Basic Information
Name Translation: Rich Jewel
Type/Species: Eastern Dragon
Origin: Japanese Mythology
About Toyo-tama
Hoderi and Hoori were brothers, Hoderi being the eldest. One day, they exchanged presents. Hoderi was a good hunter, and Hoori was a good fisherman, so it was obvious what they would get for each other. When Hoderi asked for his fish hook back one day, Hoori had lost it. Hoderi was furious, so much so that Hoori ran to the sea to grieve. [1]
Shiko-tsutsu no Oji was at this sea. He made a basket for Hoori, and placed him in it out on the sea. There, Hoori sank into the sea. From this, he made his way into the Palace of the Sea King. The Sea King's daughter was the first to spot Hoori, and she told her father everything. The Sea King was very glad to see Hoori. After a long search, the Sea King found the hook in the mouth of the Red-woman (fish/tail). [1]
Hoori then married Toyo-tama and lived with her under the sea for three years. Later, however, he longed for home. The Sea King gave him a hook to give to his brother, and he also gave him two jewels. One jewel, if dipped into the sea, would cause chaos, and the other would cause order. He told him to dip the jewel of chaos (Tide-flowing Jewel) if his brother turned on him. If other wise, he was to dip the Tide-ebbing jewel in. [1]
Before Hoori left, Toyo-tama told him to build a house by the sea. She informed him, too, that she would come to him later, when the winds stormed. [1]
Hoderi saw his brother and begged his forgiveness. Hoori was only to glad to grant it, and he waited for his wife. Toyo-tama (along with her younger sister) came to the beach. After bearing Hoori a son, she turned into a dragon and went back to the sea. [1]
Hoori's son married his aunt (Toyo-tama's sister) and produced Kamu-Yamato-Iware-Biko, or Jimmu Tenno. He was said to be the first human emperor of Japan, and therefore a descendant of the dragons. [1]
Footnotes
For more information on footnotes and references, please see the bibliography.
