今日の日曜版は、RainScape Garden ☆をお届けします。
RainScape Garden ☆ というカテゴリーで八雲立つ日本神話や伝説を、現在の感覚と常識で総合解釈したシリーズを始めます。
章はCrow 1,Crow 2と続きます。
The Roverから発生したカテゴリ・シリーズです。
Enamel
ー それは、哀しい哀しいLove Story ー
イワナガヒメはコノハナサクヤヒメの姉で、大変醜いとされている女神です。
一度、コノハナサクヤヒメと共に、ある神様に嫁ぎますが、器量が悪いという理由で送り返されて居ます。
ですが古代日本の言語表現では、はっきり言うのを好まない表現が散見されますので、コノハナサクヤヒメを桜のように美しいとする表現は、姉のイワナガヒメであったのではないでしょうか?
では何故、この姉に関するエピソードは彼女は醜いが妹と共に嫁がせ、妹だけを残した婿に、表面的な美しさに囚われ真眼を持たない、長きに栄える判断を持たないとまで、イワナガヒメとコノハナサクヤヒメの父は、婿を謙遜したのでしょう。
日本の国家「君が代」に、千代に八千代にさざれ石の巌(いわお)となりて、という言葉があります。
ご存じのように、未来永劫栄え続ける祝福の言葉なのですが、イワナガヒメは、この言葉の化身のような存在であると考えると、こちらの姫君は大変重要な人物であると分かります。
イワナガヒメはコノハナサクヤヒメの文法でいうと、コノハナチルヒメとなります。
イワナガヒメこそ桜の花の1番美しいとされる、雪の散る美しさを持つ桜が綻び(ほころび)始める時期のような美貌であったのでしょう。
そして父にイワナガヒメを貰う神は、未来永劫栄えるのに、と一度嘆かれて居ます。
イワナガヒメはコノハナサクヤヒメとニニギノミコトとの縁談を進める前に、帝との縁談が決まっていたのでしょう。
古い日本社会の価値観では、上の子供から順に縁談を決めるものである。という厳しい価値観が存在していました。
なのでイワナガヒメは最初から彼女に対する言葉一つ一つが、当時神とされていた存在が治めている、それぞれの國の大事を左右する存在であったと伺われます。
実は2人の姫の父は、國産み(神産み)の時に、火の神様を生んだ時にイザナミノミコトが大火傷を追い、怒った夫のイザナギノミコトという神が剣で切ったとされる火の神様、ホノヤギハヤヲノカミなんです。
古事記に記録されている伝承では、火の神様は元々日本国内で国を治めていた神です。
そしてその火の神様の娘であるイワナガヒメかコノハナサクヤヒメのどちらかは、火の中で出産したという記録が古事記に残っています。
私はこれを鉄の製造を指す表現だと解釈しています。
島根県には鉄の文明が初めて渡って来た神社があり、そちらに祀られている神様はスサノオノミコトです。
この神様は、現在の皇族の祖先と伝えられる、アマテラスオオミカミ(天照大神)の弟です。
鉄のテクノロジーが渡って来たのは日本の外からなので、その鉄の製造に非常に重要なイワナガヒメとコノハナサクヤヒメの父君である火の神様も、外から渡って来た神と縁を結ぶにあたり、二代か三代先に日本に入って来た神だったのではないでしょうか?
どちらにせよ、恐らくイワナガヒメは帝に献上されていたとする方が、ここまで日本古来の文法に乗っ取った語られ方をし、日本の国歌に残る言葉を持つ名と国の花である桜の1番美しい描写の名を二つ持つという、重ねて祝福されている名前が、古事記に表されている理由として非常に自然な解釈です。
私はイワナガヒメは絶世の美女であり、帝に嫁ぐ約束があったので、この美しさでは無くこれ程の賢さを備えた才色兼備の1番の姫だからこそ、コノハナサクヤヒメと相思相愛であった婿を持つ立場の火の神様が、謙遜しながらも婿をも褒める意味で、イワナガヒメの美貌にも揺るがず、婿はサクヤヒメを選んだ。イワナガヒメは自身を望まぬ者に本来の姿(賢さ)までは見せなかった、という逸話を持たせたのだと考えます。
ここまで気を使われているので、まずイワナガヒメは帝と婚姻したとするのが妥当です。
古事記の何処にもイワナガヒメと帝の婚姻に関する記述はありません。
後にイワナガヒメかコノハナサクヤヒメの何方かが、何かを疑われ潔白を証明する為に、火の中で出産したとされる記述だけです。
私はイワナガヒメは恐ろしい程の美貌と、未来永劫という彼女に永遠を見ている名前をつけた祝福に、そちらの家系には遺伝子異常の一種、実際に年は取っているが容姿は若い時のままだった祖先の伝承を摂ったのだろうと想像しています。
かぐや姫の結末を憶えておられますか?
並居る求婚者を退け、かぐや姫は帝と婚姻します。
かぐや姫は月からの神の軍勢に迎えに来られ、武力を以ってしてでもかぐや姫を護ろうという帝達は、何故か眠ってしまい、かぐや姫は月に還ってしまいます。
月から迎えが来たという描写を読み、かぐや姫はきっと病気で儚くなったのではないかと、沢山の方が想像したと思います。
私はかぐや姫は、イワナガヒメだったのではないかと考えています。
それ程、帝に愛され、イワナガヒメも帝を大変愛していたのでしょう。
なのに何時迄も美しい容姿が年を取らないイワナガヒメは、ご自身でもそして父君も予想だにしなかった、祖先の遺伝子異常が自分に出るとは思わなかったのでしょう。
この遺伝子異常の特徴は、美しい盛りの容姿に幼い頃すぐに到達し、そして恐らく寿命が尽きる直前まで、さほど容姿が変わらなかったのではないでしょうか。
世界各地に残る長寿伝説を出来るだけ現実的に解釈すると、体内だけが若い頃のままである強靭な人物と、体内は常人と変わらず容姿だけが若い頃とそう変わらない人物とに分けられます。
するとかぐや姫はすぐに大きくなったという伝承も、そう不自然ではないのではないでしょうか。
帝と相思相愛であったイワナガヒメは美しさと賢さが備わった女性でした。
帝の治世をより盤石にする為、奥に表に帝や宮中に相応しい過ごし方をしていた筈です。
なのに、何時迄も美しさが変わらない。
それを当時の人々がたまにそのような人間が生まれると知っては居ても、対抗勢力の列国が言い掛かりを着ける格好の理由となってしまう。
あの国の帝は、妖怪を娶って(めとって)いる。
それが分からない方は賢いとは言われません。
帝はそのような事は心配要らないと言っても、イワナガヒメは聞き入れなかったのでしょう。
蛤(はまぐり)の貝合わせは、元々女性が唇に引く紅を入れていたのだそうです。
他にも細やかな大切な物を、嬉しく仕舞って置く為のものでも有りました。
かぐや姫は帝に言いました。
わたくしに会いたくなった時はこの不老長寿の妙薬を、帝、どうかお開け下さい。
何度離縁を乞うても首を縦に振らない帝を、そして護衛の者達を、或る晩、イワナガヒメは睡眠薬で眠らせ、そっと宮中を後にします。
かぐや姫を護れ。
例え神々の軍勢と言えども、我ら最期の1人となってもかぐや姫をお護りし、御君の側を離れぬぞ。
なのに、気がつくと皆眠っており、かぐや姫が去っていく姿だけが月の夜に目に入りました。
なんとお詫びをして良いか、と悲痛ばかりの将軍達に、帝は静かに申し渡しました。
「良い。我も眠った」
イワナガヒメが居なくなり、もしやと思い帝がイワナガヒメの引き出しを開けると、帝が前に贈った紅が入れられた美しい白い蛤の入れ物が遺されていました。
中を確かめると、そこには眠り薬が入っていたのでしょう。
かぐや姫が去った哀しみのあまり、お前が居ない世に不老不死であって何が良かろう、と美しい山の火口にその薬箱ごと帝は捨てておしまいになりました。
以来その山は不死の名を取って、富士山と呼ばれるようになりました。
子孫を絶やす訳にもいかず、後に新しく迎えられたお妃に帝は、きっと或る月の晩、2人並んで静かにイワナガヒメという、國と帝御自身の為に身をひいた、世界一美しい賢さを持った方の事を話して聞かせたと思います。
「それで、貝の中の紅もお前を迎えるにあたり、山に捨てたのだ」
新しいお妃様は、余りのことにしばし言葉を継げず、
やがて、
「ーーー帝、それは大変哀しいことで御座いましたね」
そうおっしゃったのでは無いでしょうか?
月下佳人(げっかかじん)という言葉は、佳人という才色兼備の方や非常に優れた人を語る言葉に月を充てたものです。
昔の造語ですが、月下佳人はイワナガヒメと此のお妃様のことをも指していると、私は思います。
"RainScape Garden ☆ Crow 3 白月佳人"
それでは、素敵な日曜日をお過ごし下さい。
20260927 18:36 文章を直しました。
20260927 19:00 音楽を追加しました。
20260927 20:42 文章を直しました。
Today’s Sunday edition features “RainScape Garden ☆.”
In the “RainScape Garden ☆” category, we’re launching a series that offers a comprehensive interpretation of Japanese myths and legends—such as those featuring Yakumo—through a modern lens and with contemporary common sense.
The chapters will continue with “Crow 1” and “Crow 2.”
This category and series originated from “The Rover.”
Enamel
— It’s a Sad, Sad Love Story —
Iwanagahime is the older sister of Konohanasakuya-hime and is considered a goddess of great ugliness.
She once married a certain deity alongside Konohanasakuya-hime, but was sent back because of her unattractive appearance.
She once married a certain deity alongside Konohanasakuya-hime, but was sent back because of her unattractive appearance.
However, in ancient Japanese language, there are frequent instances of expressions that avoid stating things outright; therefore, might the description of Konohanasakuya-hime as being as beautiful as a cherry blossom actually have been referring to her older sister, Iwanaga-hime?
So why, in this story about her older sister—who was said to be ugly—did the father of Iwanagahime and Konohanasakuya-hime go so far as to disparage the husband who married both sisters but left only the younger one behind, calling him someone captivated by superficial beauty, lacking discernment, and incapable of making decisions that would ensure long-lasting prosperity?
In Japan’s national anthem, “Kimigayo,” there is a line that reads, “For a thousand generations, for eight thousand generations, may we become a rock formed from pebbles.”
As you know, these are words of blessing for eternal prosperity. If we consider Iwanaga-hime to be the embodiment of these words, we can see that she is a figure of great importance.
In the naming convention used for Konohanasakuya-hime, Iwanaga-hime would be referred to as Konohana-chiru-hime.
Iwanaga-hime must have possessed a beauty akin to the moment when a cherry blossom—considered the most beautiful of all, with the delicate grace of falling snow—begins to bloom.
And the deity who received Iwanaga-hime from her father once lamented, “Yet she is destined to flourish for all eternity.”
It seems that Iwanaga-hime’s marriage to the Emperor had already been arranged before the match between Konohana-Sakuya-hime and Ninigi-no-Mikoto was pursued.
In the value system of ancient Japanese society, there existed a strict rule that marriages were arranged in order of seniority, starting with the eldest child.
Therefore, it appears that from the very beginning, every word spoken to Iwanaga-hime carried the weight of her status as a figure who could influence the vital affairs of each country—a realm governed by beings who were revered as gods at that time.
In fact, the father of both princesses is Honoyagi-hayao-no-kami—the Fire God—who, according to legend, was severed with a sword by Izanagi-no-Mikoto, Izanami-no-Mikoto’s husband, after she suffered severe burns while giving birth to him during the creation of the islands (the birth of the gods).
According to the traditions recorded in the Kojiki, the Fire God was originally a deity who ruled over a land within Japan.
Furthermore, the *Kojiki* records that one of the Fire God’s daughters—either Iwanagahime or Konohanasakuya-hime—gave birth amidst flames.
I interpret this as a reference to iron production.
In Shimane Prefecture, there is a shrine where the iron-making civilization first arrived, and the deity enshrined there is Susanoo-no-Mikoto.
This deity is the younger brother of Amaterasu Ōmikami (the Great Sun Goddess), who is said to be the ancestor of the current Imperial Family.
Since iron technology was introduced from outside Japan, might not the Fire God—the father of Iwanagahime and Konohanasakuya-hime, who played a crucial role in iron production—have been a deity who arrived in Japan two or three generations earlier, in order to form a bond with a deity who had also come from abroad?
In any case, it is likely that Iwanaga-hime was presented to the Emperor.
This interpretation is very natural as an explanation for why her name appears in the *Kojiki*—a name that is doubly blessed: it adheres to ancient Japanese grammar, features a name preserved in the Japanese national anthem, and bears the most beautiful description of the cherry blossom, Japan’s national flower.
I believe that Iwanaga-hime was a woman of unparalleled beauty, and since she was promised in marriage to the Emperor, it was precisely because she was the foremost princess—possessing not only this beauty but also such great wisdom, a perfect blend of beauty and intelligence—that the Fire God, who was in the position of having a son-in-law who was deeply in love with Konohanasakuya-hime, humbly praised his son-in-law by emphasizing that he remained unswayed by Iwanaga-hime’s beauty, her husband chose Sakuya-hime.
This likely gave rise to the anecdote that Iwanaga-hime did not reveal her true nature—her wisdom—to those who did not desire her.
Given the care taken in this account, it is reasonable to assume that Iwanaga-hime did indeed marry the Emperor.
Nowhere in the Kojiki is there any mention of a marriage between Iwanaga-hime and the Emperor.
There is only a later account stating that either Iwanagahime or Konohanasakuya-hime gave birth in a fire to prove her innocence after being suspected of something.
I imagine that Iwanagahime—with her terrifying beauty and the blessing of a name signifying “eternity”—likely drew upon a legend from that lineage about an ancestral figure with a genetic abnormality: someone who, despite actually aging, retained the appearance of their youth.
Do you remember the ending of the Princess Kaguya story?
After rejecting her many suitors, Princess Kaguya marries the Emperor.
Given the care taken in this account, it is reasonable to assume that Iwanaga-hime did indeed marry the Emperor.
Nowhere in the Kojiki is there any mention of a marriage between Iwanaga-hime and the Emperor.
There is only a later account stating that either Iwanagahime or Konohanasakuya-hime gave birth in a fire to prove her innocence after being suspected of something.
I imagine that Iwanagahime—with her terrifying beauty and the blessing of a name signifying “eternity”—likely drew upon a legend from that lineage about an ancestral figure with a genetic abnormality: someone who, despite actually aging, retained the appearance of their youth.
Do you remember the ending of the Princess Kaguya story?
After rejecting her many suitors, Princess Kaguya marries the Emperor.
Princess Kaguya is taken back by a divine army from the moon, and the Emperor and his men—who were determined to protect her even by force—somehow fall asleep, allowing Princess Kaguya to return to the moon.
Upon reading the description of the divine procession arriving from the moon, I imagine many people assumed that Princess Kaguya must have become frail due to illness.
I, however, think that Princess Kaguya was actually Iwanaga-hime.
She must have been so deeply loved by the Emperor, and Iwanaga-hime must have loved him just as deeply.
Yet Iwanaga-hime, whose beauty never aged, likely never imagined—nor did her father—that a genetic abnormality inherited from her ancestors would manifest.
The characteristic of this genetic abnormality was that she reached the peak of her beauty at a very young age, and her appearance likely remained largely unchanged until just before the end of her life.
If we interpret the legends of longevity found around the world as realistically as possible, they can be divided into two types: those whose bodies remain as they were in their youth, and those whose internal physiology is no different from that of ordinary people, but whose appearance remains largely unchanged from their youth.
In that light, the legend that Princess Kaguya grew up instantly does not seem so implausible, does it?
Princess Iwanaga, who was deeply in love with the Emperor, was a woman of both beauty and wisdom.
To further solidify the Emperor’s reign, she must have conducted herself in a manner befitting the Emperor and the imperial court, both in private and in public.
Yet, her beauty remained unchanged for all time.
Even if the people of that era knew that such individuals were occasionally born, this would have provided rival nations with a perfect pretext to level false accusations.
“The Emperor of that country has married a Devil.”
Anyone who fails to understand this cannot be called wise.
Even though the Emperor likely told her there was no need to worry about such things, Princess Iwanaga probably would not listen.
It is said that the clam shell game was originally used by women to hold the rouge they applied to their lips.
It was also used to joyfully store other delicate and precious items.
Princess Kaguya said to the Emperor:
“When you long to see me, Your Majesty, please open this elixir of eternal youth and longevity.”
One night, Princess Iwanaga drugged the Emperor—who had refused to grant her divorce no matter how many times she pleaded—and her guards, putting them all to sleep, and quietly slipped away from the palace.
Protect Princess Kaguya.
Even if it means facing the armies of the gods, even if we are the last one standing, we will protect Princess Kaguya and never leave your side, my lord.
Yet, when I came to, everyone was asleep, and all I could see on that moonlit night was Princess Kaguya walking away.
To the generals, who were overcome with grief and wondered how they could possibly apologize, the Emperor quietly declared:
“It is all right. I, too, fell asleep.”
Even if it means facing the armies of the gods, even if we are the last one standing, we will protect Princess Kaguya and never leave your side, my lord.
Yet, when I came to, everyone was asleep, and all I could see on that moonlit night was Princess Kaguya walking away.
To the generals, who were overcome with grief and wondered how they could possibly apologize, the Emperor quietly declared:
“It is all right. I, too, fell asleep.”
When Princess Iwanaga disappeared, the Emperor, suspecting the worst, opened her drawer and found a beautiful white clam shell container—the one he had given her earlier—still there, holding the red lipstick he had presented to her.
Upon checking inside, he discovered it must have contained a sleeping potion.
Overcome with grief at Princess Kaguya’s departure, the Emperor thought, “What good is immortality in a world where you are no longer here?” and cast the medicine chest into the beautiful crater of the mountain.
Since then, the mountain has taken the name of immortality and has been called Mount Fuji.
Since then, the mountain has taken the name of immortality and has been called Mount Fuji.
Unable to let his lineage die out, I imagine that one moonlit night, the Emperor quietly told his new consort the story of Iwanagahime—the wisest and most beautiful woman in the world, who had sacrificed herself for the sake of the country and the Emperor himself.
“Then,That is why I discarded the red pigment from the shell in the mountains when I welcomed you.”
The new empress was so moved by this that she was momentarily speechless,
and eventually,
“——Your Majesty, that must have been a very sad thing indeed.”
The term “Moonlit Beauty” (Gekka Kajin) uses the moon to describe a “beauty”—a person of both talent and beauty, or someone of exceptional merit.
The new empress was so moved by this that she was momentarily speechless,
and eventually,
“——Your Majesty, that must have been a very sad thing indeed.”
She must have said that.
Though it is an old neologism, I believe “Moonlit Beauty” also refers to both Princess Iwanaga and this empress.
“RainScape Garden ☆ Crow 3 The Beauty of White Moon”
Well then, have a wonderful Sunday.
20260927 18:36 Revised the text.
20260927 19:00 Added music.
20260927 20:42 Revised the text.






