How it was settled who should rule the World

When the Creator had finished creating this world of men, the good and the bad gods were all mixed together promiscuously, and began disputing for the possession of the world. They disputed,--the bad gods wanting to be at the head of the government of this world, and the good gods likewise wanting to be at the head. So the following arrangement was agreed to: Whoever, at the time of sunrise, should be the first to see the luminary, should rule the world. If the bad gods should be the first to see it rise, then they should rule; and if the good gods should be the first, then they should rule. Thereupon both the bad Gods and the brilliant gods looked towards the place where the luminary was to rise. But the fox[-god] alone stood looking towards the west. After a little time, the fox cried out: "I see the sunrise." On the gods, both bad and good, turning round and gazing, they saw in truth the refulgence of the luminary in the west. This is the cause for which the brilliant gods rule the world.--(Translated literally. Told by Ishanashte, 10th July, 1886.)

造物主がこの人間の世界を造り終えたとき、善い神々と悪い神々はみな入り乱れていて、世界を自分のものにしようと争いはじめた。彼らは争った——悪い神々はこの世界の政をつかさどる頭になりたがり、善い神々も同じく頭になりたがった。そこで次のような取り決めが結ばれた。日の出のときに、真っ先にお天道さまを見た者が世界を治める。悪い神々が先に日の出を見れば悪い神々が治め、善い神々が先に見れば善い神々が治める。そこで悪い神々も輝かしい神々も、お天道さまの昇るはずの方角を見つめた。けれども狐[の神]だけは西のほうを向いて立っていた。しばらくすると狐が叫んだ。「日の出が見えるぞ」悪い神々も善い神々も振り返って見つめると、まことに西にお天道さまの輝きが見えた。輝かしい神々が世界を治めているのは、このためである。——(逐語訳。語り手イシャナシテ、1886年7月10日)