[3] In the Nihon-gi this sword is called Ama no-hawe-giri (the heavenly fly-cutter). [↑]
[4] Idzumo is the next holiest place to Ise. The god had other names including Oho-kuni-nushi (“Great Land Master”). [↑]
[5] An incident that recalls the Diarmid story in Scottish and Irish Gaelic folk-tales. [↑]
[6] One of the first three deities, the children of Heaven and Earth. [↑]
[8] The Cytherea meretrix. [↑]
[9] Chamberlain, in his translation of the Ko-ji-ki (p. 70), says “the meaning is that a paste like milk was made of the triturated and calcined shell mixed with water”. Mother (omo) may be read as “nurse” too. Mrs. Carmichael, widow of Dr. Alexander Carmichael, the Scottish folk-lorist, informs me that in the Outer Hebrides women burn and grind cockle-shells to make a “lime water” for delicate children. The clam is likewise used. The ancient Japanese and ancient Hebrideans may have received this folk-medicine from the ancient seafarers who searched for shells and metals. [↑]
[10] This was a magical act. He rendered himself invisible. [↑]
[11] The “sounding arrow” with a whistling contrivance made of bone. It was known in China during the Tʼang Dynasty, and was used by hunters to make birds rise, and by soldiers to scare enemies. Laufer thinks the Japanese sounding arrows were of Chinese origin.—Chinese Clay Figures, p. 224, n. 4. [↑]