Tenson-korin

The Tenson-korin narrative, set out in the upper scroll of the Kojiki (712 CE) and the age-of-the-gods ninth section of the Nihon Shoki (720 CE), recounts the descent of Ninigi-no-Mikoto, grandson of Amaterasu-Omikami, from Takamagahara to the Ashihara-no-Nakatsukuni. The descent was originally to be performed by his father Ame-no-Oshihomimi-no-Mikoto, but the role passed to Ninigi. He is entrusted with the three sacred regalia - the mirror, the sword Kusanagi and the magatama - and accompanied by the warrior gods Ame-no-Oshihi and Amatsukume and the five accompanying deities (Omoikane, Ame-no-Koyane, Futodama, Ame-no-Uzume and Tamanoya). At a crossroads Sarutahiko-no-Kami is met and engaged as guide through the agency of Ame-no-Uzume, and Ninigi alights on Kushifurutake of Takachiho in Tsukushi-no-Hyuga. Two locations contest the descent site: Mount Takachiho in the Kirishima range (Kagoshima), site of Kirishima Jingu, and Takachiho in Nishi-Usuki-gun (Miyazaki), site of Takachiho Shrine and Amano Iwato Shrine. Later commentary includes Motoori Norinaga's Kojiki-den, with parallel narratives in the Sendai Kuji Hongi and the Kogo Shui.