THE EMPEROR OJIN AND MIDDLE EASTERN IMMIGRANTS

In the Kojiki, one can read the similar story told in the biblical prophetic tale - The song of Deborah. Like the great Middle Eastern prophetess the Empress Jingu assumed the mantle of power from her husband the Emperor Chuai, who refused to heed the oracle of the gods, urging him to go with his people to the promised land of North Korea, which was to be given to him and his people He was struck dead, while playing the lute, for his failure to obey the supreme command; and the power of the rule was turned over to his wife, who promptly set forth for the promised land. Many miraculous adventures befell this amazing woman in Korea, among which was the total defeat of all her enemies by her small band of followers, who were vastly out numbered by the enemy. The greatest miracle that happened, however, was the birth of a son to Jingu, shortly after her return to Japan. The gods had purposely delayed this happy event for several months, until her Korean campaign had concluded in total success. This son succeeded his mother to the throne as the Emperor Ojin.

The reign of Jingu was marked by the importation of the more advanced culture of the West into Japan, mainly through the Middle Eastern King of Kungyueh, who years later dispatched one of his ministers Achi-no-Omi, to lead a vast multitude of Middle Eastern immigrants into Japan, where they were warmly welcomed by the Emperor Ojin. Many honors were heaped upon this Hada people by Ojin, in order that they might remain in his kingdom as happy and prosperous subjects. In any event, they pledged unswerving loyalty to the monarch and the Imperial Court, and promised to do anything that was demanded of them, pledging even their lives f that became necessary.

So fond of the Emperor Ojin did his people become, that they committed the grave and blasphemous offense of deifying him, thus planting the seeds of their own spiritual corruption. They began to identify Ojin with the legend of the beautiful male child who had appeared on the banks of the pond. Omiwa-no-Higi, a priest of the Omiwa Shrine at Mount Miwa in Yamato, enthusiastically promoted this deification. The ground of this deification was that Ojin had accompanied his mother as an unborn babe to protect her throughout the Korean campaign. Although he was of an outstandingly gentle disposition, he has been regarded in history as "Hachiman, " the God of War . In later years "Hachiman" was adopted as the guardian deity of warrior class and became very popular as the warrior class won dominating power and influence over the nation.