Narrative Correspondences between the “Kamukatari” Myths and the “Amagatari-uta” Songs in Kojiki

Abstract

The three parts of Kojiki consist of the “kamukatari” myths of divine beings and the “amagatari-uta” songs of emperors, and there are narrative correspondences between them. The episode of Suseri-bime's anger at Ōkuninushi for his courtship visit to Nunakawa-hime is closely parallel with that of Princess Ihano-hime's jealousy in the chapter of Emperor Nintoku. The happy ending of the episode—reconciliation of the divine couple through Ōkuninushi's drinking song—is faithfully repeated in the appeasement of the emperor's anger by means of Princess Wakakusakabe's drinking song in the chapter of Emperor Yūryaku. In this way the myths of gods and goddesses are gradually transformed into the stories of the imperial family from the first to the third volumes of Kojiki to authorize the divine origin of emperors.