『古事記』下つ巻「女鳥王と速総別王の反逆」より
「聖帝」とうたわれた大雀命（おおさざきのみこと・仁徳天皇）には、大后の石之日売命（いはのひめのみこと）をはじめ、四人の妻がいました。 天皇はさらに、異母妹の女鳥王（めどりのみこ）を妻にしたいと思い、弟の速総別王（はやぶさわけのみこ）を求婚の使いとして彼女のもとへ送ります。
女鳥王は、やってきた速総別王に言いました。「私の姉は、天皇の妻となってより、大后のせいでつらい思いをしていると聞きます。このお話はお断り申し上げます」続けて彼女は、速総別王にこう告げたのです。「それよりも私は、速総別王さまの妻になりとうございます」
その後、天皇が女鳥王の家へやって来ますが、服を織っていた女鳥王は、「いま織っているのは、速総別王さまの衣です」と言い放ちます。さらに女鳥王は、夫となった速総別王にこんな歌を送りました。 「雲雀（ひばり）は天に翔（かけ）る 高行くや 速総別 雀（さざき）取らさね」 “雀（仁徳天皇）よりも高い空を行くハヤブサ（速総別王）よ、雀など捕まえなさいませ”という、謀反をけしかけるような歌でした。
これを知って怒った天皇は、二人を捕まえて殺そうと軍をおこします。速総別王と女鳥王は、倉椅山（くらはしやま＝現在の桜井市音羽山）へと逃げます。速総別王は、倉椅山のけわしい道を、女鳥王の手を取って登ってゆきます。愛する人と一緒であれば、どんな厳しい道のりも、ものの数ではなかったでしょう。
二人は山を越えて宇陀に入り、曽爾へと進みます。そして宇陀から伊勢へと逃げようとしたのですが、ついに追っ手に捕らえられ、かつて女鳥王に仕えていた山部大楯（やまべのおおたて）の手によって殺されてしまったのです。
ドラマチックな逃避行の果てに、二人が最後を迎えたのが曽爾の地です。現在も、曽爾高原にはその美しい景観を楽しもうと、多くの観光客やカップルが訪れます。古の恋物語ゆかりの山里には、今も、恋人たちの心を引きつける何かがあるのかもしれません。
英訳文を表示する（For English）
From the Kojiki, Volume III “The Rebellion of Princess Medori-no-Miko and Prince Hayabusa-wake-no-Miko”
Osazaki-no-Mikoto (Emperor Nintoku), known as the “Compassionate Emperor,” had four wives, including Empress Iwanohime-no-Mikoto. The word ‘Osazaki’, incidentally, refers to the Eurasian wren.
The emperor wished to marry Princess Medori-no-Miko (Medori literally means ‘female bird’), who was his sister by a different mother, and had his brother, Prince Hayabusa-wake-no-Miko (Hayabusa literally means “falcon”), sent to her as a go-between.
Princess Medori-no-Miko answered Prince Hayabusa-wake-no-Miko when he visited her: “My older sister is already married to the Emperor. But I have heard she has endured suffering because of the jealous Empress Iwanohime-no-Mikoto. I am not going to accept his proposal.” And she continued, “I would rather be your wife, Prince Hayabusa-wake-no-Miko.”
Later on, the Emperor came to see Medori-no-Miko, when she was weaving cloth. She said to the Emperor bluntly, “I am weaving cloth to make a robe for Prince Hayabusa-wake-no-Miko.” Moreover, she composed the following poem and sent it to her intended husband, Hayabusa-wake-no-Miko.
“Hibari wa ameni kakeru, Takayukuya Hayabusa-wake Sazaki torasane” (Skylarks fly high above the sky. The falcon, which flies higher than the wren, should catch it.) The poem suggested that she was encouraging him to rebel against the Emperor.
Having found this out, the Emperor raised his army to capture and kill the couple. Prince Hayabusa-wake-no-Miko and Princess Medori-no-Miko escaped to Mt. Kurahashi (now Mt. Otowa, in Sakurai City). Prince Hayabusa-wake-no-Miko took Princess Medori-no-Miko’s hand and together they climbed the steep slope. Being together with their beloved, they could face any difficult road in front of them.
After crossing over the mountain, they arrived in Uda and went on to Soni. However, before they could reach their final destination, Ise, they were caught by their pursuers, and killed by Yamabe-no-Ootate, who used to serve Medori-no-Miko.
At the end of this dramatic elopement, Soni was the place where the couple met their fate. To the present day, many tourists and couples visit the area to enjoy its scenic beauty. There must have been something that continues to attract the hearts of lovers in this region, in connection with this ancient love story.
Soni Plateau (Soni Village, Uda County) After trying to outrun their pursuers, the couple finally came to their end in Soni Village, Uda County. Soni is a beautiful scenic place, famous for its rugged mountains such as Byoubu-iwa, Yoroi-dake, and Kabuto-dake. The picturesque landscapes of these mountains have been created by nature over a long period of time. Throughout the four seasons, the Soni Highland is rich in natural beauty; the landscape turns into a fresh green meadow in summer, and become thick with silver pampas grass in the autumn. The peaceful village with its ancient love story still attracts couples today.
曽爾高原 【宇陀郡曽爾村】
逃避行を続けた二人は宇陀の曽爾においてその最期を遂げた。屏風岩、鎧岳、兜岳など雄大な自然が時間をかけて生み出したすばらしい景観に包まれた曽爾。夏は新緑の草原、秋は一面のススキの絨毯など、四季を通じて曽爾高原は飽くことない自然の美しさを堪能できる。古の物語に彩られた美しき山里は、今も現代の恋人達を引き寄せる。
関連情報はこちらへ・・・