Amaterasu exclaimed from her palace sparkling with gold, addressing her great-grandson, Prince Ninigi:
“Come out of your heavenly rocky chambers and go to rule the rich fields of evergreen rice fields.
She gave him many gifts: precious stones from the depths of the heavenly mountains, crystals as transparent as a sunbeam, and a sword that her brother, Susano-o, forged from the tail of a terrible dragon. She also gave him the mirror, whose radiance had once called her out of the cave, and said at the same time:
“Keep this mirror carefully; as soon as you look into it, it will show you my image.”
Countless deities were chosen to accompany Prince Ninigi, among them was Uzume, she who danced until the sky shook with the laughter of the gods.
A whole crowd broke through the shell and was preparing to descend to the ground, but suddenly at the crossroads, where the heavenly path just breaks into eight different paths, a gigantic deity appeared, sparkling with terrible, fiery eyes. The cheerful mood left the crowd of deities at this sight, and they turned back. Only one beautiful Uzume came forward to meet the giant monster and said to him:
“Who are you that you dare to interfere with our descent to earth?”
The deity liked the beautiful fearlessness of young Uzume, and he warmly objected to her:
- I am the god of the earth, favorable to you; They call me God Proselka. I go out to meet Prince Ninigi to swear to him my zeal and offer him to be a guide. Return and tell the great god that Prince Sarutha bows and wishes good health. This is the prince himself, oh, Uzume!
The goddess, joyful and cheerful, was happy hearing these words and said:
“A host of gods will descend to earth, and you yourself will have the opportunity to greet Prince Ninigi.” To this the god Proselka replied:
- Order the host of gods to descend to Mount Takahihi, in the region of Tsukushi. I will wait for their arrival at the top of the mountain for a ceremonial reception.
She turned Uzume back to the gods and gave them this assignment. When Prince Ninigi heard her words, he broke through the eight-thousandth cloud cover for the second time and descended along the sky bridge to the top of Mount Takahihi.
So the prince of Ninigi set out with the prince of Saruta as a guide to wander around the state that he was supposed to rule. He looked around the chains of mountains and lakes, wide fields of reeds and endless pine forests, rivers and valleys. Then he said:
“This country, kissed by the morning sun, illuminated by the evening sun, is a happy, blessed country.”
Then he began to build himself a palace. Columns and walls rose from the deepest gorges of the valleys, and the roof disappeared into the blue sky. Ninigi began to live in this castle himself. And he said to Saruti:
“Let God Proselka return to his homeland.” He was our guide, and for that, may the charming Uzume be his wife and queen of her country.
Uzume obeyed Niniga's order, and in Sarut, thanks to her courage, cheerfulness and beauty, she was subsequently respected and loved by everyone.
And it happened one day that the son of the gods was walking along the seashore and suddenly met a pretty young girl there. He asked her:
- What's your name? She answered him:
“I am the daughter of the god “Lord of the Mountain Ranges,” and my name is Ko-no-hane, Princess of the Tree Blossom.
The prince immediately fell in love with the beautiful princess. He went to the Lord of the mountain ranges and asked him for the hand of his daughter.
But Oho-Yama had an eldest daughter named Yaha-Naga, who was not nearly as good as her sister; the mountain spirit wanted the offspring of Prince Niniga to live forever, like fairy tales, and to be blooming, like the blossom of the trees. Therefore, Oho-Yama sent his daughters to Ninigi with luxurious clothes and precious gifts. But the prince loved only the marvelously beautiful princess Ko-no-hane and did not spare Yaha-Naga his eyes. Then the latter exclaimed in wild anger: “If you took me as your wife, then you and your children would live forever on earth; but since you fell in love with my sister, your offspring will be fleeting and instantaneous, like the color of trees!
This is why it happens that human life is so short in comparison with the life of the former gods.
For some time, Prince Ninigi and Princess Ko-no-hane lived happily; and then it was like a dark cloud darkened their lives.
Ko-no-hane was of delicate beauty, fresh as the morning, pure, like a white cherry blossom. She loved the sunshine and the gentle western breeze. She loved the gentle rain and quiet summer nights.
But a flame of envy flared up in Niniga’s heart. In grief and despair, Princess Ko-no-hane locked herself in her palace and ordered it to be set on fire. Tongues of fire began to move and began to eat deeper and deeper into the walls of the building - Ninigi was dumbfounded when he saw the fire, in despair and horror. But suddenly three little boys ran out of the burning building and called out to their father; Prince Ninigi rejoiced when the beautiful Ko-ho-nane went to meet him unharmed; he threw himself at her feet and begged for forgiveness. And they named the three children like this: Ho-zeri - Fiery Spark, Ho-zuzeri - Fiery Heat and Ho-vori - Fiery Death.
Many years later, Ninigi divided his power among his sons and then returned to the regions of the blue sky.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru