The Eight-headed Dragon—Sacrifices of Maidens—How the Dragon was intoxicated and slain—Finding of the Dragon-sword—The Nuptial House—Adventures of Ohonamochi—The Jealous Brothers—Flight of Ohonamochi to Hades—Susa-no-wo as Giant-god of Hades—Princess Forward—Far Eastern Version of Jack-and-the-Beanstalk Story—The Life-sword, Life-bow and arrows, &c.—Ohonamochi’s Conquest of Japan—A Japanese Odin—Another Creation Myth—The Elfin Deity in Bird Skins—A Shining Sea-god.
After Susa-no-wo had been banished from heaven, he descended on Tori-kami, beside the river Hi, in the province of Idzumo. A chopstick came floating down the river, so he knew that people were dwelling near, and he set out to search for them. He soon met an old man and an old woman who were weeping bitterly; between them walked a lovely maiden.
“Who are you?” asked Susa-no-wo.
The old man made answer: “I am a god of earth, son of a mountain god, and my name is Ashi-na-dzu-chi (‘foot-stroker’); this woman is my wife, and her name is Te-na-dzu-chi (‘hand stroker’); the maiden is my daughter Kush-inada-hime (‘Miraculous-rice-field-sun-maiden’).”
“Why do you weep?” asked Susa-no-wo.
Said the old man: “I have had eight daughters, but each year the eight-forked serpent (dragon) of Koshi has come and devoured one after the other. I weep now because the time is at hand to give Kush-inada-hime to the serpent.”
“What is the serpent like?” [[372]]
“Its eyes are red as the winter cherry[1]; it has a body with eight heads and eight tails, and on its body grow moss and trees. It is so long that it stretches over eight valleys and eight hills. Its belly is constantly bloody and inflamed.”[2]
“If this maiden is your daughter,” said Susa-no-wo, “will you give her to me?”
“You honour me,” the old man made answer, “but I do not know your name.”