I would like to share to NB forums about Japanese Mythodology.
Hoping I did not repost on this.
Amaterasu | Japanese Mythology
Amaterasu is a sun goddess of the Shinto religion. It is believed that Amaterasu sent her grandson Jimmu to Earth 3,000 years ago to be the first ruler of Japan, beginning the divine family of Japanese emperors.
Amaterasu was given rule over the sky by Izangi when he handed to her his holy necklace.
Later, in a competition with her brother Susano, Amaterasu gave birth to three goddesses, who with Susano's offspring, are collectively the ancestors of Jimmu.
During this competition, Amaterasu was unwilling to admit defeat. This caused Susano to furiously wreak havoc throughout the heavens and the Earth. Amaterasu fled into a cave, and her absence caused darkness throughout Japan.
Amaterasu's absence caused much dismay on Earth. As the crops died off and the people suffered, the gods decided they needed to return Amaterasu to her position in the heavens. They sought the help of several dieties, and performed ritualis and sacrifieces outside of Amaterasu's cave. They also hung a mirror from a tree outside of the cave.
Hearing all the commotion, Amaterasu came forth and asked why the gods seemed to be rejoicing. They replied that they had found a new mistress who would be the sun goddess' replacement. Amaterasu came forth in curiosity, and peeked out of her cave. She immediately saw the mirror and was drawn to it. Having never seen her own reflection, Amaterasu thought she was looking at her majestic replacement. As she stepped forward to examine it, she was caught by one god and the cave was blocked by another. Amaterasu's presence illuminated the fields and life returned to Japan's land.
Tsukiyomi | Japanese Mythology
Tsukiyomi is the Shinto diety that rules over the night sky and the moon. Tsukiyomi was created by Izangi, and shared the sky with sister Amaterasu, the goddess of the sun.
Susano | Japanese Mythology
Susano is the brother of Amaterasu and Tsukiyomi, created by Izangi.
While Susano's siblings dutifully held their positions in the High Plain of Heaven, Susano caused trouble on the Central Land of the Reed Plain (the Earth). Susano neglected his work causing much of the foliage on the land to wither away. Izangi asked Susano why he was upset, and Susano announced that he did not like the Earth, but instead wanted to be in Yomi with his Izanami. Izamgo was furious and banished Susano.
But before Susano went down to Yomi, he decided that he must journey to the heavens to say goodbye to his sister. As he began his journey, though, his ascent caused a great earthquake on the land. Hearing this, Amaterasu feared that Susano's approach was malicious?she feared that he intended to steal her place. Amaterasu prepared herself for battle, and awaited Susano's approach.
When Susano arrived, he tried to assure Amaterasu that he came only to bid her farewell. She demanded proof, and suggested a competiton in procreation. The one who created birth to a red-blooded male would be shown as the correct sibling. Amaterasu took Susano's sword and gave him a string of beads in return. Both items were washed, and used for the contest. Amaterasu went first, biting into the sword, creating three goddesses from her breath. Susano then placed the beads in his mouth and created five gods from them.
Susano was the victor, but Amaterasu insisted that since the gods came from her beads, she was in fact the correct one. Susano was furious, and attacked with chaos throughout the heavens and the earth. Ametsaru ultimately fled and hid herself in a cave.
The absence of the sun, and the great ordeal that was required to return Amaterasu, caused the gods to sentence Susano severely. His beard was shaven, his fingernails and toenails were cut off forced him to take part in several embarrassing rituals. Finally, the gods banished Susano from heaven and sent him to the underworld of Yomi.
Later, when Susano encounters and slays the dragon Orochi, he discovers a sacred sword that has grown within the monster. He presents this sword, the Kusanagi to Amaterasu as a gift.
Yamata no Orochi | Japanese Mythology
Yamata no Orochi is a serpent-dragon in Japanese myth. The Orochi has eight heads and eight tails, and its enormous body reaches across eight valleys and eight hills. (You're probably noticing a pattern here.)
When Susano is in exile from the heavens, he finds a couple and their daughter crying by the river. They explain their sadness to him ? that every year, the Orochi comes to devour one of their daughters. This year, they must give up their eigth and final daughter, Kusinada.
To save her, Susano proposes marriage to Kusinada. When she accepts, he transforms her into a comb which he can then carry in his hair. Kusinada's parents must brew sake, he explains, and refine it eight times. They must also build an enclosure with eight gates, each of which includes a vat of sake.
When the Orochi arrives, he is lured in towards the sake, and dips each of his heads into one of the vats. The drunken beast is now weakened and disoriented, allowing Susano to quickly slay it.
As Susano cuts the monster into pieces, he uncovers a great sword that had grown inside the Orochi. This blade, the Kusanagi, is presented to Amaterasu as a gift to reconcile their dispute.
Izangi and Izanami | Japanese Mythology
Izangi (meaning "He who invites"), together with Izanami ("She who invites"), are of the seventh generation of Shinto's celestial gods. Together, they were the creators of the Japanese islands (Yamato).
Izanagi and Izanami were given a special spear by the older generations, with which Izangi reached down and created the first island, Onogoro.
Izangi and Izanami decided to marry and to mate to bring about new generations and new lands from the Earth. To marry, they created a ritual to celebrate. During the ceremony, Izanami cried out delightfully upon seeing Izangi. Izangi returned the excitement, but reminded Izanami that a female should not speak first in this manner.
The first result of their lovemaking was a deformed child that was shaped like a leech (this child is sometimes associated with the god Hiruko). Izangi and Izami returned to Heaven in order to determine the cause of this deformity. They learned that Izanami's outburst during their wedding polluted their marriage. So, the couple then repeated the ceremony, only Izanami remained silent until spoken to.
Their next attempt at mating created the eight largest islands of Japan, and consequent bubbles in the ocean gave rise to the smaller islands and other foreign lands. Izangi and Izanami later created dieties of the sea, wind, mountains, rivers, trees and of rice.
Izanami then gave birth to a fire god, Kagutsuchi, but with dire consequences. Izanami was burned during burth, and fell down to the ground. From her death, many more gods were born, including earth and water goddesses. Izangi's tears as he mourned his lover also created more dieties, and in anger, sliced Kagutuchi up with a sword. His pieces, too, became gods, and his spattered blood formed the stars of the Milky Way.
Izangi sought to return his beloved Izanami, and followed her to Yomi, the Japanese underworld. Eventually finding her in the darkness, Izangi begged her to return. She refused, and told him that she had eaten the dark food of Yomi and could not return to the world of the living. Later, though, as Izanami lay down to sleep, Izangi lit a torch to see. When he did, though, he saw his wife's decaying body. The sight shocked him, and he dropped the torch and ran.
Izanami was woken and tried to stop Izangi from leaving, but he created a barrier between the world of the living and the dead with a boulder. He announced that he would divorce his wife, and she protested saying that she would take 1000 of the living each day if he did. Izangi replied that he would give live to 1,500 each day.
Thus, death was introduced to the world, but Izangi's life-giving still fuels the growth of mankind as he brings more into the world than Izanami can take away.
Seeing the taint of the underworld on his skin, Izangi plunged himself into a river. As he bathed, from his left eye, the goddess Amaterasu came forth, from his right, Tsukiyomi, and from his nose, the god Susano.
Susano, god of the restless seas, complained about his role and was banished (willingly) by Izangi to Yomi. After sending Susano away, Izanagi sought retirement. Some accounts of the myth say that Izangi returned to the heavens to be near Amaterasu, while others say that he rested on the island of Honshu, were he is still worshiped.
Hoping I did not repost on this.
Amaterasu | Japanese Mythology
Amaterasu is a sun goddess of the Shinto religion. It is believed that Amaterasu sent her grandson Jimmu to Earth 3,000 years ago to be the first ruler of Japan, beginning the divine family of Japanese emperors.
Amaterasu was given rule over the sky by Izangi when he handed to her his holy necklace.
Later, in a competition with her brother Susano, Amaterasu gave birth to three goddesses, who with Susano's offspring, are collectively the ancestors of Jimmu.
During this competition, Amaterasu was unwilling to admit defeat. This caused Susano to furiously wreak havoc throughout the heavens and the Earth. Amaterasu fled into a cave, and her absence caused darkness throughout Japan.
Amaterasu's absence caused much dismay on Earth. As the crops died off and the people suffered, the gods decided they needed to return Amaterasu to her position in the heavens. They sought the help of several dieties, and performed ritualis and sacrifieces outside of Amaterasu's cave. They also hung a mirror from a tree outside of the cave.
Hearing all the commotion, Amaterasu came forth and asked why the gods seemed to be rejoicing. They replied that they had found a new mistress who would be the sun goddess' replacement. Amaterasu came forth in curiosity, and peeked out of her cave. She immediately saw the mirror and was drawn to it. Having never seen her own reflection, Amaterasu thought she was looking at her majestic replacement. As she stepped forward to examine it, she was caught by one god and the cave was blocked by another. Amaterasu's presence illuminated the fields and life returned to Japan's land.
Tsukiyomi | Japanese Mythology
Tsukiyomi is the Shinto diety that rules over the night sky and the moon. Tsukiyomi was created by Izangi, and shared the sky with sister Amaterasu, the goddess of the sun.
Susano | Japanese Mythology
Susano is the brother of Amaterasu and Tsukiyomi, created by Izangi.
While Susano's siblings dutifully held their positions in the High Plain of Heaven, Susano caused trouble on the Central Land of the Reed Plain (the Earth). Susano neglected his work causing much of the foliage on the land to wither away. Izangi asked Susano why he was upset, and Susano announced that he did not like the Earth, but instead wanted to be in Yomi with his Izanami. Izamgo was furious and banished Susano.
But before Susano went down to Yomi, he decided that he must journey to the heavens to say goodbye to his sister. As he began his journey, though, his ascent caused a great earthquake on the land. Hearing this, Amaterasu feared that Susano's approach was malicious?she feared that he intended to steal her place. Amaterasu prepared herself for battle, and awaited Susano's approach.
When Susano arrived, he tried to assure Amaterasu that he came only to bid her farewell. She demanded proof, and suggested a competiton in procreation. The one who created birth to a red-blooded male would be shown as the correct sibling. Amaterasu took Susano's sword and gave him a string of beads in return. Both items were washed, and used for the contest. Amaterasu went first, biting into the sword, creating three goddesses from her breath. Susano then placed the beads in his mouth and created five gods from them.
Susano was the victor, but Amaterasu insisted that since the gods came from her beads, she was in fact the correct one. Susano was furious, and attacked with chaos throughout the heavens and the earth. Ametsaru ultimately fled and hid herself in a cave.
The absence of the sun, and the great ordeal that was required to return Amaterasu, caused the gods to sentence Susano severely. His beard was shaven, his fingernails and toenails were cut off forced him to take part in several embarrassing rituals. Finally, the gods banished Susano from heaven and sent him to the underworld of Yomi.
Later, when Susano encounters and slays the dragon Orochi, he discovers a sacred sword that has grown within the monster. He presents this sword, the Kusanagi to Amaterasu as a gift.
Yamata no Orochi | Japanese Mythology
Yamata no Orochi is a serpent-dragon in Japanese myth. The Orochi has eight heads and eight tails, and its enormous body reaches across eight valleys and eight hills. (You're probably noticing a pattern here.)
When Susano is in exile from the heavens, he finds a couple and their daughter crying by the river. They explain their sadness to him ? that every year, the Orochi comes to devour one of their daughters. This year, they must give up their eigth and final daughter, Kusinada.
To save her, Susano proposes marriage to Kusinada. When she accepts, he transforms her into a comb which he can then carry in his hair. Kusinada's parents must brew sake, he explains, and refine it eight times. They must also build an enclosure with eight gates, each of which includes a vat of sake.
When the Orochi arrives, he is lured in towards the sake, and dips each of his heads into one of the vats. The drunken beast is now weakened and disoriented, allowing Susano to quickly slay it.
As Susano cuts the monster into pieces, he uncovers a great sword that had grown inside the Orochi. This blade, the Kusanagi, is presented to Amaterasu as a gift to reconcile their dispute.
Izangi and Izanami | Japanese Mythology
Izangi (meaning "He who invites"), together with Izanami ("She who invites"), are of the seventh generation of Shinto's celestial gods. Together, they were the creators of the Japanese islands (Yamato).
Izanagi and Izanami were given a special spear by the older generations, with which Izangi reached down and created the first island, Onogoro.
Izangi and Izanami decided to marry and to mate to bring about new generations and new lands from the Earth. To marry, they created a ritual to celebrate. During the ceremony, Izanami cried out delightfully upon seeing Izangi. Izangi returned the excitement, but reminded Izanami that a female should not speak first in this manner.
The first result of their lovemaking was a deformed child that was shaped like a leech (this child is sometimes associated with the god Hiruko). Izangi and Izami returned to Heaven in order to determine the cause of this deformity. They learned that Izanami's outburst during their wedding polluted their marriage. So, the couple then repeated the ceremony, only Izanami remained silent until spoken to.
Their next attempt at mating created the eight largest islands of Japan, and consequent bubbles in the ocean gave rise to the smaller islands and other foreign lands. Izangi and Izanami later created dieties of the sea, wind, mountains, rivers, trees and of rice.
Izanami then gave birth to a fire god, Kagutsuchi, but with dire consequences. Izanami was burned during burth, and fell down to the ground. From her death, many more gods were born, including earth and water goddesses. Izangi's tears as he mourned his lover also created more dieties, and in anger, sliced Kagutuchi up with a sword. His pieces, too, became gods, and his spattered blood formed the stars of the Milky Way.
Izangi sought to return his beloved Izanami, and followed her to Yomi, the Japanese underworld. Eventually finding her in the darkness, Izangi begged her to return. She refused, and told him that she had eaten the dark food of Yomi and could not return to the world of the living. Later, though, as Izanami lay down to sleep, Izangi lit a torch to see. When he did, though, he saw his wife's decaying body. The sight shocked him, and he dropped the torch and ran.
Izanami was woken and tried to stop Izangi from leaving, but he created a barrier between the world of the living and the dead with a boulder. He announced that he would divorce his wife, and she protested saying that she would take 1000 of the living each day if he did. Izangi replied that he would give live to 1,500 each day.
Thus, death was introduced to the world, but Izangi's life-giving still fuels the growth of mankind as he brings more into the world than Izanami can take away.
Seeing the taint of the underworld on his skin, Izangi plunged himself into a river. As he bathed, from his left eye, the goddess Amaterasu came forth, from his right, Tsukiyomi, and from his nose, the god Susano.
Susano, god of the restless seas, complained about his role and was banished (willingly) by Izangi to Yomi. After sending Susano away, Izanagi sought retirement. Some accounts of the myth say that Izangi returned to the heavens to be near Amaterasu, while others say that he rested on the island of Honshu, were he is still worshiped.