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Sword of Murakumo.
Of these three treasures of the Empire, the sword of Murak-
umo, afterwards known as Kusanagi-no-Tsrugugi, or the grass-
cleaving sword, is considered the most precious and most
highly to be honored, for it is the symbol of strength to this na-
tion of warriors and the talisman of invincibility for the Emper-
or, while he holds it sacred in the shrine of his ancestors.
Nearly two thousand years ago this sword was kept at the
shrines of Ite, the temples dedicated to the worship of Amater-
asu, the great and beautiful Sun Goddess from whom the
Japanese Emperors are said to be descended.
There is a story of knightly adventure and daring which ex-
plains why the name of the sword was changed from that of
Murakumo to Kasanagi, which means grass clearing.
Once, many, many years ago, there was born a son to the
Emperor Keiko, the twelfth in descent from the great Jimmu,
the founder of the Japanese dynasty. This Prince was the
second son of the Emperor Keiko, and he was named Yamato.
From his childhood he proved himself to be of remarkable
strength, wisdom and courage, and his father noticed with
pride that he gave promise of great things, and he loved him
even more than he did his elder son.
Now when Prince Yamato had grown to manhood (in the
olden days of Japanese history, a boy was considered to have
reached man's estate at the early age of sixteen) the realm was
much troubled by a band of outlaws whose chiefs were two
brothers, Kumaso and Takeru. These rebels seemed to delight
in rebelling against the King, in breaking the laws and defying
all authority.
At last King Keiko ordered his younger son Prince Yamato to
subdue the brigands and, if possible, to rid the land of their
evil lives. Prince Yamato was only sixteen years of age, he had
but reached his manhood according to the law, yet though he
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was such a youth in years he possessed the dauntless spirit of
a warrior of fuller age and knew not what fear was. Even then
there was no man who could rival him for courage and bold
deeds, and he received his father's command with great joy.
He at once made ready to start, and great was the stir in the
precincts of the Palace as he and his trusty followers gathered
together and prepared for the expedition, and polished up their
armor and donned it. Before he left his father's Court he went
to pray at the shrine of Ise and to take leave of his aunt the
Princess Yamato, for his heart was somewhat heavy at the
thought of the dangers he had to face, and he felt that he
needed the protection of his ancestress, Amaterasu, the Sun
Goddess. The Princess his aunt came out to give him glad wel-
come, and congratulated him on being trusted with so great a
mission by his father the King. She then gave him one of her
gorgeous robes as a keepsake to go with him and to bring him
good luck, saying that it would surely be of service to him on
this adventure. She then wished him all success in his under-
taking and bade him good speed.
The young Prince bowed low before his aunt, and received
her gracious gift with much pleasure and many respectful
bows.
"I will now set out," said the Prince, and returning to the
Palace he put himself at the head of his troops. Thus cheered
by his aunt's blessing, he felt ready for all that might befall,
and marching through the land he went down to the Southern
Island of Kiushiu, the home of the brigands.
Before many days had passed he reached the Southern Is-
land, and then slowly but surely made his way to the head-
quarters of the chiefs Kumaso and Takeru. He now met with
great difficulties, for he found the country exceedingly wild
and rough. The mountains were high and steep, the valleys
dark and deep, and huge trees and bowlders of rock blocked
up the road and stopped the progress of his army. It was all
but impossible to go on.
Though the Prince was but a youth he had the wisdom of
years, and, seeing that it was vain to try and lead his men fur-
ther, he said to himself:
"To attempt to fight a battle in this impassable country un-
known to my men only makes my task harder. We cannot clear
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the roads and fight as well. It is wiser for me to resort to
stratagem and come upon my enemies unawares. In that way I
may be able to kill them without much exertion."
So he now bade his army halt by the way. His wife, the Prin-
cess Ototachibana, had accompanied him, and he bade her
bring him the robe his aunt the priestess of Ise had given him,
and to help him attire himself as a woman. With her help he
put on the robe, and let his hair down till it flowed over his
shoulders. Ototachibana then brought him her comb, which he
put in his black tresses, and then adorned himself with strings
of strange jewels just as you see in the picture. When he had
finished his unusual toilet, Ototachibana brought him her mir-
ror. He smiled as he gazed at himself the disguise was so
perfect.
He hardly knew himself, so changed was he. All traces of the
warrior had disappeared, and in the shining surface only a
beautiful lady looked back at him.
Thus completely disguised, he set out for the enemy's camp
alone. In the folds of his silk gown, next his strong heart, was
hidden a sharp dagger.
The two chiefs Kumaso and Takeru wore sitting in their tent,
resting in the cool of the evening, when the Prince approached.
They were talking of the news which had recently been carried
to them, that the King's son had entered their country with a
large army determined to exterminate their band. They had
both heard of the young warrior's renown, and for the first
time in their wicked lives they felt afraid. In a pause in their
talk they happened to look up, and saw through the door of the
tent a beautiful woman robed in sumptuous garments coming
towards them. Like an apparition of loveliness she appeared in
the soft twilight. Little did they dream that it was their enemy
whose coming they so dreaded who now stood before them in
this disguise.
"What a beautiful woman! Where has she come from?" said
the astonished Kumaso, forgetting war and council and
everything as he looked at the gentle intruder.
He beckoned to the disguised Prince and bade him sit down
and serve them with wine. Yamato Take felt his heart swell
with a fierce glee for he now knew that his plan would succeed.
However, he dissembled cleverly, and putting on a sweet air of
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shyness he approached the rebel chief with slow steps and
eyes glancing like a frightened deer. Charmed to distraction by
the girl's loveliness Kumaso drank cup after cup of wine for the
pleasure of seeing her pour it out for him, till at last he was
quite overcome with the quantity he had drunk.
This was the moment for which the brave Prince had been
waiting. Flinging down the wine jar, he seized the tipsy and as-
tonished Kumaso and quickly stabbed him to death with the
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