Online reading of the book Myths and Legends of Japan Chapter 1. ORIGIN OF THE WORLD

Japanese mythology, which includes a lot of sacred knowledge, beliefs, and traditions of Shintoism and Buddhism, is at the same time interesting and incomprehensible to many. The pantheon contains a huge number of deities who perform their functions. There are a considerable number of demons that people believe in.

Pantheon of Japanese Gods

The myths of this Asian country are based on Shintoism - the “way of the gods”, which appeared in ancient times and it is simply impossible to determine the exact date. The mythology of Japan is peculiar and unique. People worshiped various spiritual entities of nature, places and even inanimate objects. Gods could be evil and good. It is worth noting that their names are often complex and sometimes too lengthy.

Japanese sun goddess

The goddess Amaterasu Omikami is responsible for the heavenly body and in translation her name is called “the great goddess who illuminates the heavens.” According to beliefs, the sun goddess in Japan is the ancestor of the great imperial family.

1. It is believed that Amaterasu taught the Japanese the rules and secrets of the technology of growing rice and producing silk through the use of a loom.
2. According to legend, it appeared from drops of water when one of the great gods was washing in a reservoir.
3. Japanese mythology says that she had a brother Susanoo, with whom she married, but he wanted to go to the world of the dead to his mother, so he began to destroy the world of people so that other gods would kill him. Amaterasu was tired of her husband’s behavior and hid in a cave, cutting off all contacts with the world. The gods, by cunning, managed to lure her out of her shelter and return her to heaven.

Japanese goddess of mercy

One of the main goddesses of the Japanese pantheon is Guanyin, who is also called the “Buddhist Madonna.” Believers considered her a beloved mother and divine mediator, who was not alien to the daily affairs of ordinary people. Other Japanese goddesses did not have such great importance in ancient times.

1. Guanyin is revered as a compassionate savior and goddess of mercy. Her altars were placed not only in temples, but also in houses and roadside temples.
2. According to existing legends, the goddess wanted to enter the kingdom of heaven, but she stopped at the very threshold, hearing the cry of people living on earth.
3. The Japanese goddess of mercy is considered the patroness of women, sailors, merchants and artisans. Representatives of the fair sex who wanted to get pregnant also sought her help.
4. Guanyin is often depicted with many eyes and hands, representing her desire to help other people.

Japanese god of death

Emma is responsible for the other world, who is not only the ruler god, but also the judge of the dead, who rules hell (in Japanese mythology - jigoku).

1. Under the leadership of the god of death there is a whole army of spirits that performs many tasks, for example, they take the souls of the dead after death.
2. He is portrayed as a large man with a red face, bulging eyes and a beard. The God of Death in Japan is dressed in traditional Japanese attire, and on his head is a crown with the hieroglyph for “king”.
3. In modern Japan, Emma is the hero of horror stories told to children.

Japanese God of War

The famous warlike patron god Hachiman is not a fictional character, since he was copied from the real Japanese warrior Oji, who ruled the country. For his good deeds, loyalty to the Japanese people and love of battle, it was decided to rank him among the divine pantheon.

1. There are several options for how the Japanese gods looked, so Hachiman was depicted as an elderly blacksmith or, conversely, as a child who provided all kinds of help to people.
2. He is considered the patron saint of samurai, which is why he is called the god of bow and arrow. Its task is to protect people from various life misfortunes and war.
3. According to one legend, Hachiman represents the fusion of three divine beings. It also says that he was the patron of the imperial family, so ruler Oji is considered his prototype.

Japanese god of thunder

Raijin is considered the patron of lightning and thunder in mythology. In most legends he is represented together with the god of the wind. He is depicted surrounded by drums, which he beats to create thunder. In some sources he is represented as a child or a snake. The Japanese god Raijin is also responsible for rain. He is considered the Japanese equivalent of a Western demon or devil.

Japanese god of fire

Kagutsuchi is considered responsible for the fire in the pantheon. According to legends, when he was born, he burned his mother with his flame and she died. His father, in despair, cut off his head, and then divided the remains into eight equal parts, from which volcanoes later appeared. From his blood came the other gods of Japan.

1. In Japanese mythology, Kagutsuchi was held in special esteem and people worshiped him as the patron of fire and blacksmithing.
2. People were afraid of the wrath of the god of fire, so they constantly prayed to him and brought various gifts, believing that he would protect their houses from fires.
3. In Japan, many people still follow the tradition of celebrating the Hi-matsuri holiday at the beginning of the year. On this day, it is necessary to bring into the house a torch lit from the sacred fire in the temple.

Japanese wind god

Fujin is considered one of the oldest Shinto deities who inhabited the earth before the advent of humanity. For those who are interested in which god in Japan was responsible for the wind, and what he looked like, it is worth knowing that he was often represented as a muscular man who constantly carried on his shoulders a huge bag filled with a huge number of winds, and they walk on the ground when he opens it.

1. In the mythology of Japan there is a legend that Fujin first released the winds at the dawn of the world to dispel the fogs and the sun could illuminate the earth and give life.
2. Originally in Japanese mythology, Fujin and his friend the thunder god were among the forces of evil that opposed the Buddha. As a result of the battle, they were captured and then repented and began to serve good.
3. The wind god has only four fingers on his hands, which symbolize the directions of light. He has only two toes on his feet, meaning heaven and earth.

Japanese god of water

Susanoo, who was already mentioned earlier, was responsible for the water domain. He appeared from drops of water, and is the brother of Amaterasu. He did not want to rule the seas and decided to go into the world of the dead to his mother, but in order to leave a mark on himself, he invited his sister to give birth to children. After this, the Japanese god of the sea did many terrible things on earth, for example, he destroyed canals in the fields, desecrated sacred chambers, and so on. For his deeds, he was expelled from the high sky by the other gods.

Japanese god of luck

The list of the seven gods of happiness includes Ebisu, who is responsible for good luck. He is also considered the patron of fishing and labor, and also the guardian of the health of young children.

1. The mythology of Ancient Japan contains many myths and one of them tells that Ebisu was born without bones because his mother did not observe the wedding ritual. At birth he was named Hirako. When he was not yet three years old, he was carried out to sea and after some time washed up on the shores of Hokkaido, where he grew bones for himself and turned into a god.
2. For his benevolence, the Japanese nicknamed him “the laughing god.” A festival is held in his honor every year.
3. In most sources he is presented wearing a tall hat, holding a fishing rod and a large fish in his hands.

Japanese Moon God

The ruler of the night and the earth's satellite is considered to be Tsukiyemi, who in mythology is sometimes represented as a female deity. He is believed to have the power to control the ebb and flow of the tides.

1. The myths of Ancient Japan explain the process of the appearance of this deity in different ways. There is a version that he appeared along with Amaterasu and Susanoo during the ablution of Izanagi. According to other information, he appeared from a mirror made of white copper, which was held in the right hand of a majestic god.
2. Legends say that the Moon God and the Sun Goddess lived together, but one day the sister drove her brother away and told him to stay away. Because of this, the two celestial bodies cannot meet, since the Moon shines at night. And the sun during the day.
3. There are several temples dedicated to Tsukiyemi.

Gods of happiness in Japan

In the mythology of this Asian country, there are as many as seven gods of happiness, who are responsible for different areas that are important to people. They are often represented in the form of small figures that float along the river. Ancient Japanese gods of happiness have connections with the beliefs of China and India:

1. Ebisu
   is the only god who is of Japanese origin. It was described above.
2. Hotei
   is the god of good nature and compassion. Many turn to him to fulfill their cherished desire. He is portrayed as an old man with a huge belly.
3. Daikoku
   is the deity of wealth who helps people fulfill their desires. He is also considered the protector of ordinary peasants. He is presented with a hammer and a bag of rice.
4. Fukurokuju
   is the god of wisdom and longevity. He stands out among other deities because of his overly elongated head.
5. Bezaiten
   is the goddess of fortune who is the patron of art, wisdom and learning. Japanese mythology represents her as a beautiful girl, and in her hands she holds the national Japanese instrument - the biwa.
6. Jurosin
   is the god of longevity and is considered a hermit who is constantly in search of the elixir of immortality. They imagine him as an old man with a staff and an animal.
7. Bishamon
   is the god of prosperity and material wealth. He is considered the patron saint of warriors, lawyers and doctors. He is depicted in armor and with a spear.

Temptress Yuki-onna

Legends describe Yuki-onna as the most powerful seductress. She is associated with winter cold. This distinctive feature of the character is justified by the fact that she does not have strong feelings for anyone. Translated from Japanese, her name means a winter, cold woman. She wears only light dresses, always with a beautiful face and neatly collected hair. According to legend, her black hair is of unearthly beauty. The skin is marbled, thin and almost transparent. There is not a single flaw or wrinkle on her.

Yuki-onna is invisible against the background of snow - this skill allows her to quickly move through forests. The beauty of the creature and impeccable appearance are emphasized by eyes that inspire real horror. If necessary, Yuki-onna quickly turns into smoke and disappears. She doesn't stay where she doesn't like. The embodiment of beauty and grace leaves no traces - she literally floats above the skinny snow. While giving her the powers of a ghost, many legends deprive her of her legs: according to legend, the hem of Yuki-onna’s dress looks like a cloud of smoke.

She must see other people's suffering. Through them she tries to feel alive. She doesn't have to kill the victim, she can watch him die.

In other beliefs, a woman of unearthly beauty is a vampire. She draws out the soul of the victim to the last drop, and only after that she feels that she is satisfied. The vampire feeds on vital energy, and therefore chooses only strong, cheerful victims.

The stories give Yuki-onna the power of a succubus: she seduces strong men, and after a night with them, kills them through a deadly kiss. A beautiful woman with scary eyes appears in the stories of travelers. They believe that if you get lost in a snowstorm in the forest, you can stumble upon a bloodthirsty monster.

Japanese mythology - demons

It has already been mentioned that the mythology of this country is unique and multifaceted. There are also dark forces in it, and many Japanese demons played an important role in the lives of ancient people, but in the modern world, both children and adults are afraid of some representatives of the dark forces. Among the most famous and interesting are:

1. Demons They look like people, but they are huge, with fangs, horns and red skin. Their analogues in Europe are devils. They are very strong and body parts cut off by enemies grow back on their own. In battle they use a spiked iron club. They have the ability to turn into people. It is believed that a person who does not control his anger can turn into an Oni.
2. The fox demon in Japanese mythology is called Kitsune. He is always represented with one, five or nine tails. This animal is able to take the form of a human and has enormous knowledge and magical abilities. In some tales, Kitsune has the ability to inhabit people, create fire, and enter people's dreams.
3. Includes a bestiary of Japanese mythology, the bull-like chimera Gyuki, who lives in waterfalls and ponds. She attacks people and drinks their shadows, which leads to the death of the person. Maybe this demon takes the form of a beautiful woman.

Water creature Kappa

Kappa is a kind of reincarnation of a water spirit. He is endowed with a special appearance and lives only under water.

How to recognize Capa:

• it has large gills running all over its neck;
• skin color green, sometimes dark green;
• fingers with claws are connected by membranes;
• there is no mouth on the face, but instead there is something like a beak;
• green or emerald eyes;
• The head of the merman is covered with fur.

Externally, the character resembles a mixture of a frog and a turtle. Some legends give the animal a dense shell that can withstand any attack. There are patches all over the body that glisten in the sun. The merman smells like rotten fish - even before meeting him you can smell the unpleasant odor emanating from the water.

Supernatural powers are concentrated at the top of the animal's head - in that place the animal has something like a saucer. Outside of water, Kappa quickly loses his strength and becomes weaker, so he only gets out of a body of water when necessary.

Other beliefs describe the character as resembling a monkey. The hairy creature loves vegetables, fish, and fruits. If you catch him, you can make any wish, and it will definitely come true.

Amphibian Nure-onna

Famous character in Japan. The amphibian-like monster has the head of a woman and the body of an animal. It has a snake tail that helps it move long distances. The total length of the tail is up to 300 m. The tail is used not only for movement, but also to immobilize the victim. The monster's eyes are like snakes and can hypnotize. The creature has claws and long fangs. If necessary, Nure-onna can defend or attack.

She lives on the shore near a marshy area. Nure-onna sits on the shore, carefully combing her hair and waiting for her victim. According to legends, the monster's tail can destroy trees and break rocks, so as soon as it sees its prey, it cannot hide. The monster feeds on internal forces - it draws out vital energy.

To attract victims, Nure-onna uses a package: it is unknown what it contains, but from the outside it looks like a wrapped baby. According to legend, pretending to be a stranger, the monster asks passers-by to hold the child. The longer a person holds the bundle, the heavier it becomes.

Nure-onna sucks blood from the body using a long tongue. The monster does not like when his peace is disturbed, so she rarely makes contact with people unless she is hungry.