古代出雲と朝鮮半島 : 神話で描いている長距離貿易

概要

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One of the peculiarities of the historical chronicle Nihon shoki (better known to the English audience by the name Nihongi) is that it often records variations of the myths about it relates. This paper concentrates on one of these variations, the fourth variation given to the well-known myth about Susano as he descends to Izumo and slays the eight-headed snake Yamatano Orochi. Contradictory to Nihon shoki's main text, the variation here put under analysis tells that Susano first leads many soldiers to Korea, and thereafter goes to Izumo in a boat made of mud. The present paper argues that Susano here represents a tradesman, and that the myth depicts the exchange of Japanese soldiers for Korean earthenware, the latter thereafter brought to western Izumo. It is further suggested that during the late Yayoi Period a center for long-distance trade existed in western Izumo, something that could explain both the myth, as well as the extraordinary archaeological finds done in area.