================================================================== 2-1:  The Ancient curse. From The myth of the shade. ==================================================================							Contents.
		This, first written in Japanese, was issued in Justnet in 1997 year though it was rewritten several times after that. And, it was issued in Nyfty in July 23, 2005, translated into English. This was revised in January 31, 2007. But, I don't know English so well. So, please forgive it for the immature expression. Hiromasa Noguti.
	"Damn! Move!". Kumanho often murmured like that in the middle of the highway, worrying it gets late for the appointed time. The car almost doesn't move because of the traffic jam. Though it was the first trouble his works in Utsunomiya were prolonged, this traffic jam is the definitive trouble for him. "Did a traffic accident or other occur?". However, it can't see the situation like that at all, in spite of the driving for a long time. Columns of countless cars only look to continue endlessly. He, getting irritated increasingly because of an unclear cause, often turned the eyes on the clock of the car. However, the clock only advances the time in the same tempo cruelly. Probably Miyagi already arrives at Haneda airport together with Kageura, and is receiving the baggage. "Hurry up!". Kumanho often clasped tightly the steering in both his hands and tapped on it with the forefinger in the quick tempo. He isn't setting an air conditioner to this car. The wind almost doesn't blow on him at all because of the slow driving in spite of the opened windows. And, a warmth like a steam bath at Tokyo stirs up his irritation furthermore. Anyhow, the traffic jam at a midsummer was the worst circumstances for him. However, contrary to the irritation like that, he gets caught to also an inexpressible expectancy. The ancient bell-shaped bronze vessel called a dotaku discovered in the ancient mound in question is the symbol of the ancient curse doubtlessly. And, Cotosiro-nusi, embodying that curse, changed to the vengeful god and appeared to this world really, according to Miyagi. Really now, a psychic phenomenon so horrible that it makes the world tremble is about to occur. Kumanho now was about to throw oneself in the middle of the mysterious horrible circumstances like that. Kumanho, late about thirty minutes from the appointed time, went through the main gate of the university. When he rolls into his office, hurrying, it finds Miyagi standing by the side of the window. "Ah, Mr. Miyagi, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting". Kumano apologized like that to Miyagi, stretching one's neck as if it watches Miyagi's reaction. However, when it looks around, Kageura is seen nowhere. "Where is Mr. Kageura?". Kumanho, having a cloud on the face a little, asked like that Miyagi. Miyagi answers "Oh, he is in the canteen.", simply. "I see. But, how is his mental condition?". "Well, he looks to be composed a little".
			Kumanho had heard Kageura's reaction to Miyagi's talk, in the telephone last night. So, it was thinking it may be better to change the schedule if Kageura isn't in a good condition. But, if Miyagi's judgement is right, the change like that is needless. However, strangely he was feeling the irritation a little for continuing to wait Kageura though not knowing why. It feels the waiting time are strangely long. However, in reality, after several minutes when Kumanho has arrived here, Kageura appeared to the room. When he finds Kumanho, it takes the business card out of the card case in the somewhat strained look. And, when he exchanges the business card with Kumanho, it started to do the speech about the subject in question at once though it is the unexpected behavior for Kumanho and Miyagi. Kageura says. "These files are my unfinished writings and are also the gathered data and material for it. I think to explain about this for a little while". And, he stretched his right hand to one of those files.
	About two years ago, Kageura started to work the plan of the novel, selecting as the subject the tragic history of Cotosiro-nusi. It is because the enigmatic atmosphere the ancient mound in question produces stirred up his creative urge. However, this also is the challenge to understand Japanese ancient history more deeply. In that reason, Kageura had to rethink about the ancient history, considering not only the known knowledge but also the new historical discoveries or other. Fortunately, his friend, Professor Miki is teaching the archaeology in Kyodou university, and is influencing also the excavation of the ancient mound in question somewhat. So, Kageura almost relied on Miki for getting new information about the ancient mound in question though it watched that mound one time actually. However, the information from Miki always excited Kageura. The ancient remains excavated out of the mound break the archaeological common sense frequently. Especially the dotaku(ancient bell-shaped bronze vessel) discovered out of the top of the mound had very rare characteristic. The general dotaku has the low relief of an animal and of a life style and so on in its surface. However, as for the dotaku in question, instead, very small countless flaws like a scratch were seen in all the surface. It seems it is inscription of something because it only looked, like to be Chinese characters though it isn't so clear. This also was the remarkable discovery. Furthermore, when this dotaku was discovered, it was in the condition protected with the square box composed of stone walls. Since generally the dotaku is found with the broken and neglected condition, this also is the unheard-of discovery really. It seemed this dotaku was made for the special purpose of something. Anyhow, it is certain as for this ancient mound, there are many riddles. This mound, except the top, was keeping the condition of when it was the natural mound. And, it also hasn't the stone room supposed to have been constructed for a coffin necessarily if it is an ancient mound. In that reason, the scholars, at the beginning, were taking the careful attitude for calling it an ancient mound.
	The strange matters aren't only that. When it digs the surrounding ground of the mound, many ancient clay dolls characteristic of the Jomon period, and also earthen vessels got discovered. But, strangely, the clay images characteristic of the Yayoi period weren't discovered at all. The ancient bronze mirrors or the bronze sword also aren't found at all though everybody supposed these are found out necessarily. This was quite strange matter because it is said an ancient mound was constructed in the Yayoi period which follows the Jomon period. Probably, it seems that the clay dolls characteristic of the Jomon period, and also earthen vessels were dug out of the old stratum, and were buried around that ancient mound probably intentionally though it doesn't know why. Anyhow, the ancient mound in Tishaku had thrown on the historical study the riddles not easy to solve.
	As for the dotaku, at the beginning, it only could read the somewhat emphasized Chinese characters like title inscribed in the middle. "Since Cotosiro-nusi changed to the god hiding oneself and disappeared, this "moiwa"(this originally means a small rounded mountain) is given to Cotosiro-nusi". It roughly was the contents like that. This Cotosiro-nusi must be Cotosiro-nusi the Kojiki, and so on describes. The scholars concentrated on reading that description in the full power. However, it isn't so easy to read because the Chinese characters all are very small and are in the condition lost in places. They had to continue to do the work, using the scientific technology, for example X rays, and so on, step by step. And, the contents of the inscription come to be clear gradually as it identifies the Chinese character. It was the very large scale epic poetry stating the details of the story Cotosiro-nusi comes to be enshrined to the ancient mound in question. As it thought, this is showing clearly the person on the myth existed together with his family and relatives actually. And, that description had the same contents as Kojiki here and there. However, according to that description, Cotosiro-nusi and Take-minakata aren't Ookuni-nusi's children. It seemed they are the head of each tribe. Anyhow, it isn't an epic poetry seen generally. It was the very tragic ancient history described from the viewpoint of loser. By the way, according to that epic poetry, in those days, the pressure of Yamato against Oo-namuti, that is, Ookuni-nusi kept on becoming strong day after day. It is natural that Oo-namuti resisted against Yamato, avoiding the direct answer as long as he can. However, Yamato gives Oo-namuti the pressure furthermore. It is that Yamato, showing off one's strong military force, demanded insistently Oo-namuti hands Yamato his land. Now that things have come to this pass, Oo-namuti has the means for resistance no longer. He was obliged to show to the two head of each strong tribe, that is, Cotosiro-nusi and Take-minakata the course of acceptance about Yamato's demand at last. Thereupon, he declares that in exchange for handing Yamato our land, I demand Yamato accepts our safety and also our worship of our gods and goddesses. Oo-namuti expected the people accept that proposal. Reference; The divine nature of the gods of the especial heavens side(Koto-ama-tu-kami).
			However, Cotosiro-nusi and Take-minakata objected to his proposal. If it hands Yamato the land one time, Yamato would break the promise necessarily. They were believing like that firmly. And, many of other tribes in Kinai have the same opinion as them. Oo-namuti fell into the situation it is hard to accept easily Yamato's demand. Thereupon, Oo-namuti often talked with Yamato about this matter secretly, and asked the people to accept Yamato's demand furthermore. It is that all the tribes in Kinai were exposed to the intense argument. However, the argument gets finished with no conclusion after all. And, Kinai got filled with the dubious mood because of the doubt about Oo-namiti's intention, and also their pent-up animosity against Yamato.
	However, if Oo-namuti can't control the people and confuses Kinai more than this, it doesn't seem Yamato looks on with folded arms. Yamato, feeling impatience, would invade Kinai at once. And, the peaceful solution Oo-namuti plotted becomes impossible. Oo-namuti got tormented to the phantom of unconditional surrender. It, controling the people's opinion well, has to settle the confusion as soon as it can. And, to do like that, it has to control Cotosiro-nusi who is the cause of this confusion, and also has the strong influence on other tribes. Oo-namuti was obliged to do difficult decision. However, he is very crafty politician. It cornered Cotosiro-nusi with the various means. In other words, it is that it detracted from Cotosiro-nusi's political influence, making his authority of priest weak gradually. It was serious one step of handing Yamato the land. Of course, it is natural that Cotosiro-nusi resisted against Oo-namuti, feeling the hatred for his underhanded way. And, many of the tribes living in Kinai still had sympathy for Cotosiro-nusi in spite of Oo-namuti's intention. Even persons to criticize officially Oo-namuti for his underhanded way appeared.
	Though for the moment, his plot succeeded, he fell into the dangerous situation it may be killed because of one's plot. However, he tries to rule the obstructive people by force, stationing Yamato's army in one's land. Cotosiro-nusi and his followers resisted hard increasingly. The ancient Kinai loses the peace and changes to the detestable battlefield. Oo-namuti's country got filled with blood and corpses. However, it is obvious Cotosiro-nusi is disadvantageous. And, many betrayals drove him into the disadvantageous situation increasingly. Taka-minakata surrenders to Yamato's army, soon. Cotosiro-nusi also gets cornered. It was that it rowed a plain boat out to the sea and sank oneself in the Sea of Japan. It is said Cotosiro-nusi prophesied about something before it kills oneself. But, it can't find its contents from the inscription in question. It only could find one enigmatic sentence "it will come to be clear when the time comes".
	Kageura got one idea, reading that description. Isn't it that Cotosiro-nusi was the last priest inheriting the olden religious form characteristic of the Jomon period? And, isn't it that the "Cotosiro-nusi" was the title of the priest, not a personal name? Kageura's conjecture was like that. And, it believed firmly the Cotosiro-nusi's last prophecy must be the words to put the curse on Yamato ruining old religious form. It must be because Cotosiro-nusi was keeping one's true pride his ancestors once were reigning on Kinai. Probably, before Susano-o appears to Kinai, Cotosiro-nusi's tribe reigning on Kinai was troubled because of many battles in between the tribes. Of course, that period is the more far former days than the time Yamato appeared because Susano-o is said to be the ancestor of Oo-namuti. In the period like that, Susano-o inheriting the symbolized culture with a dotaku came to Kinai and helped Cotosiro-nusi and its tribe together with his family. So, the political confusion in Kinai got settled at last. And also, it is that the foundation of the revival of Cotosiro-nusi's country was built. It seems that the episode in Kojiki for the big snake having the eight heads is the symbolic description of the history like that. According to this episode, Susa-nho-o rescued Kusinada-hime from the big snake having the eight heads since the husband and wife, that is, Asi-naduti and Te-naduti entreat him to rescue their daughter. If so, there is the strong possibility they belong to Cotosiro-nusi's family or its tribe. Kageura guessed like that.
			Reference; The change in the divine nature at the gods and goddesses. By the way, the political relationship in between the tribes in Kinai started to change rapidly since the time Susano-o appeared like that in Kinai. And, when Oo-namuti called Ookuni-nusi after inherits from Susano-o, his family comes to be over Cotosiro-nusi's family gradually, becoming the political force. But, contrary to that, the old tribes relying on Cotosiro-nusi lost the political powers gradually and came to get shut in the area called Sanin, about their sphere of influence, soon. So, Oo-namuti got the great powers, and came to reign on the people living in Kinai and in the surrounding countryside. It seems he was the first king who unified the ancient Japan. In Kojiki, it can find one sentence "Oo-namuti was given the name of Ookuni-nusi". It is certain this description is expressing the above mentioned situation. And, it also was certain the "Ookuni-nusi" is the title of the king, not a personal name, same as the "Cotosiro-nusi".
	By the way, according to the inscription in question, Oo-namuti, after unifying all the tribes in Kinai and in the surrounding countryside, gained one's religious authority, declaring that Oomono-nusi living in Mt. Miwa is my god. However, in those days the most of gods and goddesses have been worshiped by the old tribes relying on Cotosiro-nusi. The old tribes like that have very large population compared with Oo-namiti's family. And, Susano-o's family, that is, Oo-namuti's family already was in the married relationship with Cotosiro-nusi's family. In that reason, it is considerably hard to intervene in the old religious custom for Oo-namuti. Therefore, the people could keep one's identity for the moment. However, when Yamato as the military great nation appears after that, the circumstances like that were changed violently. It is that the people in Kinai fell into the situation so dangerous that it may lose the gods and goddesses, though it is the last prop left as the tribe's pride. Setting the political surrender aside, it was difficulty the old tribes worship the ama-tu-kami(the gods and goddesses in the heavens) which Yamato worships. It is that it was nothing else but to be the humiliation meaning the loss of the pride and soul. In that reason, Cotosiro-nusi aimed one's sword at Yamato. It is that it was forced to do the reckless challenge.
	However, the miracle didn't occur at last. Cotosiro-nusi were defeated together with his followers. And, many people often were killed and lost together with their tribe. They were obliged to escape toward the north or to accept the humiliation of surrender. The historical situation like this also can be seen to the migration of the people called Emisi. Emisi also moved to the north because of Yamato's pressure gradually though it seems the migration of Emisi started in the later period than the period where Yamato gained the supremacy in Kinai. Anyhow, many tribes defeated to Yamato must have moved to the north. However, according to the inscription in question, at least Cotosiro-nusi stayed there. It must be he couldn't renounce one's dear place the gods and goddesses are living in. It must be he tried to defend the dear place and also the gods and goddesses even if it changes to a vengeful ghost. Actually, he nursed the hatred against Yamato and died there. It is that he killed oneself, putting the curse on Yamato.
 
Cotosiro