This week, I present a trial translation of Isaburo Masui’s manuscript of the Divine Record (Koki). Written in 1883, it is obviously more elaborate than earlier Koki manuscripts.

Here is the translation:¹

Ancient Chronicles of the Kami²

1 Introduction, Story of Creation

In the beginning, neither the world nor human beings existed, there was nothing but a muddy ocean. Within (the muddy ocean) were the Kami Cosmic Space-Time (Tsuki-Hi) {alone. Tsuki-sama (Moon/Space) was}³ the Kami called Kunitokotachi-no-Mikoto. Hi-sama (Sun/Time) is the Kami called Omotari-no-Mikoto. Among them, Tsuki-sama was present first. He surveyed the landscape and discussed the following with Hi-sama: “There is no enjoyment if it is just the two of us, Tsuki and Hi alone in the muddy ocean with no one to revere us as Kami. Let us create human beings and create a world. If we provide them with protection, these human beings will be precious indeed. We will observe their joyous excursion⁴ as well as observe them engaging in other matters.”

Having made this proposal, a seed and seedbed were needed to make these human beings and required instruments and models. {Tsuki-Hi-sama} then went to search for these instruments and models.

When they looked carefully, there was an Uo⁵ called a gigyo (salamander). This Uo was also called a merman. His face was that of a human and had no scales. His skin was the skin of a human. When they looked again, there was a white snake called Mi.⁶ This one too, had skin like humans have now and had no scales. These two, their heart-minds were straight and honest. Seeing their appearance and heart-minds, {Tsuki-Hi-sama} drew and received them. Based on their appearance, {Tsuki-Hi-sama} discussed the matter and decided to receive them as the seed and seedbed to create human beings. After drawing them, {Tsuki-Hi-sama} said,

“At this time, {we are about to embark on the creation of what are called}”}³ human beings. We would like to receive you as the seed and {seedbed}³ of human beings based on your appearance and heart-minds.”

{The Uo and Mi} hated {the prospect} and humbly refused. But {Tsuki-Hi-sama} pressed them,

“After creating human beings and creating the world, you will be bestowed (the role of) primary Kami of the living world and be worshiped as the Parental Kami of human beings.”

Saying this, {Tsuki-Hi-sama} forced them to consent and received them.

2 Search for instruments

From that moment, when {Tsuki-Hi-sama} looked carefully to search for instruments, souls of human beings, and instruments and models for the entire body, there were nothing but loaches in the muddy ocean. {Tsuki-Hi-sama} received and consumed them, and made them the souls of human beings after tasting the flavor of their heart-minds. When they further looked carefully, there was a shachihoko in the northwest. Gaining his consent, {Tsuki-Hi-sama} received and consumed him. After tasting the flavor of his heart-mind, because the shachihoko proved to be forceful, strong, and very rigid, {Tsuki-Hi-sama} trained him as the male primary instrument and assigned him the protection of human bones. Further, there was a turtle in the southeast. {Tsuki-Hi-sama} received and consumed her. {Tsuki-Hi-sama} tasted the flavor of her heart-mind and considered her appearance. Because this life form had a strong hide and would not fall over, {Tsuki-Hi-sama} trained her to become the primary female instrument and assigned her the protection of human skin and joining. Further, there was an eel in the east. {Tsuki-Hi-sama} received and consumed her. {Tsuki-Hi-sama} tasted the flavor of her heart-mind and considered her appearance. Because this life form was forceful, strong, and could enter and exit (any space) from its head or tail, she was assigned the protection of human drinking, eating, and elimination. These make up the entire body.

When {Tsuki-Hi-sama} looked carefully for an instrument and model for human breath as well as the ability to allow them to speak words carried by the wind, there was a righteye flounder in the southwest. {Tsuki-Hi-sama} gained his consent, received and consumed him. {Tsuki-Hi-sama} tasted the flavor of his heart-mind and considered his appearance. This life form’s body was thin and {was flavorful. Because a round}³ and angled object cannot produce a wind but a wind can be produced by fanning a thin object, he was assigned the protection of human breathing and wind. Further, when {Tsuki-Hi-sama} looked carefully for an instrument to first of all create food, the source of human enjoyment, there was a black snake in the west. {Tsuki-Hi-sama} drew, received, and consumed him. {Tsuki-Hi-sama} tasted the flavor of his heart-mind and considered his appearance. Because this life form was forceful, strong, and would not tear apart even when pulled, he was the instrument used first as the protection of pulling forth what grows from the earth such as food and crops. Further, when {Tsuki-Hi-sama} looked carefully for an instrument to cut the ties between mother and child  hen human beings are born as well as the ties of life when dying and being reborn, there was an aquatic creature called a fugu in the northeast. {Tsuki-Hi-sama} received and consumed her. {Tsuki-Hi-sama} tasted the flavor of her heart-mind and considered her appearance. Because this life form had a great appetite and caused food poisoning, she was assigned the protection of cutting the ties of life and death. She was assigned the protection of cutting all things of this living world.

3 Training the instruments

Among these aquatic creatures, {Tsuki-Hi-sama} forcefully received the life forms who hated {the prospect} of being made instruments, discussed and decided to create human beings. In the gigyo {Tsuki-Hi-sama} trained the shachihoko as the primary male instrument. The heart-mind of Kunitokotachi-no-Mikoto entered him and he became a male Kami and the seed of human beings. In the Mi {Tsuki-Hi-sama} trained the turtle as the primary female instrument. The heart-mind of Omotari-no-Mikoto entered her and she became a female Kami and the seedbed of human beings. The Kami placed their bodies centered on the spot of the Kanrodai in this Residence. With their heads pointing north, they conceived a total of 9 hundred million, 99 thousand, 9 hundred and 99 children over 3 days and 3 nights 2 at a time while pressing their bodies together saying Namu Namu. Based on this, Namu is the alpha and the omega. When human beings now say Namu Namu, this is a good thing. Namu means husband and wife. Husband and wife were modeled after the sky and earth. Human beings were named ningen because when the model merman (ningyo) and human beings possess something good, it is now called gen. Human beings were named ningen based on this twofold principle.

4 Origin of directional names and other phrases

Regarding {the origin of the words} east and west, {the words} east, west, south, and north: The west is called nishi because it was the direction human beings (honshin) turned their eyes to at the time of conception when they laid down with their heads to the north and facing west. The east is called higashi because they turned their eyes from the west to the east. The north is called kita because Gi-sama rose first and was facing north. The south is called minami because Mi-sama was facing south when she rose.

Regarding {the origin of the phrase} kono yo: this living world is called kono yo based on the principle of how Tsuki-sama, illuminating the world by night (yo), came first and the world began from night. All these things said by humans were modeled after human beings and named at the beginnings of origin.

The body is a thing borrowed from the Kami. The Kami who provide protection for human beings are Kunitokotachi-no-Mikoto and Omotari-no-Mikoto. These two {Kami}¹⁰ are the original Kami. The remaining eight Kami are the set of instruments that were used when human beings were created and given sacred names. These ten Kami are the original Kami of this living world.

Their explanations are as follows:

5 Explanations of the 10 Kami

Kunitokotachi-no-Mikoto in the Cosmos is Tsuki-sama. This Kami is a male Kami and he appeared as a one-headed, one-tailed giant dragon. He surveys the world and the landscape (kunitoko). He is called Kunitokotachi-no-Mikoto based on this principle. He is also called Kunisadame-no-Mikoto because he surveys (sadame) the country (kuni). He is called Tsuki-sama because he prodded (tsuku) from above when human beings were conceived. Because Tsuki-sama stood first, we do not say Hi-Tsuki but we say Tsuki-Hi. Again, 30 days equals a month (hito-tsuki). In Buddhism, he appears as Shaka Nyorai, who gave us the Buddhist teachings. Also, as he came out first and began the Law, he is called venerable Thousand-Armed Kannon. He is the venerable Kami who protects eyes and moisture in the human body. Eyes are things borrowed from this Kami.

Omotari-no-Mikoto in the Cosmos is Nichirin-sama (Hi-sama). This Kami is a female Kami and she appeared as a 12-headed, 3-tailed giant serpent with a sword on each tail. This venerable Kami is called Omotari-no-Mikoto because she became heavy (omokunaru) as the days progressed after human beings were conceived. She is called Nichirin-sama because her blessings (ri) increased as the days (nichinichi) progressed. Because she had a sword (ken) on each of her 3 tails, a bad woman is called jaken even now. Each of her 12 heads take turns offering protection over each month during the 12 months. (Each of her heads) take turns offering protection as the days progress. Further, each of the heads take turns offering protection over each double hour. Because of this, one year is fixed at 12 months and one day refers to 12 double hours. Each head surrounds and protects each of the 12 directions. The 12 earthly branches are called so based on this principle. In Buddhism she is the Amitabha triad.¹¹ Further, based on the principle of purifying the heart-mind, she is Mahasthamaprapta and Kannon.  Because she was broad-minded, she is also called magnanimous (kandai). That she is also called Kannon is based on the same principle. She is the Kami who provides the protection of warmth in the human body; warmth is also a thing borrowed from this Kami.

These two venerable Kami are the true Parents of human beings in this living world. Because they enter human beings like how they illuminate this living world, they provide free and unlimited protection.

The other venerable Kami have their respective workings due to the protection of these two venerable Kami.

Kunisazuchi-no-Mikoto, this venerable Kami in the Cosmos is Gensuke-boshi (Canopus) and a female Kami. She appeared as a turtle. The hides of turtles are strong, their footing upon the earth is strong, and they do not fall over. Because she was the color of the earth (tsuchi), she was bestowed the name Kunisazuchi-no-Kami. Because she was trained as the primary female instrument, the vagina is called omeko based on the principle of the turtle’s shell (kameko). Women are called onago based on this same principle. She provides the protection of human skin and joining. In Buddhism, she provides the protection of Samantabhadra, Bodhidharma, Sarasvati, the Kami of marriage, and the Kami of Obaku-san. Money and joining in this living world and every form of joining are all protections of this Kami. Skin and joining in the human body {are things borrowed from this venerable Kami. Every form of joining are this Kami’s protection.}³

Tsukiyomi-no-Mikoto, this Kami in the Cosmos is Hagunsei (Alkaid) and a male Kami. He appeared as a shachihoko. Further, the one who leaves behind a carp is of the same nature. Shachihoko are forceful, strong, and very rigid. Because of this, he was trained as the primary male instrument. The male instrument is called seinoko based on this principle. Because men prod (tsuku) during conception, {this Kami} was bestowed the name Tsukiyomi-no-Mikoto based on this principle. In Buddhism he is called the venerable Hachiman and provides the protection of the venerable Kami Prince Shotoku. He provides the protection of bones in the human body.

The venerable Kami {Kumoyomi-no-Mikoto}³ in the Cosmos is Venus as the morning star. She is a female Kami and appeared as an eel. Because this life form could enter and exit from either its head or tail and was slippery, she was the instrument used for human drinking, eating, and elimination. She was bestowed the name Kumoyomi-no-Mikoto because of this. In Buddhism she is called Manjushri, the Dragon King, Shennong, Bhaisajyaguru, and Sujin-sama. The functions of drinking, eating, and elimination are things borrowed from this Kami. The entire body is called go-tai because of the protection provided by these five Kami.

Kashikone-no-Mikoto, this Kami in the Cosmos are stars that assemble in the southwest. He is a male Kami and appeared as a righteye flounder. Because this life form’s body was thin, he was utilized as the instrument for human breathing and the wind. He was bestowed the name Kashikone-no-Mikoto because of this. In the Buddhism, he provides the protections of the venerable Kami Vairocana Buddha and venerable Enko Daishi. Human breathing is a thing borrowed from this venerable Kami. The breath is wind and the wind carries our words.

The human body can be moved freely because these six Kami enter it, truly making it a thing borrowed from these Kami. These six Kami are “Namu Amida Butsu.” “Namu” is eyes and warmth. “Ami” is skin/joining and the bones, the core. “Da Butsu” is drinking/eating/elimination and breathing. “Namu Amida Butsu” refers to the human body. This makes six the foundation of the body. Fire and water are the primary Kami. There are no Kami other than these and wind. Breath is wind. Wind is Kami, and the wind blows away all ills.

Further, the Kami called Otonobe-no-Mikoto in the Cosmos is the evening star. He is a male Kami and appeared as a black snake (kurogutsuna). Because he was vigorous, strong, and would not break when pulled, he became the Kami that was used as the instrument for pulling forth human food, crops, and manifold matters. Further, people who pull forth are called kuroto or experts. In all matters, people who stand at the forefront are now named experts. {This Kami is} called Otonobe-no-Mikoto based on this principle. In the Buddhist faith, he is named Acala. He further provides the protection of the Kami Kobo Daishi and En no Gyoja. Because of this, he is the Kami of farmers.

The venerable Kami Taishokuten-no-Mikoto in the Cosmos are the stars assembled in the northeast. She is a female Kami and she appeared as  fish called fugu. Because you can be poisoned if you eat it, she was used as the instrument to cut the ties of life at death. Eating it in great amounts (taishoku) will shorten one’s term of life. She was bestowed the name Taishokuten-no-Mikoto based on this principle. In the Buddhist faith, she is Akasagarbha, Myoken-sama, Hariti, and Agata-san.¹⁴ She provides the same protection as these Kami. This is the venerable Kami that are the scissors and cuts manifold matters.

The Kami {Izanagi-no-Mikoto}³ in the Cosmos is the star across the Milky Way, which is called Tanabata.¹⁶ He was a fish called gegyo (salamander) or merman. This One appeared as a human being we know today and his heart-mind was straight and true. He was then used as a model for human seeds and is the Father of human beings. He is enshrined in the Inner Shrine of the Grand Shrine at Ise as proof of this.

The Kami Izanami-no-Mikoto in the Cosmos is the star across the Milky Way called Tanabata.¹⁷ She is a female Kami and appeared as a white snake. This white snake had the beautiful skin of human beings and her heart-mind was straight and true. She was used as the seedbed of human beings. She is the Mother of human beings. She is enshrined in the Outer Shrine of the Grand Shrine at Ise as proof of this.

6 Tenrin-O-no-Mikoto

Tenrin-O-no-Mikoto is the combined name¹⁸ of these 10 Kami. These venerable Kami were instruments used at the creation of human beings that previously did not exist. The human body {exists} due to the protection of these venerable Kami. There are no other Kami other than these Kami of the body. Although Kami and Buddhist deities are worshiped in this living world, because they are made from paper, metal, or wood, it must be known the Kami cannot enter this paper, metal, or wood. Because all the Kami enter human beings, there is no Kami superior to human beings.

At this time, the name Tenrin-O-no-Mikoto has been bestowed to the 86-year old woman Miki Nakayama. This One, her entire being and heart-mind was singly dedicated to saving others since she was young. Her heart-mind was accepted and discerned so by Tsuki-Hi and because she was born with the soul of Izanami-no-Mikoto, {Tsuki-Hi-sama} descended upon her 46 years ago and accepted her flesh as the Shrine of Tsuki-Hi. Because her heart-mind was in accord with Tenri, the Cosmic Order, the name Tenrin-O-no-Mikoto was bestowed on this Residence instead of Miki. Further, because this Residence is the original locale where human beings were conceived, this name was bestowed on this place.

All these talks that have been taught {to intermediaries}³ are not from the heart-mind of the aforementioned Miki nor anything from her memory but talks from the Kami {taught to}³ to intermediaries since Tsuki-Hi-sama descended 46 years ago until today. The souls of the 10 Kami have been first born as human beings, Tsuki-Hi then entered them and these human beings became primary instruments used by Tsuki-Hi.

7 Joyous excursion

Until this time, this salvation could not be taught. For this reason, until now throughout the world prostrations, incantations²¹, consulting divination methods, doctors, and medicines: these were all taught as tending and fertilizing of human beings.

Until now, the conception of human beings was completed and the years equal to the human beings born has passed. {Because of this, the souls of the Kami of origin}¹⁰ were born at this Residence. At human conception, {the mother of human beings, Izanami-sama} stayed for 3 years and 3 months at this Residence and {human beings} were born at this Residence. Because this is the homeland of the human beings of this living world, at the time when the instruments were received, {Tsuki-Hi-sama} made the promise when the years equal to human beings {born} had elapsed, {Tsuki-Hi-sama} would bring them back to the original Residence, watch their joyous excursion and have them engage in pleasure and play. For this reason, {Tsuki-Hi-sama} had the original Parent born and entered that One as the Shrine of Tsuki-Hi and taught salvation. It was truly a difficult task to create human beings and the world from which neither existed nor had any form.

8 Salvation and dusts

Further, it is the same regarding beginning and teaching salvation at this time. What Kami speaks has not been written down until now. There is nothing that human beings {already} know. What is being said and taught is not contained in what already exists. Because {Kami} is saying and teaching what has not been written down nor is it something that human beings {already} know, it ought to be a difficult task indeed.

This living world is the body of Tsuki-sama and Hi-sama. The world is in the embrace of the sky and the earth. Human beings are living in the bosom of Tsuki-Hi-sama. For this reason, there is nothing human beings do that is unknown to Tsuki-Hi-sama. Human beings are all children of the Kami. As {human} bodies are things borrowed from the Kami, there is no one who is an outsider. All are brothers and sisters.

Until now, when it came to illness, human beings relied on doctors, medicine, prostrations, and incantations. Although there is no such thing as illness in human beings, because human beings travel on 8 paths of misguided heart-minds{, there is illness}. The origin of illness is the heart-mind. These 8 misguided heart-minds are covetousness, miserliness, {grudge-bea and dustsring}³, anger, self-love, hatred, greed, and arrogance. These 8 misguided heart-minds become dust in the body. Any ills of children until age 15 are the parents’ dusts appearing in the child as an admonition. Any ill, illness, or misfortune above the age of 15 are all primarily the accumulated dust of the individual and of the household. They are {the Kami’s} admonition and anger. This admonition is not out of spite but from the wish to save people and have them reform their heart-minds. If you request salvation to this Parent, if everyone in a household prays and follows the Parent’s teachings, sincerely repents for the 8 misguided heart-minds since age 15, thereafter eliminates falsehood, flattery, greed, and arrogance as well as changes their heart-mind to one seeking to save others, then the Kami will accept everyone’s heart-minds and grant manifold forms of salvation.

9 Kagura Service

The teaching of the Kagura Service at this time, this is also beginning something that has not existed until now. This {Service} gives form to the 10 Kami. The two {main} dancers are Kunitokotachi-no-Mikoto and Omotari-no-Mikoto. {Those who take on the role of} male Kami wear male masks and {others who take on the role of} female Kami wear female masks. The hand motions of the Service are modeled on the original instruments, learning them allows the dance of the joyous excursion. These 10 Service performers together with 9 performing the musical instruments, bring the grand total of Service performers to 19, this is the Joyous Service. The Joyous Service grants salvation because human beings and this world was made in order to witness their joyous excursion. Subsequently, by bringing forth the original appearances {of the Kami} and bringing about their spiritual uplift will help people be saved. Human beings do not know this because their heart-minds are misguided, thinking only of their own benefit. The salvation that is being taught at this time consists of sweeping away all ills and praying with a joyous heart-mind. Because the human heart-mind is the same as the Kami’s heart-mind and the human body is a thing borrowed from the Kami, when the human heart-mind is uplifted, the Kami’s heart-mind will also be uplifted and grant protection. The ills of the body will be granted manifold salvation through the Service alone means the persons praying and the Service performers are sincerely praying for salvation.

10 Grant of Safe Childbirth

When it comes to human bodies and things borrowed from the Kami, ponder the Kami’s free blessings of the salvation known as the Grant of Safe Childbirth. If you come to request this Grant of childbirth, this eliminates the need to wear an abdominal band, lean on objects, or abstain from certain foods for 75 days. {A mother gives birth} without any ritual impurity. The Grant of Safe Childbirth {grants a woman blessings} as she usually is. This is proof the Kami created human beings and opened the path to manifold forms of salvation.

11 Amulets and charms

Further, from now on, the salvation of purifying the heart-minds of human beings and allowing us to live as long as we like without falling ill, prematurely dying, or growing frail will be taught. When it comes to the Grant of Safe Childbirth, the protection of quickening or delaying {the childbirth will be granted} according to {a mother’s} prayers. Amulets protecting against smallpox and misfortune will be bestowed. Regarding salvation for farmers, there will be charms to encourage the germination {of seeds}, charms against insects, charms to encourage the maturity {of crops}, and the charm of the Sazuke of Fertilizer. The Sazuke of Fertilizer is a grant where one offers 3 go²⁴ each of rice bran, ashes, and soil. This mixture totaling 9 go²⁵ is applied to a field and has the same efficacy of 1 da²⁶ of fertilizer. A thousand of these charms are placed and the {respective} Service performed. For the Fertilizer, 100 da ²⁷ of {the aforementioned mixture is placed} and the Service is performed. These are the Main forms of the Kagura Service.

12 Miki’s red kimono

That the old mother wears a red kimono is like the Cosmos shining down. Tsuki-sama and Hi-sama shine in the Cosmos {like} eyes. When the eyes are open, the world around is bright. Because of this, having the Shrine {of Tsuki-Hi} wear red makes the world bright. Because of this, the Shrine {of Tsuki-Hi} sees everything. Because of this, wearing any other {color} kimono will make her body dark and she cannot wear it. Although the Shrine {of Tsuki-Hi} is a human being the same as us, because she possesses the soul of the original Parent Izanami-no-Mikoto, she wishes to save and loves everyone. Because Tsuki-Hi-sama entered her, making her the Model and teaching salvation, if people around the world return to the Parental Home praying to be saved by the Parent and replace their minds Modeled on this Parent, salvation is assured and there will be no mistake in the returns Kami will give based on one’s good and evil deeds.

13 The Story of Creation, continued

At the creation of human beings, at the center of the Residence, the shachihoko, the male primary instrument was trained in Izanagi-no-Mikoto and Kunitokotachi-no-Mikoto entered. Loaches were then made human souls. The turtle, the female primary instrument was trained in Izanami-no-Mikoto and Omotari-no-Mikoto entered. As the seedbed of human beings {she became}, with 9 hundred million, 99 thousand, 9 hundred and 99 beings conceived in her Namu Namu over 3 days and 3 nights. There {she} stayed for 3 years and 3 months and then gave birth in the 7 ri²⁸-area square between Nara and Hase²⁹ over 7 days. This locale is known as “Kamigata” (the Divine Residence) for this reason. {She then} gave birth in the remainder of Yamato Province over 4 days. This is why the 1{1}^{th 3} day after childbirth is called obiya-ake. From that point on {Izanami-no-Mikoto} gave birth in the three provinces of Iga, Kawachi, and Yamashiro over 19 days. It is for this reason the 30^th day after childbirth is called hanmiya. {Izanami-no-Mikoto then} gave birth in the remaining provinces over 45 days, making the birthing process 75 days total. This is the reason why there is {the custom of a mother remaining} in a birthing room 75 days {after childbirth}. In other words, the Parents breathed on {the children} when giving birth. The places {Izanami-no-Mikoto} gave birth are places of shrines. At this point Izanagi-no-Mikoto died.

These human beings were born 5 bu³¹ tall and matured to (a height of) 3 sun³² over 99 years and died. By the divine providence already taught {her}, the original number of children were conceived in the same womb over 10 months. {Izanami-no-Mikoto} gave birth in the same areas and the places {she gave birth} are graves and cemeteries. The human beings were also born 5 bu tall and matured to 3 sun and 5 bu³³ over 99 years and all died. Then, by the {providence taught her, in the same womb}³ {Izanami-sama} conceived a third time over 10 months in the same areas as before and these places are now temples. Thus places of worship are first shrines, second cemeteries, and third temples.

These human beings also were born 5 bu tall and matured to 4 sun³⁵ over 99 years. Seeing this, Izanami-sama rejoiced to herself, “{At this rate} they will become human beings 5 shaku tall³⁶,” and died with a smile on her lips. With the principle human beings were 4 sun and that {Izanami-sama died} with a smile on her lips (nikkori warota), human beings are now born from a space 2 by 4 sun³⁷ and die to enter a hole 2 shaku by 4 sun.³⁸

The human beings all died yearning for their Parent. From that point on, they were reborn as birds, beasts, worms, an^th d insects 8 thousand and 8 times. This is the reason why human beings can imitate other creatures.

At the 9 thousandth 9 hundredth and 99^th year, they all died. All that remained was a single monkey. This was Kunisazuchi-no-Mikoto. In her womb, 5 boys and 5 girls, or 10 children at a time were born, also 5 bu tall. When they matured equally to 8 sun³⁹, highs and lows developed in the muddy waters. When they matured to 1 shaku and 8 sun⁴⁰, the children became parents {themselves and gave birth in the same numbers as above}³, whereupon the water and earth separated. From that point on, {human beings} were born two at a time in the same womb, a boy and a girl and when they matured to (the height of) 3 shaku (⁴², the sky and the earth as well as the ocean and the mountains separated. Human beings then began to speak. This is the reason why at age 3⁴³ human beings begin to speak. When human beings matured to 5 shaku³⁶, in accordance with their maturity, the sky and the earth, the ocean and the mountains swiftly separated.

Among the 9 hundred million, 99 thousand, 9 hundred and 99 beings, those born in Yamato rose onto the land of Japan and those born in other provinces went about eating food and came upon the lands of the periphery and beyond.⁴⁵

Within the 9 thousand 9 hundred and 99 years, {human beings} lived in the water. The year 46 years ago was 9 thousandth 9 hundredth and 99^th year they came upon land. Among these years, the Kami entered human beings and taught them everything over 6 thousand years. There is nothing among all that human beings do and know that were not taught by the Kami. Even after creating human beings, this is the first time that the Kami have entered a human body and borrowed her lips to teach this. The number of those who truly understand this is few indeed. If you believe it to be false, it will become false. If you believe it to be true, it will become true. If you sincerely believe what Kami says, believe it to be true, and pray, all will be saved by the teachings alone without having to engage in prostrations, incantations, or partaking medicine. This is proof.

14 The Kanrodai and death

Further, placing the Kanrodai is to show proof of the place human beings were conceived and its form is to be built according to what original 10 Kami have said. Further, from now on, once the heart-minds of the whole world are purified, place a flat vessel atop the Kanrodai, offer food and receive the kanro (sweet dew) and it is said {eating} this will bring long life.

Human beings will have no longer have illness, medicine, or poison. The origin of these are from the heart-mind. Although it is said that human beings go to die but human beings do not die. It is the Kami departing. The Kami have taught that death is the same as disrobing and discarding a set of clothes.

Notes