When comparing the Seo-Dong legend with the mananochoujya legend, it seems very likely that the main character 'Mana' really has existed. Furthermore, it is possible that King Mana from the book 'Nihonshoki' and the grandson of King Dong-Seong of ...
When comparing the Seo-Dong legend with the mananochoujya legend, it seems very likely that the main character 'Mana' really has existed. Furthermore, it is possible that King Mana from the book 'Nihonshoki' and the grandson of King Dong-Seong of Baekje incorporate one and the same person.
Considering King Moo-Wang from the 'King Moo-Wang folk tale' mentioned in 'Samgukyusa', it is very likely that he actually existed as King Dong-Seong, the 24th king of Baekje. In his youth, King Moo-Wang used to be called 'Mato'. Similarly, the 'Nihonshoki' considered King Dong-Seong of Baekje as King Mata. Due to this coincidence, Mato and Mata are thought of as one person. Moreover, from 'Samgukyusa' it can be derived, that King Dong-Seong is being referred to as 'the son of Mutsu', as well as 'Muta, the descendant'. Considering the fact that Muta and Mata are affiliates of Kaya, we can therefore make the assumption that King Dong-Seong of Baekje is a descendant of Kaya.
It is said that the 'God of Hachimanshin', to whom the national treasure of 'Usa Hachimangu Shrine' is dedicated, is the Emperor 'Oujin', also referred to as 'Homuta'. Furthermore, he and 'Muta' are the same person, in other words : King Dong-Seong, the father of King Mana who is the main character of the mananochoujya legend. Even today, many places in Kyushu still carry the name of 'Muta'.
Hachimanshin condescended to Makinomine, Usa-City, Oita-Prefecture.
The letters 'ki' of the word 'Maki' mean 'village' or 'place', same as 'Mana'. Also, 'Maki' as well as 'Mimana' mean Kaya. The fact, that Hachimanshin appeared as an old blacksmith, shows Hachimanshin as the god of iron and as a descendant of Kaya – the iron manufacturing country. These days, the place where Hachimanshin is being worshipped carries the names 'Kameyama' and 'Kujibon'. This is the same place where King Kim Sooro descended from.
Hachimanshin appeared as an old blacksmith near the Hishigata-Ike pond at the foot of the mountain Kameyama. It says, "something mysterious happened. He became a golden hawk." This transformation into a hawk took place during the rivalry for the throne, where King Kim Sooro from Kaya became an eagle while Talhae changed into a hawk. Once more, the king transformed into a sparrow hawk when Talhae became a sparrow. In this context, the hawk symbolizes or represents the god of iron.