The Legendary Old Man: Takenouchi no Sukune
Longevity is a condition most people wish for. Ancient healing practices consisted of religious rites, ceremonies, and special concoctions that are thought to bring about the miraculous powers of supernatural beings and other such deities. Today, taking care of our bodies with the proper diet and exercise as well keeping a healthy mind all contribute to living a long life. So many types of diets claim to promote health, and there are possibly even more contraptions that concentrate on making your body fit from head to toe. Science and medicine are on a continuous quest to find the answer closest to eternal life.
According to the Hebrew Bible, Methuselah is the oldest person to ever live. He is believed to have died on the 11th of Cheshvan (the second month of the civil year and the eighth month of the ecclesiastical year) 1656 Anno Mundi (after Creation), at the age of 969. He was the grandfather of Noah, who built the ark in preparation for the Great Flood. The Japanese are known to live long and healthy lives.
Illustration of Takenouchi no Sukune.
In Japan, Takenouchi no Sukune (武内宿禰, also Takeshiuchi Sukune) was a legendary statesman who is said to have lived up to the ripe old age of 280. He is known as one of the three meritorious subjects during the Punitive Campaign against the Three Korean Kingdoms. He was also the ancestor of 28 clans in Japan.
Takenouchi no Sukune was said to be the son of Princess Kagehime and the grandson of Prince Hikofutódhimakoto no Mikoto. He was under the service of five legendary Japanese emperors beginning with Emperor Keikō (71-130), Emperor Seimu (131-190), Emperor Chūai (192-200), Emperor Ōjin (270-310), and Emperor Nintoku (313-399). Takenouchi no Sukune was also a Grand Minister to the Empress Jingu (209-269) where he led a military campaign to the northeast and invaded Korea and suppressed the Ezo people two years later.
He passed away in the 55th year of the reign of Emperor Nintoku. Takenouchi no Sukune is believed to have performed the religious role of saniwa, a spirit medium who receives divine oracles.
His descendants from the 28 clans are said to have spread all around Japan and have lived prosperous lives. Takenouchi no Sukune is enshrined as a kami in Ube Shrine in Iwami District in Tottori Prefecture.
Takenouchi no Sukune is considered to be the kami of good health and longevity, and he is enshrined in Ube Shrine in Iwami District, as well as Takeuchi Shrine in Tsurugaoka Hachimangu, Kamakura and he is also a familiar sight in other local Hachiman Shrines.
Check out Ube Shrine, Tottori City:
