Amenohiwake-no-mikoto to govern, granting himthe village of Miminashi inYamato as his residence."
In a certain volume it is said:
- Amenohiwake-no-mikoto, upon receiving the command, immediately went from the village of Kumano to the land of Ise. Killing the unrulykami and punishing the insubordinate, he set mountains and rivers as boundaries and established the districts of the land. Afterwards he sent word back tothe palace at Kashihara."[a]
A second excerpt from the IseFudoki[3][5] relates another legend about the god and the origin of the name 'Ise'.
It is said in the IseFudoki:
- 'Ise' derives from thekami residing atAnashi shrine inIga, Izumonotakeko-no-mikoto (出雲建子命), a son of a (or 'the')kami ofIzumo, also known as Isetsuhiko-no-mikoto (伊勢都彦命) and Amenokushitama-no-mikoto (天櫛玉命).
- Long ago, this god made a fortress out of stone and dwelt therein. Abeshihiko-no-kami (阿倍志彦神) came [to conquer it], but he did not prevail and so retreated. This is where [Ise] gets its name.[b][c]
Isetsuhiko-no-mikoto (伊勢都比古命) is also mentioned in passing in theFudoki ofHarima Province as the son of Iwa-no-ōkami (伊和大神), god ofIwa Shrine, believed to dwell in Iseno (伊勢野, part of modernHayashida-chō,Himeji City) with his sister, Isetsuhime-no-mikoto (伊勢都比売命).[7][8][9][d]
Since theEdo period, a number of authors - among them theKokugaku scholarMotoori Norinaga[10][11] - have attempted to identify Isetsuhiko with the godTakeminakata who briefly appears in theKojiki, due to perceived parallels between the two deities.[12]
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