Amaterasu Ōmikami 天照大神, the Sun Goddess. Japan’s imperial family claims direct decent from her line. The nation’s flag symbolizes the sun, and the name of the country (Nihon 日本) translates as “Land of the Rising Sun.” Shrines associated with the imperial family are called Jingū -- the most prestigious is called Ise Jingū (Mie Prefecture) and it is dedicated to Amaterasu. Ise Jingū is reportedly pulled down every 20 years and rebuilt in its original form. Japan’s numeous Shintō kami appear in Japan’s oldest extant document, the Kojiki 古事記 (Records of Ancient Matters; 712 AD), and also in the Nihongi 日本紀 (Chronicles of Japan; 797 AD).
Following text courtesy Encyclopedia Mythica. “She was so bright and radiant that her parents sent her up the Celestial Ladder to heaven, where she has ruled ever since. When her brother, the storm god Susano-o no Mikoto 須佐之男命, ravaged the earth, she retreated to a cave because he was so noisy. She later closed the cave with a large boulder. Her disappearance deprived the world of light and life, which resulted in demons ruling the earth. The other gods used everything in their power to lure her out, but to no avail. Finally Uzume (aka Ame no Uzume 天宇受売命 or 天鈿女命) succeeded in bringing her out by dancing in front of the cave. The laughter of the gods as they watched Uzume’s comical and obscene dances aroused Amaterasu's curiosity. When she emerged from her cave a streak of light escaped (dawn). The goddess then saw her own brilliant reflection in a mirror which Uzume had hung in a nearby tree with beautiful jewels. When she drew closer for a better look, the gods grabbed her and pulled her out of the cave. She returned to the sky, and brought light back into the world. Later, she created and cultivated Japan’s rice fields. She also invented the art of weaving with the loom and taught the people how to cultivate wheat and silkworms. Many Shintō shrines contain a sacred mirror, said to be the mirror in which Amaterasu saw her reflection. Celebrations in her honor take place on July 17 each year. She is also honored on December 21, the winter solstice, to indicate her role in bringing light back to the world.”
Emperor Akihito 明仁 (the current emperor) is said to be the 125th direct descendant of Emperor Jinmu 神武, Japan's legendary first emperor and a mythical descendent of Amaterasu. Sun imagery is still very prominent in modern Japan. Japan’s national flag, the Hinomaru 日の丸 (literally sun circle; also known as Nisshōki 日章旗 or sun flag), symbolizes the sun, and was officially adopted by the Japanese Diet in August 1999, when the National Flag and Anthem Law was enacted. The country’s name, Nippon or Nihon, is typically translated as “Land of the Rising Sun” or “Source of the Sun.” The country’s national anthem, the kimigayo 君が代, also officially adopted in 1999, is a song of praise to the emperor. Its lyrics basically mean “May the emperor reign forever.” The imperial family's crest, the chrysanthemum, is used on the cover of Japanese passports.
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