著者

村山 直子

雑誌

学習院大学人文科学論集 (ISSN:09190791)

巻号頁・発行日

no.9, pp.103-121, 2000-09-30

---

According tQ a myth, the Central Land of the Reed Plains was mainly conquered by Futsunushi alld Takemikazuchi. Both of them are generally considered to be worshipped by the Nakatomi clan. But in my opinion, Futsunushi originally had a close relation to the Mononobe clan, charged with military and religious affairs. It appears that the Nakatomi clan linked itself to Futsunushi in place of the Mononobe clan after the downfall of the latter. Takemikazuchi is enshrined in Kashima shrine in Ibaragi Prefecture, and Futsunushi is enshrined in Katori shrine in Chiba Prefecture. In the area around Katori shrine, there are many sites of bead making in the middle of the Kofun period, and in those sites quite many imitation beads made of stone were excavated that represent the power of the Yamato regime, whereas in the area around Kashima shrine no site like these has been found. So it is likely thatKatori shrine was an important strategic point when the Yamato regime extended its power to the eastern land. On the other hand, the Mononobe clan played an important part in Yamato army. These facts show that there is a close relation between Futsunushi and the Mononobe clan. Besides, Futsunushi led the conquest of the Central Land of the Reed Plains in the myth of the Nihonshoki, whereas Takemikazuchi plays there a subordinative part. It appears that at first this myth narrated exclusively Futsunushi’s deed, and Takemikazuchi’s role was added to it later. Izumo region which is the scene of this myth has a close relation to the Mononobe clan, and Futsunushi was worshipped in Izumo from ancient times. There is a shrine named Kanbara near the place where a site of bead making in the middle of the Kofun period was discovered, and Iwatsutsuwo and iwatsutsume who are Futsunushi’s parents are enshrined there. Thus Katori shrine and Kanbara shrine which are dedicated to Futsunushi and his parents are located in the area where the sites of bead making which verify the controle of the Mononobe clan exist. As a result of these analyses I conclude that there is an intimate connection between Futsunushi and the Mononobe clan.