Mitologie japoneza: AMATERASU OMIKAMI

The tale of Ama-no-Iwato, the Heavenly Rock Cave

copyright2001 (c)Jingu-Chokokan

After heaven and earth had been separated, two married kami, Izanagi-no-kami and Izanami-no-kami, gave birth to the land of Japan and to various kami of the seas, the rivers, the mountains and the fields. Finally the two gave birth to three specially revered kami: Amaterasu Omikami, Tsukiyomi-no-kami and Susanoo-no-kami. They gave necklace of jewel beads to Amaterasu Omikami and ordered her to govern Takama-no-Hara (the Plain of Heaven), they further ordered Tsukiyomi-no-kami to govern the night and Susanoo-no-kami to govern the sea. Susanoo-no-kami, however, went against the will of the married deities and gave up governing the sea. Instead he ascended to Takama-no-Hara, and committed outrageous deeds such as destroying the paddy fields and the weaving house on the Heavenly Plain. Amaterasu Omikami angered by his behavior and hid herself in the Heavenly Rock Cave called Ama-no-Iwato. As a result, the world of both heaven and earth became dark, throwing everything into confusion. The eight million kami got together beside the river in the Plain of Heaven, debating how to induce Amaterasu Omikami to come out of the Heavenly Rock Cave. They decided first to make the divine mirror Yata-no-Kagami and hang it in front of the cave, second, to hold a joyous festival, and third, to perform the sacred dance and music called kagura. As a result of this, Amaterasu Omikami emerged from the Heavenly Rock Cave, illuminating everything with her gentle light. She made heaven and earth bright again and brought back harmony and order. Susanoo-no-kami was expelled from the Heavenly Plain to the land of Izumo. There Susanoo-no-kami, killed a giant snake, the Yamata-no-Orochi, which had been tormenting the people of Izumo. He extracted a divine sword out of the snake's tail and presented it to Amaterasu Omikami. This sword is one of the three imperial regalia. copyright 2001 Jingu Administration Office (c)Jingu-Chokokan copyright 2001 Jingu Administration Office (c)Jingu-Chokokan The tale of the descent to earth of the descendants of Amaterasu Omikami, and of the 1st Emperor Jinmu Okuninushi-no-kami, a descendant of the deity Susanoo-no-kami living in Izumo, unified almost all the areas of the world and established the land called Ashihara-no-Nakatsukuni, i.e., ancient Japan. Amaterasu Omikami, the ruler of the Heavenly Plain, decided to send her offspring to govern the land and renew it. She dispatched her envoys several times to Okuninushi-no-kami, in order to negotiate the transfer of sovereignty over the land. Finally, he conceded sovereignty to Amaterasu Omikami. She summoned Ninigi-no-mikoto, her grandchild, and handed over to him the three imperial regalia that certify legitimacy to succeed the throne. she also gave him divine rice in heaven and ordered him to reign over the land of Ashihara-no-Nakatsukuni, guaranteeing everlasting prosperity for his dynasty and his throne. She made Ninigi-no-mikoto descend with other kami and their descendants, to the top of the mountain Takachiho-no-Mine in present Kyushu. There Ninigi-no-mikoto erected a palace and established the basis for the Japanese nation. The third descendant of Ninigi-no-mikoto left Kyushu, and having overcome many difficulties with protection by Amaterasu Omikami arrived at Yamato, a region located almost at the center of the Japanese islands, in present Nara area. He established the capital at Kashihara and declared that he had founded the Japanese nation. In this way he became the first Emperor, taking the name Jinmu. copyright 2001 Jingu Administration Office (c)Jingu-Chokokan copyright 2001 Jingu Administration Office (c)Jingu-Chokokan

The tale of the sacred mirror Yata-no-Kagami

The three sacred imperial treasures consist of the sacred mirror called Yata-no-Kagami, the sacred sword called Ame-no-murakumo-no-Tsurugi and the sacred jewel called Yasakani-no-Magatama. According to Shinto thought, the mirror as reflecting everything properly is a symbol for "Honesty," the sword for "Braveness," and the jewel for "Affection." Now, the sacred mirror is enshrined as the august symbol of Amaterasu Omikami at Ise Jingu, while the sacred sword is enshrined as the august symbol for kami at Atsuta Jingu of Nagoya City, and the sacred jewel Yasakani-no-Magatama is preserved in the Imperial Palace. When Amaterasu Omikami gave the sacred mirror to Ninigi-no-mikoto, her grandson, she said: "Think of this sacred mirror as none other than myself, take care of it, and worship it forever." Ever since, the successive emperors have worshiped Amaterasu Omikami, believing her to reside in this mirror, and after Ise Jingu had been established, they have worshiped Amaterasu Omikami with even more reverence.

copyright 2001 Jingu Administration Office (c)Jingu-Chokokan

copyright 2001 Jingu Administration Office (c)Jingu-Chokokan