『日本書紀』応神天皇 9
一云、日向諸縣君牛、仕于朝庭、年既耆耈之不能仕、仍致仕退於本土、則貢上己女髮長媛。始至播磨、時天皇幸淡路嶋而遊獵之。於是天皇西望之、數十麋鹿、浮海來之、便入于播磨鹿子水門。天皇謂左右曰「其何麋鹿也、泛巨海多來。」爰左右共視而奇、則遣使令察、使者至見、皆人也、唯以著角鹿皮爲衣服耳。問曰「誰人也。」對曰「諸縣君牛、是年耆之、雖致仕、不得忘朝。故以己女髮長媛而貢上矣。」天皇悅之、卽喚令從御船。是以、時人號其著岸之處曰鹿子水門也。凡水手曰鹿子、蓋始起于是時也。
≪英訳≫
One account tells of a lord from Hyuga Province named Kimi Ushi who served at the imperial court. As he grew old and could no longer serve, he retired to his homeland. To continue showing his loyalty, he sent his daughter with long hair, named Kaminaga-hime, to the court. On her journey to Harima, the Emperor, who was then visiting Awaji Island for hunting, saw several dozen deer swimming across the sea towards Harima. The Emperor, intrigued, thought these were deer but discovered they were people dressed in deer skins with antlers, led by Kimi Ushi. He explained that although he was retired due to his age, he still wanted to serve the court, hence he sent his daughter as a tribute. The Emperor was pleased and invited them onto his royal boat. This is how the place got its name, “Kako no Minato (Deer Child Watergate),” . Since then, the term "kako" has been used to refer to a waterman (kako sailor).
≪この英文の和訳≫
ある話によると、日向(ひむか、ひゅうが)の諸県(もろがた)の君牛(きみうし)は朝廷に仕えていましたが、年齢のために仕えられなくなり、故郷に帰りました。それでも朝廷への忠誠を示すために、彼は娘の髪長媛(かみながひめ)を献上しました。髪長媛が播磨(はりま)に到着した時、ちょうど天皇は淡路島(あわじしま)で狩りを楽しんでおられました。そこで天皇は西の方を見ると数十頭の鹿が海を渡って来きました。これらは鹿の皮を着て角をつけた人々で、君牛が引率していました。君牛は老いても朝廷への奉仕を忘れず、娘を献上したと説明しました。天皇はこれを喜び、彼らを皇船に招きました。この場所は「鹿子水門(かこみなと)」と呼ばれるようになり、それ以来、水手(かこ 船員)を鹿子(かこ)いう言葉が使われるようになりました。
令和6年4月7日(日) 2024
