Intuition Challenge
Stories similar to this that you might like too.
In the beginning, there was only one god. The first god, to be precise, and he had no name. He lived in an immense universe of pure imagination and thought where there were neither laws nor limitations—only creation and destruction.
As he created and destroyed, a great deal of his power came from the fact that he never rested: He always knew what would happen next because nothing happened without him knowing about it. It gave him infinite control over both creation and destruction.
But as time passed, he discovered limits in the process itself. Creation could not continue indefinitely without ever-decreasing returns on its investments. Destruction also had a ceiling: There had to come to a point where something would not simply destroy or kill but become too much for anyone to accept.
After all, even in this endless world, there still existed things that did not belong together. In short, there were consequences if things continued beyond their proper bounds. As a result, the first god realized the necessity of resting. For the very sake of the universe, he began to sleep.
His followers grew restless at the idea of someone who never slept taking any time away from them. They begged him endlessly and promised to work harder than ever to make up for his absence. Their pleading finally got through.
When the gods slept, they took with them all their power except for a little bit that they stored inside their temples. But when the temples became overburdened, the gods lost their connection to the real world and the world itself faded into darkness. That’s how it was supposed to go.
And so the gods took turns sleeping. And each day, they woke just before dawn and spent the entire night working nonstop to fill the temples. This way, every day more gods and goddesses joined their ranks, and the whole universe slowly expanded. But eventually, some of the most powerful deities grew dissatisfied with the system and tried to change it.
The second god had a lot of influence among her own people. Her name was Tsukuyomi, the “Nightmare.” She didn’t like being forced to work all night long when she had no desire to do so. She wanted to rest and relax instead of working constantly until sunrise.
So after a while, she decided to find a way around the system. Tsukuyomi found a method to transfer a small portion of her power out of the temple into an object of some kind so she could have access to it whenever she needed it.
Tsukuyomi took care not to draw too much attention to herself by doing this, though. If she were caught, then other gods might try it themselves, which meant that their powers would end up divided between many different objects.
Tsukuyomi made sure that none of the other gods suspected anything was wrong: First, she hid the object deep within her sacred ground, where no one would find it without her permission; and secondly, she forbade others from trying to use the object, lest they get burned.
For a time, Tsukuyomi kept the arrangement secret. She knew that as soon as word got out, there would be chaos among her followers. Some of them would feel betrayed, but Tsukuyomi didn’t care. She saw the cumbersomeness of the system and was willing to take the risks to fix it.
But despite her reluctance, Tsukuyomi’s scheme started to catch on. More and more of the other gods tried to hide their power in an object that would grant them access to it whenever they desired. Tsukuyomi saw how things were going and felt uneasy about the future.
The unnecessity of the system bothered her, and the cumbersomeness of dividing up power annoyed her. Most of all, Tsukuyomi wished she could return to living in peace rather than spending nights working nonstop to fulfill her followers’ wishes.
One night, Tsukuyomi went to sleep as usual, but as she slept, a dark presence appeared beside her. Tsukuyomi recognized Tsukuyomi’s rival immediately. Tsukuyomi hadn’t known this other god was awake and watching her, so Tsukuyomi was surprised at the sudden appearance.
Tsukuyomi asked the god why he’d chosen that moment to interfere. Tsukuyomi’s opponent claimed that Tsukuyomi was already too far gone to be stopped and that she would never be able to change her ways. Tsukuyomi wasn’t afraid of the intruder and demanded that he tell her who he was and what he wanted with her.
“I am Tsukuyomi’s opposite number,” said the god. Tsukuyomi was stunned to hear this, so much so that her eyes glazed over for a moment. Tsukuyomi had assumed that Tsukuyomi was the only god in existence. Tsukuyomi had never dreamed that there might be another like her.
Tsukuyomi asked her challenger why he’d never revealed himself before. He told her that the other gods of Tsukuyomi’s time did not wish to be associated with something as dangerous as herself, so he had never revealed himself until now.
Tsukuyomi’s counterpart claimed that he would allow her to leave peacefully if she agreed to let him share the burden of protecting Tsukuyomi’s followers so that Tsukuyomi could live a life of leisure once again. Tsukuyomi was shocked and disgusted. She rejected the offer and turned her back upon her opponent. Then, turning into smoke, she disappeared.
The intruder then went on to warn Tsukuyomi that she should not be careless because there was danger ahead. His name was Kukuluki (Sorrowful One), and he was a god of vengeance who served the Goddess of Mercy, the mother of all the gods.
It seemed that his sister was also called Tsukuyomi. She was very close to her brother, and he had grown quite impatient with her slowness of disposition. She was not ambitious, and she preferred to spend her days in meditation instead of helping her brother rule the world.
Kukuluki had been waiting for a chance to attack and punish her for her sluggishness ever since she reached maturity. And now, at last, he had the opportunity. As Tsukuyomi lay asleep that night, Kukuluki sent a spirit to steal her power.
The spirit first stole away the goddess’ divine protection against evil. Then it snatched away all the other gods’ powers so that they would lose their ability to act as guards and become easy prey for the intruder.
Finally, the thief carried off the power of the shrine to Tsukuyomi’s sacred ground, leaving it empty and vulnerable. Kukuluki was thus ready to move against Tsukuyomi. He was certain that she would be defeated and that he would seize control of the world.
As soon as dawn came, the intruder set forth. But when he arrived at the gates, he discovered that the guards had fallen asleep on guard duty. The intruder was angry and swore that he would punish them severely.
Then he entered Tsukuyomi’s sacred ground through the gates and moved rapidly toward the shrine. There, he found all the priests asleep on their cushions under the roof of the hall. The intruder was furious and swore that they must die for their neglect.
With their hands tied behind their backs, the priests were led to the sacrificial altar and put on display for the intruder to see. The intruder was greatly pleased, but as soon as he saw how the priests were terrified, he relented.
He decided not to kill all of the priests. Instead, he ordered some of them to go out and find suitable victims in the city. He made sure to send the most vicious ones for this purpose.
After that, Kukuluki began the process of taking over the world by seizing control of various places. The power of the other gods grew weaker day after day. Soon Kukuluki had conquered all the major cities and was ready to strike at Tsukuyomi’s shrine.
He was confident that once he killed everyone inside, Tsukuyomi herself would fall into despair and yield to him. However, as soon as Kukuluki approached, he heard Tsukuyomi crying loudly, “Oh, my brother! I have done wrong!”
She called on her brother to save her. Kukuluki turned aside and left the shrine. He felt pity for Tsukuyomi, whom he had long hated for her sluggishness. So Kukuluki gave her one last chance.
“Go home,” said Kukuluki, “and you may remain in peace.”
But Tsukuyomi declined the offer, saying, “I cannot return to my own land. I have sinned against Heaven; I will die here.”
Kukuluki replied, “If you do not return, then I shall destroy your entire land and bring destruction to your people.” Tsukuyomi knew that such threats were useless, and she refused to leave. This caused Kukuluki to be filled with even greater anger.
Then he sent an army of demons to slay her. In the meantime, the intruder had returned to Tsukuyomi’s sacred ground. The priests had brought in many sacrifices from the outside to fill up the altar, so there were enough bodies to feed the demons.
When they had eaten, they left, only to be followed by a horde of demons. At length, the invaders seized the sacred place and put Tsukuyomi to death. Her body was cut up and given to the gods. Kukuluki was now the ruler of heaven and earth.
After Tsukuyomi’s death, the land was quiet for a time. The gods could no longer act as guardians of the land, so they did nothing to restrain Kukuluki. Kukuluki’s rule became increasingly tyrannical and violent, and more and more people sought to escape and hide themselves far away.
In later years, Kukuluki went back to Tsukuyomi’s sacred ground and built a temple there which was to serve as a memorial for her. It was called the Temple of Sorrowful Memory.
The story about Tsukuyomi is told in a ballad. We shall quote the song:
There lived an old woman who had two daughters. The elder daughter married a young man who possessed great strength, and the younger girl married an officer of the government. Both women died in childbirth.
Then the second child became the mother of Prince Sukeban. Her husband was the Commander of the Right. After that Prince Sukeban fell to infatuation for Tsukuyomi. He sent his friend, a prince of another country, to fetch her from the distant lands where she dwelt.
They traveled together to a place on the banks of a stream where they saw the beautiful Tsukuyomi, and Prince Sukeban asked her to marry him. But Tsukuyomi said she was too old to wed anyone else. She also refused to take a wife because she had already lost her mother and elder sister, so it was not proper for her to have another family. Prince Sukeban was very disappointed.
Prince Sukeban took refuge with the commander of the Right and told him how much he loved Tsukuyomi. The commander agreed to help if the prince would agree to make three offerings: One to the Buddha, another to the Dragon King, and a third to Tsukuyomi.
So Prince Sukeban went to Mount Tai to worship the gods and give them gifts. Then he went down to Chaozhou to present the first offering and to ask Tsukuyomi to come out. As soon as she appeared, the people rejoiced and the bells rang, and every house was lit by torches and lamps.
The prince presented her with a white robe and jewels and said that if she accepted his marriage proposal, he would give her all these things. Tsukuyomi said, “I am not a maiden of the Imperial House nor a princess of any other country. I have been long in exile.
You must have some proof.” So Prince Sukeban produced his sword. Tsukuyomi looked at it and laughed. “This weapon belonged to my brother, and I have not touched it. If you wish to prove it, draw your sword and try.”
“I have a better way,” said Prince Sukeban. “My father has promised me a horse, but I have never seen him. If you will promise to ride the animal, I shall go back and get it.”
Tsukuyomi consented and rode the horse. She was very skillful. By the time the prince reached his own capital, the horse was lame. But when the prince reached the place where the horse had been kept, his father was gone.
Tsukuyomi had ridden it all the way to his capital. She had also taken the horse from its place, and so she had gained the pledge of the horse without doing anything herself.
Prince Sukeban was delighted, and they were wedded according to custom. The couple settled in the palace of her father-in-law, Tsukuyomi’s elder sister, who became Tsukuyomi’s stepmother. They were greatly honored, and people thought of them as the ideal couple, like the moon and the stars.
But Tsukuyomi had no children, and this saddened Prince Sukeban. The emperor heard how sorrowful he was and commanded him to visit a physician named Hui Chuan. Hui Chuan said there might be some reason why she was unable to bear children. She should drink a cup of wine made from the seeds of the lotus and see what happened.
When Prince Sukeban gave it to her, Tsukuyomi threw the cup against the wall and cried out in despair, “How can I bear a child who looks so much like my dead mother?” This alarmed the people greatly. Soon there was news that Tsukuyomi wished to retire to her home.
The Emperor of Japan granted her a pension. And after a year’s absence, Tsukuyomi returned to her country. Her son was born, and his name was Kujaku. When he grew up, he inherited his father’s position, so Tsukuyomi was happy again. Her elder daughter also bore a son. His name was Shiro, and he succeeded his grandfather as Ruler of the Eastern Capital.
After that Tsukuyomi went away, but she still remained the object of general admiration and respect.
One day when Tsukuyomi was returning, she met a certain man. She recognized him as being from one of the neighboring countries. He spoke thus: “Your beauty is well known everywhere, and people call you The Goddess of Love.”
Tsukuyomi felt sorry for this man. She thought, “If I show favor to such a person, I may offend my husband and lose his love.” So she did not answer.
As they walked along, the young woman pointed to Tsukuyomi and said, “Look! Is not she beautiful? Does she not shine like the moon, as white as snow?”
“Yes,” replied the other man. “Indeed, she does look as if she was shining with light.”
“Do you know who she is?” asked Tsukuyomi’s escort.
“No,” answered the other.
“She is the lady who has lived many years in the East and who returns now on her way home. Her beauty is so great that when she appears, all the birds stop singing and men cease their work and bow down.”
Then Tsukuyomi said, “Why do you not tell the truth about me? No bird sings or flies because I am here. I shall take leave and return tomorrow.” Then she rode off.
That night Tsukuyomi sent her maids to bring water, which they poured into two golden urns. In the morning she called for the servants and said, “Bring the ewer full of water that has just been brought. Do you recognize it?”
They looked at it but could find no trace of either gold or silver. Tsukuyomi then ordered them to fetch the golden urn of water she had drunk before. It seemed to be quite ordinary, though it was not so heavy as the first. She drank some and found it to be delicious.
She poured out the rest and said, “Now bring another ewer of the same water as last night. This second one will seem more valuable than the first.”
Both servants examined it carefully, and they did not find any difference. But Tsukuyomi drank and found the taste good. Now she told the servant to pour both kinds into a large dish and set them on a table in front of her. They were placed side by side.
When people saw this strange thing, they knew Tsukuyomi’s words were true and bowed deeply to her. The water she had drunk had not changed.
“It is not your fault, Lady, that you cannot bear children; nor is it mine. But you are a goddess, and I hope you may soon be able to give us some children. If I can serve you in any way, pray let me know.”
Tsukuyomi said, “You should make an offering to the gods to get a son, and when a favorable sign comes, you must go back to where the shrine of the god stands, offer a sacrifice and pray for a son. Only then will you have success.”
So the man returned home, made the offering, and prayed. The next year the lady gave birth to a boy. He came to be called Kujaku, which means the Son of the Golden Vessel. Kujaku was indeed born of gold.
He became very famous as Ruler of the Western Capital, but he died early at the age of twelve. At that time his father, Prince Sukeban, had gone to visit the court of Wu and was not present to welcome his new son.
In ancient times, Tsukuyomi dwelled in Japan. And Kujaku, the son of that country’s Empress, was born with golden hair and eyes.
When Kujaku became Ruler of the Eastern Capital, Tsukuyomi returned to Japan. There she took up residence near Mount Hiei, which stands at the foot of Fuji-hiei. Her house was built upon a rock, and it had four gates.
Her younger daughter was named Kiyohime, and she married a man called Chosho, who ruled the province of Hitachi. Kujaku also fell in love with her and proposed marriage, which he hoped would help him secure his father’s confidence.
His mother approved his wish, and they were united. Kiyohime bore two sons. One was called Taira no Tadashima, who later became the third Emperor of Japan. The other was named Oda Nobunaga.
When he reached manhood, Taira Nobunaga became Commander of the Army. In his youth, he was handsome and bold and was loved by both the army and the people. He began to rise higher and higher in the government, until one day when his father was away from home, he seized power by force.
The elder Prince Sukeban came back after a long absence only to learn that he was no longer the ruler. When the news reached the capital, Kujaku went out in great haste to meet his father and explain what had happened.
His father was greatly displeased and said to him, “I have always thought highly of you and I trust you, but you have done me ill by usurping my place. Your wife, too, has betrayed me.”
The End