『古事記』下つ巻「葛城山」より
大長谷若建命（おおはつせのわかたけるのみこと・雄略天皇）が、ある日、お供を引きつれて葛城山に出かけた時のことです。
葛城山の向かいの山の尾根から、天皇の一行と、そっくりな一行がやってきました。人数も同じで、天皇のお供の人たちは、赤いひものついた青い衣を着ていたのですが、その服装もそっくりでした。
驚いた天皇は言いました。「この倭の国に、私の他に王はいないはずなのに、今、私と同じようなかっこうをして行く者たちは、いったいどこの誰なのか」。すると、向こうの一行からも、まったく同じような言葉が返ってきました。 その様子に天皇は腹を立てて弓をかまえ、お供の人たちもそれにならいます。するとどうでしょう、またも相手の一行は、同じように矢をかまえてきたのです。
そこで天皇は、「その名を名乗れ。それぞれに名乗ってから、矢を放とう」とたずねると、相手は「私が先に問われたので、先に名乗るとしよう。私は、どんな善事も、どんな悪事も、一言で言い放つ、葛城の一言主大神（ひとことぬしのおおかみ）であるぞ」と答えました。
びっくりしたのは天皇です。すっかり恐縮して「恐れ多いことです。わが大神さまが現にましますとは存じませんでした」と言うと、持っていた大刀や弓矢をはじめ、お供の人が着ていた衣を脱がせ、それらを一言主大神に献上しました。
一言主大神は手を打って喜び、供え物を受け取りました。そして天皇の一行が帰ろうとすると、大神は葛城山から長谷（はつせ・奈良県桜井市）の山のふもとまで送ったといいます。
気性の荒い暴君といわれた雄略天皇が、自分とそっくりの神様を前にあわてふためく姿が思い浮かび、どこかおかしくもあります。こういった、ちょっと不思議で面白いエピソードが盛り込まれているのも、『古事記』の魅力でしょう。
英訳文を表示する（For English）
From the Kojiki, Volume III “Mt. Katsuragi”
One day, when Ohatsuse-no-Wakatakeru-no-mikoto (Emperor Yuryaku) was climbing Mt. Katsuragi accompanied by his attendants, he saw a group of people coming from the ridge on the opposite side of the mountain. Their appearance was very much like that of his party. Not only the number of the people, but their clothes too were exactly the same. Just like the emperor’s attendants, they were wearing blue tunics with red strings.
In surprise the emperor said, “I am the only emperor of the Kingdom of Yamato. There cannot be anyone else. Who on earth are they, who look just like us?” Then, as he did so, he heard the same words coming from the other group.
The emperor was furious, and aimed an arrow at them. His attendants did the same. Much to his astonishment, the other group, too, aimed their arrows at his party.
The emperor called out, “Give your name. Let’s introduce ourselves to each other before we exchange arrows.” The head of the other group answered, “Since I was asked first, I’ll be the first to give my name. I am the great god Hitokotonushi (lit. ‘man of a single word’) of Katsuragi, who will announce an oracle in a single word, whether the fortune is good or bad.”
The emperor was astounded. Deeply ashamed, he said, “What an honor this is! I never thought that my god would show himself in this world.” The emperor removed his sword, bows and arrows and also ordered his attendants to take off their tunics. He then offered all these things to the god.
The great god Hitokotonushi clapped his hands in delight and accepted the offerings. When the emperor went home, it is said that the god went with him from Mt. Katsuragi to the foot of the mountain in Hatsuse (now Sakurai City, Nara Prefecture) to see him off.
It is pleasant to imagine Emperor Yuryaku, who is remembered as a violent-tempered tyrant, getting flustered in the face of the god who was the exact image of himself. One of the of the Kojiki’s appealing points is that it contains slightly mysterious and amusing episodes like this.
Katsuragi-Hitokotonushi Shrine （ Moriwaki, Gose City） Katsuragi-Hitokotonushi Shrine enshrines the great god Hitokotonushi, who appears in the Kojiki. He is the god of oracles and announces people’s fortunes in a single word, whether the fortune is good or bad. Today, he is worshipped by many people as the god who will answer their prayers if there is just one wish in them. Nicknamed “Ichigon-san” (lit. ‘a single word’), the shrine is very popular among the local people.
葛城一言主神社 【御所市森脇】
『古事記』に登場した一言で悪事も善事も言い放つ託宣の神・一言主大神。現代では「願いを一言だけきいてくださる」神様としてたくさんの参拝者が訪れ、地元では「いちごんさん」として親しまれている。
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