Prince Ōhiko

Prince Ōhiko
大彦命
Shidō Shōgun
Shidō Shōgun withTakenumakahawake, Kibitsuhiko-no-mikoto, and Tanba Michinushi no Mikoto
IssueMimaki-hime
Takenumakahawake
HouseImperial House of Japan
FatherEmperor Kōgen
MotherUtsushikome

Prince Ōhiko (大彦命) was a legendary Japanese general, Shidō Shōgun (simultaneously with Takenumakahawake, Kibitsuhiko-no-mikoto, and Tanba Michinushi no Mikoto), and father of the empress consort Mimaki-hime. His father was Emperor Kōgen, and his mother was the empress consort Utsushikome.[1][2]

Life

Prince Ōhiko came to prominence when he was sent to subjugate northern tribes. In the Nihon-Shoki it says he was sent north,[1] but the Kojiki specifies Koshi Province.[2] One day he heard a girl singing. As he came closer to the girl, he asked her what her song meant. However the girl vanished, and Ōhiko made haste to report to the emperor.[1][2]

In the Nihon-Shoki

In the Nihon-Shoki, the Emperor's sister, Princess Yamato Totohi Momoso, is called. When she arrives, she is able to decipher the message in the girl’s song, and correctly deduces that Takehaniyasuhiko-no-Mikoto, a half brother of Prince Ōhiko, and his wife, Atahime, will start a rebellion.[1][3] Soon after this prediction comes true, and Takehaniyasuhiko-no-Mikoto's army, along with his wife Atahime's army, arrive from opposite directions. Kibitsuhiko-no-mikoto intercepts Atahime's army, and Atahime is killed. Takehaniyasuhiko-no-Mikoto flees to Yamashiro Province, and Prince Ōhiko follows him. Catching up with him, the two fight. Takehaniyasuhiko-no-Mikoto strikes first, but misses, and Prince Ōhiko wins the fight. Upon the end of the war, the Emperor sends Ōhiko to fight "savage tribes abroad".[1][3]

In the Kojiki

In the Kojiki, the Emperor figures out the message of the song himself. This time, Ōhiko goes to Yamashiro Province straight away, where he sees Takehaniyasuhiko-no-Mikoto waiting for him. Takehaniyasuhiko-no-Mikoto once again strikes first but misses, and Ōhiko kills Takehaniyasuhiko-no-Mikoto. Takehaniyasuhiko-no-Mikoto's army flees but Ōhiko's army follows them, and massacres Takehaniyasuhiko-no-Mikoto's army. He returns back to the Emperor and reports the victory. There is no mention of Takehaniyasuhiko-no-Mikoto's wife.[2]

Inariyama Sword

Main article: Inariyama Sword

The Inariyama Sword was a sword found in the tomb of a man named "Wowake".[4] Inscribed on the swords genealogy section is the name "Öpö piko", and this has been theorised to be Prince Ōhiko.[5] However, some historians are wary about this assertion. A professor in the Tokyo Metropolitan University said that Wowake probably only sought to make Prince Ōhiko an ancestor of his after hearing the myth, which would have been known at the time.[6]

Worship

Prince Ōhiko is enshrined in the following Shrines:

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Anston, William George (1896). Nihongi : chronicles of Japan from the earliest times to A.D. 697. Tuttle Publishing.
  2. ^ a b c d Ō no, Yasumaro. The Kojiki: An Account of Ancient Matters. Translated by Heldt, Gustav. Columbia University Press.
  3. ^ a b "日本古代氏族人名辞典 普及版 | NDLサーチ | 国立国会図書館". 国立国会図書館サーチ（NDLサーチ） (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-09-12.
  4. ^ Joan R. Piggott, The Emergence of Japanese Kingship, Stanford University Press, 1997
  5. ^ Takehiko Yoshimura (吉村武彦)『シリーズ日本古代史2 ヤマト王権』（岩波新書）p.82
  6. ^ 世界大百科事典 [World Encyclopedia] (in Japanese). Heibonsha. 2007.
  7. ^ "古四王神社". akita-jinjacho.sakura.ne.jp. Retrieved 2025-09-12.
  8. ^ "日本の神々 : 神社と聖地 第12巻 | NDLサーチ | 国立国会図書館". 国立国会図書館サーチ（NDLサーチ） (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-09-12.
  9. ^ "鵜坂神社". usaka.jp. Retrieved 2025-09-12.
  10. ^ "福井県神社庁｜舟津神社". www.jinja-fukui.jp. Retrieved 2025-09-12.
  11. ^ "伊勢・志摩・紀伊 (日本の神々―神社と聖地)". Goodreads. Retrieved 2025-09-12.
  12. ^ "国立国会図書館デジタルコレクション". dl.ndl.go.jp. Retrieved 2025-09-12.
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