『고지키(古事記)』메도리노미코 반란 이야기 분석

초록

This study analyzes the narrative structure and editorial intention of the rebellion story of Medori no Mikoto in the Kojiki, focusing on the reign of Emperor Nintoku. Among the several rebellion tales in the Kojiki, Medori’s story is distinctive, as it is the only one led by a woman. Medori refuses Nintoku’s proposal, marries his envoy Hayabusawake, and incites him to assassinate the emperor, but the attempt fails and both are executed. This episode symbolizes a conflict over imperial legitimacy rather than a mere romantic tragedy. Medori is the sister of Uji no Wakiiratsuko—the crown prince favored by Emperor Ōjin—so her rebellion represents a lingering threat from the rival bloodline. By narratively eliminating Medori, the Kojiki reinforces Nintoku’s legitimacy and highlights the moral authority of Empress Iwano-hime. The connection between Medori and her sister Yata no Wakiiratsume further underscores how female figures are depicted as disruptors of order, whose removal completes the Confucian image of the “sage emperor.” Ultimately, Medori’s rebellion functions as a literary device that justifies imperial succession and consolidates the moral-political order envisioned by the Kojiki compiler.

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