Heroes And Animal Deities Of Japanese Mythology example essay topic

According to Japanese mythology, the world begins with the birth of seven deities. These seven deities arise and then pass away in what the Japanese call the, "plain of high heaven". After this, five more couples were born, the last named, Izanagi and Izanami, who were ordered by their peers to consolidate the earth, which at this point was a chaos of muddy water. Izanagi and Izanami stood on the bridge of high heaven, thought to be the rainbow, and dipped their jeweled spear in the murky water below. When pulling the spear out of a piece of mud dropped of the tip and is said to have formed the island of Onogoro.

Izanagi and Izanami then moved down to the island, built a house and consummated a child. The first child was born a misfit and was abandoned in a boat in the reeds. Their second child, the island of Awa, was considered to be a misfit also. Soon the couple learnt what was being done form the other deities and reckoned their problems, Izanagi spoke first, then gave birth to the eight main islands of Japan.

This couple had many more children till Izanami died while giving birth to her last child, The God of Fire. More bodies sprang up from her decomposing body, and even more sprung up from Izanagi's tears of sorrow. So mad, Izanagi cut off the God of Fire's head, and from the blood and limbs, sprung yet more divine beings. Meanwhile, Izanami had gone to the underworld, where her husband called for her return, she told Izanagi to wait in patience, but he could wait no more and went to Hades. He found his wife, a hideous rotten heap, and fled from the underworld, blocking the entrance with a rock. Once out of the Underworld Izanagi felt he had to wash his body from the impurities of the underworld.

In a river he washed himself, from his clothes were born more deities. The God of Wind, Susa-no-wo, sprang from his nose, from the right eye came the God of the moon, and from his left eye, Amaterasu Omi kami, the Sun Goddess, was born who is the principle deity of Japan and is said to be a direct ancestor of the Imperial House. The Sun Goddess and her brother Susa-no-wo had refused to obey his father and was banished from the high heavens. Before leaving he wanted to say goodbye to his sister, The Sun Goddess. His sister was very untrustful of her brother and asked Susa-no-wo to prove his good faith in her. He offered to bring forth male deities by a miracle; if they should turn out to be female, then she could consider him insincere.

Susa-no-wo then produced five males from a string of jewels, which his sister had given to him earlier. While this was happening Amaterasu Sun-Goddess) took her brother sword broke it in three and crunching these in her mouth, spat out three goddesses. These five males and eight females become to be known as the ancestors of the highest Japanese nobility. So excited over his success, Susa-no-wo became to commit various acts of mischief, and at one point finally scared his sister, the Sun Goddess. Amaterasu so scared retired herself to a cave on earth, thus depriving the world of light. All the gods were in despair.

They put together a strategy to get her out of the cave by arousing her curiosity by a comic dance and a mirror, which finally lured her from the cave. Susa-no-wo was punished for what he had down and was banished from heaven, again. Before he finally left he killed the Goddess of Food, whose limbs are said to have been turned into the seeds of useful plants. Once out of the heavens, Amaterasu began to pacify the celestial realm. Once concluding this she turned to the earth, the Islands of Japan. After three absorptive attempts to establish her rule she sends her grandson Ninigi down with eight of his companions to assume the power on earth.

Ninigi descended to Kyushu and married a beautiful girl there. He had with him three sacred insignia of imperial power, given to him by Amaterasu: the mirror, Kagame, the sword found by Susa-no-wo in a serpent's belly, and the Jewel of Yamaka. Major Gods and Goddess Susano, the storm God In English his name translates into, 'Swift-Impetuous-Deity' and also known as the 'Impetuous Male. ' His role also is note entirely limited to his role as a storm god. Amaterasu banished him from her celestial country and he went to live on the Province of Izumo on the coast of the Sea of Japan in Honshu.

Here he is said to have planted the forests of Korea from his beard and therefore he is always associated with forests in general. He is depicted as being heavily bearded and is perhaps connected with the hairy Ainu. (Piggott, 15) Susano's grandson is also part of Susano's inheritance. It is said that his grandson wanted to extend the territory of the province.

He changed the coastline to its present shape of today it is said by dragging towards him pieces of land from Korea and also certain islands off the Izumo coast by means of ropes connected to a mountain. These portions all-together form the peninsula of Izumo. Inari, the Rice God Inari, the God of Rice is sometimes shown as a bearded man, but there seems to be some confusion about his sex, because sometimes he is shown as a goddess. The messenger of Inari is the fox and therefore, he is sometimes depicted as a fox also.

Inari is regarded as the patron of sword smiths and in recent times, or traders generally. It is said that the God of the Rice Fields comes down from his mountain in the spring and returns to it in the autumn, this may have some connections with the old Shinto beliefs that the mountains possess the spirits of gods. (Piggott, 58) The Seven Gods of Luck The seven Gods of Luck or Good Fortune are naturally very popular among the Japanese. O Hotel is a peculiarly Buddhist one. His distinguishing feature is a huge stomach, below which his garments sag.

He is a symbol of good nature and his protruding abdomen is believed to be symbolic of his large soul. O Jurojin is the god of longevity. He is always shown in the company of a crane, a tortoise or a stag. He has a white beard and is usually carrying a's haku (sacred staff) on to which is fastened a scroll containing the wisdom of the world. Jurojin also enjoys sake, but in moderation. He is never ever a drunkard O Fukurokuju has a long and very narrow head, and the luck he has combines longevity and wisdom.

His body is very short and his head is often shown being longer than his legs. He is said to have actually originated form China since in his mortal life he was a Chinese philosopher and prophet. O Bish amon is regarded as the god of wealth. He is usually shown dressed in full armor, carrying a spear and in his other hand carrying a pagoda. These two objects are said to show he intends to combine missionary power as well as warrior attributes. O Daikoku is also a god of wealth.

He is the guardian of farmers and is a good-natured and cheerful god. He carries a mallet, which can grant wishes made by mortals, and he sits on rice bails. Rats are sometimes seen eating from the bails but he is so good-natured that he does not care. O Evisu is the patron of tradesmen, fishermen, but he is only depicted in the fishing aspect by carrying a rod and tai (sea bream), with him at all times. He is said to set the example for honest labor. O Beaten, the only female goddess of luck.

She is associated with the sea and many of her shrines are by the sea or on islands. She is usually depicted in statues as riding a sea dragon or sea serpent. She is said to represent the arts and general feminine deportment. Her favorite musical instrument is said to be the bi wa, a stringed instrument, much like the mandolin. (Piggott, 58-59) Hero's O Momotaro He is known for his nobility of purpose rather than for his prowess in battle. His name means peace child.

Momotaro at the age of fifteen decide to help out his town that was being attacked by invaders. He set off on his was to the sea and on his way he met a dog, a pheasant and a monkey, all in that order. Momotaro was said to be able to talk to them and for the price of a rice cake the animals would join him on his journey. They arrived at a boat and set forth to the island of the on, the invaders. Momotaro then attacked the castle of the on and killed on the supernatural beings. Momotaro released all the prisoner from the castle and also freed some young women who had been raped by the on.

Momotaro returned all to their families and his foster parents received great praise for this. He was come to be known as a great hero for saving his town form the on. (Piggott, 86-88) O Issun Bosh io His name means 'little rich one' and he is known to be a tiny hero. Once again at the age of fifteen he expressed a wish to visit the capital. Kyoto. His parents gave him a rice bowl, chopsticks and a needle to be used as a sword.

He had to get to Kyoto by river using his rice bowl for a boat and is chopsticks as oars. In Kyoto he was able to enter service of a noble family. He endeared himself to the household and particularly the daughter. One day he accompanied her to go pray at a temple where they were attacked by two giant on. The first on saw Issun and swallowed him but by using his sword he was able to climb out of the on body using it to jam into is stomach and other tracks back up to the mouth where he was finally spit out in pain. The other on then caught him but before anything could happen Issun jumped into the on's eyes and jabbed it with his sword.

Both on is ran fleeing and the girl was unharmed. The couple arrived back home and married and took care of their families with great pride and prestige. (Campbell, O Kintaroo He is known for his tremendous physical strength and loyalty. Kin taro was a posthumous child and was brought up on a mountain retreat, with only his mother and animals as companions.

As a young child he was very strong able to uproot trees with his single bare hand. His strength was eventually discovered and he was taken to the court at Kyoto where, it is said, he became retainer of Yorimitsu, and early leader of the Minamoto clan. Eventually he vindicated his father who had been banished from the court and in his man hood he became a great and powerful leader. O The Forty-Seven Roni no All of these men are considered to be heroes. The daimyo's of these forty-seven samurai had been killed.

These forty-seven men banded together and decided to help out where needed. One day the decided to help the son of their old leader. They were killed in battle. To show them honor they were buried in a great tomb with their master and considered heroes for standing up for their master. Men and Animals Animals play an important part in the Japanese culture both in mythology and legend. O The Fox The fox is the oldest superstition in Japanese mythology.

The Rice God, Inari, uses the fox as the messenger and the good is sometimes depicted as fox. Like the fox other animals in Japanese mythology are able to transform themselves into humans. The fox is feared though for its malevolence, and to be possessed by a fox spirit is sometimes thought to be a cause of insanity, depression, and hysteria. O The White Hare of Oki There was a white hare on the island of Oki. This hare wanted to visit the Izumo peninsula. It finally did make it to the mainland by trickery.

The hare got into an argument with a crocodile. The hare believed that there were more hares on the island of Oki then crocodiles in the sea. He got the crocodiles to likes up in a straight line and as he counted them he walked across their scaly backs to the mainland peninsula. By the time he reached the last crocodile the crop's understood his plans and ripped the hares fur off of him. Finally in pain on the beach a young boy found the hare bathed it in fresh water and sprinkled it with pollen. The hare's fur grew back immediately.

The boy then took the hare to woo a princess and with the hare the princess fell in love with the boy. The hare became regarded as a creature to by worshiped and live with the couple. O The Tongue-cut Sparrow A washerwoman cut the tongue of a sparrow in punishment for pecking at her rice starch. The bird, which had been fed regularly by the old couple next door, flew away and the kind couple went on a search for the bird.

The couple found the bird and after a long feast with the bird and its family the sparrow offered the couple a choice of two boxes. The old people chose the smaller of the two boxes and when the opened it to their surprise it was filled with and endless supply of riches; gold, silks, and precious stones. The washerwomen seeing the riches from the old people decided to search for the same sparrow, which she had hurt. The sparrow treated her the same way with a feast and at the end offered two boxes likewise. The washerwoman chose the bigger of the two boxes. When opening the box she was seized upon by a horde of devils, which devoured her immediately.

O The Grateful Dog A young pup was starving and one day at a woman's silkworm, which was part of her daily, living. The woman did not hurt the dog even though she was upset. Later the dog came back and had a bruised nose but the woman also noticed a strand of silk hanging out of one nostril. The woman began to pull out the silk reel upon reel and she sold the silk. The dog then passed away and the woman buried it under a mulberry tree.

She then gave thanks to Buddha for sending the dog to help her make a living. Soon silk worms were born on the tree and maturely extremely fast. She was able to make the finest silk and sell to the emperor and imperial court. It was said from the spirit of the dog the women was able to live and given wealth for her gentleness for not killing the dog in the first place. O The Mandarin duck so These ducks are considered to show love and are associated with happy marriages and therefore they are not hunted. The Japanese are in general fascinated by the supernatural.

Ghost stories abound and mythical creatures populate the countryside. Many of the tales are told of mischievous tree living ten gu and the malignant Oni. These creatures are said to have insatiable appetite for cucumber, but also for animals and human beings. Japanese mythology is a fascinating collaboration of dashing heroes, supernatural being and intelligent animals - of love and hate, gratitude and resentment, gentleness and cruelty.

This is just a brief overview of the major gods and goddess, heroes, and animal deities of Japanese mythology.

Bibliography

Campbell, Joseph. Oriental Mythology: The Masks of Gods, Penguin Books, New York, NY, 1976 Dors on, R.
M. Folk Legends of Japan. Charles Tuttle, Rutland, Vermont, and Tokyo, 1962 Piggott, Juliet.
Japanese Mythology. Hamlyn Publishing, New York, NY, 1975 Webster, R.
G. Japan: from the old to the new. S.W. Partridge & Co., 1905, 1978.