Following the exit of Susanow-no-mikoto from the stage, the theme of the Myth of Izumo turns to the story on which Oonamuchi-no-kami in the Chronicle of Japan, or Ookuninushi-no-mikoto, who was a descendant of sixth generations from Susanow-no-mikoto in the Kojiki played leading role. Though the story of the Kojiki is longer and describes more detail than the Chronicle of Japan, both of these stories come to similar ends that Oonamuch-no-mikoto or Ookuninushi-no-mikoto had governed the people well with Sukunahiko-no-kami, who is a son of Takamimusuhi-no-mikoto in the Chronicle of Japan or of Kamumusihi-no-mikoto in the Kojiki.
Politics
2008年9 月21日 (日)
2008年9 月20日 (土)
The mystery of Susanow-no-mikoto
At Suga, Susanou-no-mikoto and Kushiinada-hime had a son named Ooanamuchi-no-mikoto in the Chronicle of Japan, or Yashimajinumi-no-kami in the Kojiki. For the sake of his son, he was willing to appoint Ahinazuti and Tenazuti, who came to be called Inada-no-miya-no-nushi-no-kami, the chief of the palace. And it is quite wonder, according to the Chronicle of Japan, that he was gone to the Ne-no-kuni leaving his family at Suga. On the other hand, the Kojiki does not describe such a sentence that he had disappeared groundlessly.
2008年9 月19日 (金)
The Iron Manufacture In Izumo
The other interpretation is that the monster serpent, Yamata-no-orochi, was a symbol of a group of workmen of the iron manufacture who had inhabited and had founded workplaces at Izumo. It is well known that the area of Izumo is a famous iron producing place where the method of foot bellows for iron producing has been used and superior sword-smiths have produced Japanese swords since old times. The Kusanagi-no-turugi, which was within the tail of the monster serpent, may be a telling evidence supporting this theory. If we adopt this interpretation, Susanow-no-mikoto should have placed the iron manufacture of Izumo under his subjection.
2008年9 月18日 (木)
The Foold Control by Susanow-no-mikoto
There are two theories to explain what the monster serpent, Yamata-no-orochi, in the Izumo Myth, means. The first theory is that it symbolizes the river which had flooded at the rainy season of every year and had damaged rice fields. Sorrowfully, there would have been a religious custom in ancient age of Japan to serve a maiden as a human sacrifice to sooth the rough river. In this sentence, Susanow-no-mikoto should have been a hero who succeeded the flood control for the people who had prayed for safe and ample rice harvest and discontinued the cruel and superstitious custom for pitiful maidens.
2008年9 月17日 (水)
The first Waka in Japan
After having slew the monster serpent, Yamata-no-orochi, Susanow-no-mikoto looked for a suitable place where he should make a home with Kushi-inada-hime. At last, he arrived at Suga in Izumo and exclaimed at its refreshing atmosphere. Here he composed the poetry about the scene of Izumo. ”Clouds are rising and gathering in Izumo. These clouds will make an eightfold enclosure, Yaegaki, for my wife. This Yaegaki”! This short and simple poetry is the first Japanese poetry, Waka, which Japanese people have composed irrespective of rank until now. Thus, Susanow-no-mikoto has been worshiped as a founder of the art of poetry in Japan.
2008年9 月16日 (火)
The Three Sacred Trasures in Japan
Glancing at the precious sword, Susanow-no-mikoto at once comprehended that it was so precious that he could not possess it by himself. Then, he decided to offer it to Amatu-kami, or Amaterasu-oomikami if we adopt the description of the Kojiki. Indeed, the precious sword, Kusanagi-no- turugi has been one of the three sacred treasures which is said to be tokens of legitimacy of the Tennow. Mysteriously enough, this sacred sword has been enshrined at the Atuta-jinngu in Nagoya, while the sword in the palace should be imitation or other precious ancient sword.
2008年9 月13日 (土)
Kusanagi-no-turugi in the Izumo Myth
As soon as the monster serpent, Yamata-no-orochi, found out the eight barrels of rice wine, it approached to the shelf and began to drink them in putting each of its eight heads into each of eight barrels on the shelf. In time, since it got drunk and slept like a log, Susanow-no-mikoto drew the sword, Totuka-no-turugi, and cut off the monster serpent splendidly. By the way, when he cut off one of eight tails with his sword, he noticed that the edge of his sword was nicked by something hard. And it was a precious sword, Kusanagi-no-turugi, that he found in the tail of the monster serpent at that time.
2008年9 月12日 (金)
Yamata-no-orochi in the Izumo Myth
Hearing this sadly story, Susanow-no-mikoto asked Asinazuti to marry with his daughter in return for fight against the monster serpent with eight heads. Asinazuti was willing to accept this proposal. Thus, Susanow-no-mikoto requested to prepare ample Japanese rice wine and to make a shelf with eight boards, on each of which he put a barrel of rice wine. After a while, the gigantic monster serpent with eight heads, eight tails and red glittering eyes, on whose back a lot of pine trees and oaks glowed, appeared as he had expected.
2008年9 月11日 (木)
The Lamentation of Ahinazuti in the Izumo Myth
Wondering why the old couple cried so sadly, Susanou-no-mikoto asked them, “Who are you? And, why do you cry so sorrowfully?” They answered him, “We are inhabitants of this nation. My name is Ashinazuti and this is my wife, Tenazuti. This girl is our daughter, Kushiinada-hime. The reason why we are crying is that she is going to be gulped down by a monster serpent with eight heads, Yamata-no-orochi .” Ashinazuti continued to explain the situation that every year each of their eight daughters had been swallowed by the monster one by one and that there was no way to escape from the cruel fate.
2008年9 月10日 (水)
The Hero: Susanow-no-mikoto in the Myth of Izumo
While in Takamanohara, Susanou-no-mikoto played the part of a villain, in Izumo he was transformed his part to a reliable hero who save the weak. Compared the Chronicle of Japan and the Kojiki, the latter describes rather in detail than in the former. Here we introduce the story of the former in order to give the outline of it. The Izumo Myth begins with the descent and the arrival of Susanou-no-mikoto at the river side of the Hi-kawa in Izumo. Just arriving there, he heard sorrowful cries from upward the river. Alongside the river he walked up and found out there an old couple who embraced their young daughter firmly.