Definition
The Hotsuma Tsutae (Japanese: 秀真伝) is an extensive Japanese epic poem that narrates a version of the nation’s legendary history. Its content diverges significantly from the mainstream mythological accounts recorded in the Kojiki and the Nihon Shoki.
Overview
The poem consists of more than 10,000 lines written in an archaic form of Japanese known as yamato‑kotoba. It recounts the lives of deities, rulers, and heroes from the Late Jōmon through the Early Kofun periods (approximately the 8th century BC to the 3rd century AD). The Hotsuma Tsutae was first brought to scholarly attention through a manuscript dedicated to a shrine by Yasutoshi Waniko (also known as Yunoshin Ibo) in 1775. Portions of the text were published and translated into modern Japanese in 1884. The manuscript survived a period of obscurity and was rediscovered in 1993.
Scholars remain divided over the poem’s origins. Some argue that it may represent a genuine pre‑modern Japanese tradition, while the majority view it as a later creation—potentially an Edo‑period forgery—due to its use of an alleged pre‑Chinese Japanese script (jindai moji) and linguistic features that align more closely with later stages of Japanese. No definitive consensus has been reached.
Etymology / Origin
The title Hotsuma Tsutae combines the characters 秀 (hitsu/hosu, “excellent” or “outstanding”) and 真 (shin, “truth”), with 伝 (den, “transmission” or “legend”). The phrase can be interpreted as “the transmission of the true and outstanding legend.” The work is associated with the jindai moji (ancient characters) tradition, which claims the existence of a native Japanese writing system predating Chinese characters—a claim that is not accepted by mainstream Japanese linguistics.
Characteristics
- Language: Composed in yamato‑kotoba, employing a vocabulary that predates Chinese influence. Some words appear unattested elsewhere in Old Japanese but have parallels in other ancient lexicons.
- Structure: The poem follows a rhythmic, 5‑7‑syllable pattern typical of ancient Japanese oral literature.
- Content: It offers alternative genealogies and narratives for mythic figures, notably presenting the sun deity Amaterasu as male rather than female. It also emphasizes historical rather than purely mythological events, describing the births, reigns, and deaths of various kami (interpreted in the text as royal figures).
- Manuscript History: The earliest known copy dates to 1775; subsequent excerpts were disseminated in the late 19th century. Modern translations and scholarly editions have been produced, including a two‑volume English translation by Yoshinosuke Matsumoto and Andrew Driver (1999).
- Academic Reception: While a minority of researchers investigate its linguistic and cultural significance, the dominant view among historians and linguists is that the Hotsuma Tsutae is likely a later literary forgery. Accurate information regarding its true antiquity is not confirmed.
Related Topics
- Kojiki and Nihon Shoki (primary early Japanese mythological chronicles)
- Yamato‑kotoba (ancient Japanese vocabulary)
- Jindai moji (the contested “ancient characters” system)
- Japanese mythological figures: Amaterasu, Susanoo, Jimmu Tennō, etc.
- Edo‑period literary forgeries and hoaxes
- Studies of Japanese epic poetry and oral tradition
Note: The authenticity and precise dating of the Hotsuma Tsutae remain subjects of scholarly debate; no definitive conclusion has been reached.