Online Encyclopedia Search Tool

Your Online Encyclopedia

 

Online Encylopedia and Dictionary Research Site

Online Encyclopedia Free Search Online Encyclopedia Search    Online Encyclopedia Browse    welcome to our free dictionary for your research of every kind

Online Encyclopedia



Japanese mythology

Japanese mythology is an extremely complex universe of religion and beliefs. The Shinto pantheon alone boasts a collection of more than 8000 kami. Despite the influence of the ancient Chinese civilization, much of Japanese mythology is uniquely their own. It embraces Shinto and Buddhist traditions as well as agricultural-based folk beliefs. Moreover, unlike Greek, Nordic and Egyptian mythology, it is very difficult to distinguish what is truly "myth" to the Japanese. This article will only discuss the typical elements present in western mythology such as cosmogony, important deities and the most well-known Japanese stories.

Mainstream Japanese myths, as generally recognized today, are based on the Kojiki and some complementary books. The Kojiki or "Record of Ancient Things" is the oldest recognized book of myths, legends, and history of Japan. The Shintoshu explains origins of Japanese deities from a Buddhist perspective while the Hotuma Tutaye records a substantially different version of mythology.

One notable result of Japanese mythology is that it explains the origin of the Imperial family, and assigned them godhood until the end of World War II.

Contents

Spelling of proper nouns

A lot of deities appear on the stage of Japanese mythology, and many of them have multiple aliases. Furthermore, some of their names are so long that they can be tedious for the majority of readers. This article therefore lists only the most prominent names, and gives them in abbreviated form. Readers should be aware that other abbreviated forms are also in use.

For instance, Ninigi, or Amenigisikuninigisiamatuhidakahikohononiniginomikoto in full, may also be abbreviated as Hikohononinigi or Hononinigi.

In this article, proper names are written in a historical manner. In this article, underlined h, y, and w denote silent letters; they are omitted from modern spelling. This underlining convention is peculiar to this article. Other syllables are modernized as follows. Note that something in between are also used.

  • si is modernized as shi.
  • ti is modernized as chi.
  • tu is modernized as tsu.
  • hu is modernized as fu.
  • zi and di are modernized as ji. (distinction disappeared)
  • zu and du are modernized as dzu. (distinction disappeared)
  • oo is modernized as o or oh.
For instance, various spells of Ohonamudi include Ohonamuji, Oonamuji, Ohnamuji, and others.

By historical reasons, k, s, t, and h are sometimes confused with g, z, d, and b respectively.

For instance, various spells of Ohonamudi also include Ohonamuti and Ohonamuchi (but not Obonamudi, sigh).

Creation of the world

In the beginning, when heaven and earth were still chaotic, three and then two deities appeared in Takamanohara (high in heaven). They are called the Kotoamatukami (deities of distinguished heaven) and play very little part in most myths. They are neutral in the gender and are essential forces that move the world. In addition, two and five pairs of deities appeared on the earth. The first two, Kuninotokotachinokami (The god that perpetually exists as a nation) and Toyokumononokami (The god of rich clouds and fields), like five deities before, are neutral. The other five pairs are made from a pair of a male deity and a female deity but this does not mean that they are husbands and wives. Except for the last pair, Izanagi and Izanami, they also play very little part in most myths. These two and five pairs combined are called Kamiyonanayo (Seven generations of Kami).

While standing on the bridge, Amenoukihashi (floating bridge of heaven) between heaven and earth, the god Izanagi and the goddess Izanami, churned the sea with the spear decorated with jewels given from Amatsukami, Amenonuhoko (heavenly spear) and from the salt dripping from the spear, Onogoro (selforming) island formed itself. Even though there should be nothing on the island, they mated in the Yahirodono (the room of eight footsteps?) around the pole Amenomihashira and bore many islands and deities. The first two, Hiruko (waterly child) and Awashima (island of bubbles) were badly made as Izanami had called to Izanagi instead of Izanagi calling to Izanami. These two are not counted as deities.

They reversed this process on the call from Amatsukami, making sure it was the male god Izanagi who spoke first rather than Izanami. This successful encounter brought about the ohoyashima, or the eight great islands of the Japanese chain.

Note that Hokkaido, Chishima, and Okinawa were not part of Japan in ancient times.

They bore six more islands and many deities. Izanami was killed however by giving birth to the child Kagututi (incarnation of fire) or Ho-Masubi (causer of fire). In anger, Izanagi killed Kagututi. His death also created dozens of deities.

The gods borne from Izanagi and Izanami are symbolic of important aspects of nature and culture, but they are too many to mention here. The fact that the male deity Izanagi had to take the lead position while the female deity Izanami had to be lead has led to a false perception that this is an implied discrimination of female.

Yomi: The Shadowy Land of the Dead

Izanagi lamented his dearest and undertook a journey to Yomi or "the shadowy land of the dead." Izanami found little difference between Yomi and the land above save for the eternal darkness. However, this suffocating darkness was enough to make him ache for the light and life above. Quickly, he searched for Izanami and found her. At first, Izanagi could not see her at all for the shadows hid her appearance well. Nevertheless, he asked her to return with him. Izanami spat out at him, informing Izanagi that he was too late. Izanami had already eaten the food of the underworld and was now one with the land of the dead. She could no longer return to the living.

Izanagi was shocked at this news but he refused to give in to her wishes of being left to the dark embrace of Yomi. While Izanami was sleeping, Izanagi took the comb that bound his long hair and set it alight as a torch. Under the sudden burst of light, he saw the horrid form of the once beautiful and graceful Izanami. Izanami was now a rotting form of flesh with maggots and foul creatures running over her ravaged body.

Crying out loud, Izanagi could no longer control his fear and started to run, intending to return to the living and abandon his death-ridden wife. Izanami woke up shrieking and indignant and chased after him. Wild shikome or foul women also hunted for the frightened Izanagi, instructed by Izanami to bring him back.

Izanagi, thinking quickly, hurled down his headdress which became a bunch of black grapes. The shikome fell on these but continued pursuit. This time, Izanagi threw down his comb which became a clump of bamboo shoots. Now it was Yomi's creatures that began to give chase, but Izanagi urinated against a tree, creating a great river that increased his lead. Unfortunately, they still pursued Izanagi, forcing Izanagi to hurl peaches at them. Izanagi knew this would not delay them for long but he was nearly free for the boundary of Yomi was now close at hand.

Izanagi burst out of the entrance and quickly pushed a boulder in the mouth of the cavern that was the entrance of Yomi the shadowy land of the dead. Izanami screamed from behind this impenetrable barricade and told Izanagi that if he left her she would destroy 1,000 residents of the living every day. Izanagi furiously replied he would give life to 1,500.

And so began the existence of Death, caused by the hands of the proud Izanami, the abandoned wife of Izanagi.

Sun, Moon, and Wind

As could be expected, Izanagi went on to purify himself after recovering from his descent to Yomi. As he undressed and removed the adornments of his body, each item he dropped to the ground formed a deity. Even more gods came into being when he went to the water to wash himself. The most important ones were created once he washed his face:

  • Amaterasu (incarnation of the sun) from his left eye,
  • Tukuyomi (incarnation of the moon) from his right eye, and
  • Susanowo (incarnation of wind or storm) from his nose.

Izanagi went on to divide the world between them with Amaterasu inheriting the heavens, Tsukiyomi taking control of the night and moon and the storm god Susanowo owning the seas.

Amaterasu and Susano

Amaterasu, the powerful sun goddess of Japan, is the most well-known deity of Japanese mythology. Her feuding and uncontrollable brother Susano, however, is equally infamous and appears in several tales. One story tells of Susano's impossible behavior against Izanagi. Izanagi, tired of Susano's repeated complaints, banished him to Yomi. Susano grudgingly acquiesced but had unfinished business to attend to first. He went to Takamanohara (heaven) to bid farewell to his sister, Amaterasu. Amaterasu knew her unpredictable brother did not have any good intentions in mind and prepared for battle. "What purpose do you come here for?" asked Amaterasu. "To say farewell," answered Susanowo.

But she did not believe his word and requested a contest for proof of his good faith. A challenge was set as to whom would bring forth the more noble divine child. Amaterasu made three women from Susanowo's sword, while Susanowo made five men from Amaterasu's ornament chain. Amaterasu claimed the title to the five men made from her belongings. Therefore, the three women were attributed to Susanowo.

Suffice to say, both gods declared they were victors. Ametarasu's insistence in her claim drove Susano to violent campaigns that reached its climax when he hurled a pony into Amatarasu's weaving hall causing the death of one of her attendants. Amaterasu fled and hid into the cave called the Iwayado. As the incarnation of the sun disappeared into the cave, darkness covered the world.

Finally, it took the combined presence of the myriad of gods and the sensual dances of the dawn goddess Ama-No-Uzume to bring Amaterasu out of the cave and once again shine her light to the world.

The Eight-pronged dragon

Susanowo, exiled from heaven, came to Idumo (now Shimane). It was not long before he met an old man and his wife sobbing beside their daughter. The old couple explained that they originally had eight daughters who were devoured one-by-one each year by the dragon named Yamatano-oroti (who was said to originate from Kosi (now Niigata). The terrible dragon had eight heads and eight tails. Kusinada or Kusanada-Hime (rice paddy princess) was the last of the eight daughters. .

Susanowo, who knew at once of the old couple's relation to the sun goddess Amaterasu, offered his assistance in return for their beautiful daughter's marriage. The parents accepted and Susanowo transformed Kusinada into a comb and hid her safely in his hair. He also ordered a fence built around the house, eight gates opened in the fence, eight tables placed at each gate, eight casks placed on each table, and the casks filled with eight-times brewed rice wine.

The dragon came and was allured by the wine. It drank it, and was slain by Susanowo in its stupor. A nearby river turned red with blood of the dragon. As Susanowo cut the dragon into pieces, he found an excellent sword from a tail of the dragon that his sword had ben unable to cut. The sword was later presented to Amaterasu and named as Kusanagi (Grasscutter). This sword will be featured prominently in many other tales.

Prince Ohonamuji

Ohonamuji (also known as Ohokuninushi) was a descendant of Susanowo. He, along with his many brothers, competed for the hand of Princess Yakami of Inaba. While travelling from Izemo to Inaba to court her, the brothers met a skinned rabbit lying on a beach. Seeing this, they told the rabbit to bathe in the sea and dry in the wind at a high mountain. The rabbit believed them and thereby suffered in agony. Ohonamuji, who was lagging behind his brothers, came and saw the rabbit in pain and instructed the rabbit to bathe in fresh water and be covered with powder of the gama (cattail) flower. The cured rabbit, who was in reality a deity, informed Ohonamuji it was he who would marry Princess Yakami.

The trials of Ohonamuji were many and he died twice at the hands of his jealous brothers. Each time he would be saved by his mother Kusanda-hime. Pursued by his enemies, he ventured to Susano's realm where he would meet the vengeful god's daughter, Suseri-hime. The crafty Susano would test Ohonamuji several times but in the end, Susano approved of the young boy and foretold his victory against his brothers.

Although the Yamato tradition attributes the creation of the Japanese islands to Izanagi and Izanami, the Izumo tradition claims Ohonamuji, along with a dwarf god called Sukunabiko, would contribute or at least finish the creation of the islands of Japan.

Installation (19-20)

Amaterasu ordered her grandson Ninigi to rule over the ground. She gave him the three treasures:

The first two were made to lure Amaterasu out of Iwayado. The last was found in the eight-prong dragon. Of these three, the mirror is the token of Amaterasu. The three together constitute the Japanese imperial regalia.

Ninigi and his company went down to the earth and came to Himuka, there he founded his palace.

Prosperity and eternity

Ninigi met the Princess Konohana-sakuya (symbol of flowers), the daughter of Yamatumi (master of mountains). They fell in love. Ninigi asked Yamatumi for his daughter's hand. The father was delighted and offered both of his daughters, Iwanaga (symbol of rocks) and Sakuya (symbol of flowers). But Ninigi married only Sakuya and refused Iwanaga.

"Iwanaga is blessed with eternity and Sakuya with prosperity", Yamatumi said in regret, "by refusing Iwanaga, your life will be brief from now on." Because of this, Ninigi and his descendants became mortal.

Sakuya conceived by a night and Ninigi doubt her. To prove legitimacy of her children, Sakuya swore by her luck and took a chance; she set fire to her room when she had given birth to her three babies. By this, Ninigi knew her chastity. The names of the children were Hoderi, Hosuseri, and Howori.

Ebb and flow

Hoderi lived by fishing in sea while his brother Howori lived by hunting in mountains. One day, "Howori" asked his brother to swap places for a day. "Howori" tried fishing, but he could not get a catch, and what was worse, he lost the fishhook he borrowed from his brother. Hoderi relentlessly accused his brother and did not accept his brother's apology.

While "Howori" was sitting on a beach, sorely perplexed, Sihotuti told him to ride on a ship called the Manasikatuma and go wherever the current went. Following this advice, Howori reached the house of Watatumi (master of seas). There he met Toyotama, Watatumi's daughter, and married with her. After three years of marriage, he remembered his brother and his fishhook, then told Watatumi about it.

Watatumi soon found the fishhook in the throat of a bream and handed it Howori. Watatumi also gave him two magical balls, Sihomitutama, which could cause a flood, and Sihohirutama, which could cause a ebb, and sent him off, along with his bride, to land.

As Toyotama was giving birth, she asked Howori not to look at her delivery. However, Howori, filled with curiosity, peeped in, and saw her transforming into a shark at the moment his son, Ugaya, was born. Aware of this, Toyotama disappeared into sea and did not return, but she entrusted her sister Tamayori with her yearning for Howori.

Ugaya married his aunt Tamayori and had five children, including Ituse and Yamatobiko.

Legends (23-)

First Emperor

The first legendary emperor of Japan is Iwarebiko, posthumous alias Jinmu. He established the throne in 660 BCE. His pedigree is summarised as follows.

  • Iwarebiko is a son of Ugaya and Tamayori.
  • Ugaya is a son of Howori and Toyotama.
  • Howori is a son of Ninigi and Sakuya.
  • Ninigi is a son of Osihomimi and Akidusi.
  • Osihomimi is born from an ornament of Amaterasu.
  • Amaterasu is born from the left eye of Izanagi.
  • Izanagi is born of his own accord.

Conquest of the east (23-26)

Yamato Takeru (44-48)

External links

See also


Last updated: 10-24-2004 05:10:45