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Handbooks of World Mythology Handbook of Japanese Mythology TITLES IN ABC-CLIO’s Handbooks of World Mythology Handbook of Arab Mythology, Hasan El-Shamy Handbook of Celtic Mythology, Joseph Falaky Nagy Handbook of Classical Mythology, William F. Hansen Handbook of Egyptian Mythology, Geraldine Pinch Handbook of Hindu Mythology, George M. Williams Handbook of Inca Mythology, Catherine Allen Handbook of Native American Mythology, Dawn Bastian and Judy Mitchell Handbook of Norse Mythology, John Lindow Handbook of Polynesian Mythology, Robert D. Craig HANDBOOKS OF WORLD MYTHOLOGY Handbook of Japanese Mythology Michael Ashkenazi Santa Barbara, California • Denver, Colorado • Oxford, England Copyright © 2003 by Michael Ashkenazi All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in a review, without prior permission in writing from the publishers. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Ashkenazi, Michael. Handbook of Japanese mythology / Michael Ashkenazi. p. cm. — (Handbooks of world mythology) Includes bibliographical references and index. 1. Mythology, Japanese—Juvenile literature. I. Title. II. Series. BL2203.A86 2003 299'56—dc21 2003008649 ISBN 1-57607-467-6; 1-57607-468-4 (e-Book) 07 06 05 04 03 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 This book is also available on the World Wide Web as an e-book. Visit http://www.abc-clio.com for details. ABC-CLIO, Inc. 130 Cremona Drive, P.O. Box 1911 Santa Barbara, California 93116-1911 This book is printed on acid-free paper I . Manufactured in the United States of America To Zaf, for, among many things, first getting me interested in Japan CONTENTS Preface, xv 1 Introduction, 1 Transliteration of Japanese Terms, 2 Mythology and the Japanese World, 3 Great Tradition and Little Traditions, 4 Little Traditions and Great Tradition in the Japanese Context, 5 External Sources of Japanese Traditions, 5 The Myth of Japan, 7 Japanese Topography and Geography, 8 Population, 10 Japanese History and Traditions, 12 Archaic Period: Jo¯mon, Yayoi, and Kofun (Approximately 1000 B.C.E. to 650 C.E.), 12 The Roots of Empire (Approximately 500–781 C.E.), 14 The Aristocratic Period (Approximately 650 C.E.–1185), 16 The Medieval Period (1185–1600), 19 The Premodern and Modern Periods (1615–), 21 Social History, 22 The Powerful, 23 The Powerless, 24 Outsiders and Rovers, 24 Japanese Family Relations, 25 The Mythic Traditions, 26 Shinto¯, 27 Buddhism, 36 Demons, Goblins, Witches, Ghosts, Hermits, and Wizards, 55 Humans, 56 Non-humans, 56 vii viii Contents Shugendo¯, 57 Outlying Myth Complexes, 58 Okinawa and the Ryukyu Islands, 59 Ainu, 61 Japanese Myth in the Modern World, 64 Sources of Japanese Mythology, 65 The Shinto¯Canon, 66 Buddhist Literature: The Sutras and Commentaries, 67 Ainu Yukari, 68 Ryukyuan Myths, 69 Language and Writing, 69 Interpreting Japanese Myth, 70 Universal Types, 71 Structuralist Interpretations, 71 Diffusion, 71 Interpretation on the Basis of Archaeo-Anthropology: The Attempt to Extract Prehistory from Myth, 72 Japanese Uniqueness Myths, 73 2 Mythic Time and Space, 75 Creation and Consolidation: The Foundation Myths, 76 Susano-wo’s Crimes and the Sun Goddess, 77 The Creation of Food for Humankind, 79 Susano-Wo and the Eight-Tailed Dragon, 80 O¯ kuninushi and His Eighty Brothers, 80 O¯ kuninushi Is Tested by Susano-wo, 81 O¯ kuninushi and Sukunabikona Finish Creating the Land, 82 The Heavenly Deities Subdue the Land: First Attempt, with Weak Son, 83 The Heavenly Deities Subdue the Land: Second Attempt, with Pheasant, 84 The Heavenly Deities Subdue the Land: Third Time Lucky, 85 The Heavenly Grandson Descends to Take Possession of the Central Land of the Reed Plains, 86 Ho-ori Loses His Brother’s Fish-Hook, 87 Jimmu Tenno, the First Emperor, 88 Yamato-takeru, the Hero of Yamato, 90 The Empress Jingu¯ Subdues Korea, and the Kami Hachiman Is Born, 93 The Age of Heroes, 94 Tawara Toda, the Archer, 95 Contents ix Raiko¯ and His Band of Heroes, 96 Woman Heroes, 96 Benkei and Yoshitsune, 96 Buddhist Myths, 98 The Life of Shakyamuni and the Formation of Buddhism, 99 The Arrival of Buddhism in Japan, 99 Morality Tales, 100 Mythical Spaces, 100 Buddhist Spaces, 101 Shinto¯ Spaces, 102 3 Deities, Themes, and Concepts, 109 Ae-oina Kamui (Ainu), 109 Aizen-Myo¯-o¯, 110 Ajishikitakahikone-no-kami, 110 Ama-no-uzume, 111 Amaterasu-o¯-mikami, 112 Amenominakanushi-no-kami, 113 Ame-no-wakahiko, 114 Amida Nyo¯ rai, 115 Animals, 115 Apasam Kamui (Ainu), 120 Assembly of the Gods, 121 Atago-gongen, 122 Bakemono, 123 Battabara-bosatsu, 123 Benkei, 123 Benzaiten, 126 Bimbogami, 126 Binzuru-sonja, 126 Bishamon-ten, 128 Central Land of the Reed Plains, 128 Chikap Kamui (Ainu), 128 Chimata-no-kami, 128 Chiseikoro Kamui (Ainu), 129 Chu¯jo¯-hime, 129 Chu¯shingura, 130 Daigenshuri-bosatsu, 131 Daikoku, 132 Dainichi Nyo¯rai, 132 x Contents Daitoku Myo¯-o¯ (-bosatsu), 133 Dakiniten, 133 Daruma, 134 Datsueba, 135 Divination, 135 Divine Descent, 137 Divine Rulership, 137 Do¯jo¯-ho¯shi, 138 Doso¯ jin, 139 Dπzoku-shin, 140 Earthly Kami (Kunitsu-kami), 141 Ebisu, 142 Emma-o¯, 144 En-no-Gyo¯ ja, 144 Fii Nu Kang (Ryukyuan), 145 Food Deities, 146 Fox, 148 Fu-daishi, 151 Fudo¯Myo¯-o¯, 151 Fugen-bosatsu, 153 Fujin, 154 Fukurokuju, 155 Futsunushi-no-kami, 155 Gama-sennin, 156 Gekka-o¯, 156 Ghosts, 156 Gongen, 158 Go-shintai, 158 Gozu-tenno, 159 Gut Length, 159 Hachidai Ryu¯-o¯, 159 Hachiman, 160 Hashinau-uk Kamui (Ainu), 161 Heavenly Floating Bridge, 161 Heroes, 161 Hidarugami, 164 Hiruko, 165 Hitokotonushi-no-kami, 166 Hoderi-no-mikoto, 166 Ho-ori-no-mikoto (Hikohohodemi), 167 Contents xi Ho¯ tei, 168 Hotoke, 168 Ida-ten, 169 Imperial Regalia, 169 Inari, 170 Izanagi and Izanami, 172 Izumo, 177 Japanese Uniqueness, 179 Jewels, 180 Jimmu Tenno, 181 Jinushigami, 183 Jizo¯, 183 Jurojin, 185 Ju¯rokurakan, 185 Kagutsuchi-no-kami, 186 Kamado-gami, 186 Kami, 187 Kamikaze, 188 Kamimusubi, 190 Kamui Fuchi (Ainu), 191 Kandakoro Kamui (Ainu), 192 Kannon (Kanzeon-bosatsu), 193 Kappa, 195 Kasuga Daimyo¯jin, 196 Kawa-no-kami, 197 Kenash Unarabe (Ainu), 197 Kim-un Kamui (Ainu), 198 Kinashut Kamui (Ainu), 199 Kintoki (also Kintaro¯), 199 Kishimo¯ jin, 200 Ko¯bo¯ Daishi, 201 Kojaku Myo¯-o¯, 205 Kokka Shinto¯, 206 Koku¯zo¯-bosatsu, 207 Koma-inu, 207 Kongo¯, 209 Ko¯no¯ hanasakuya-hime, 210 Konpira-daigongen, 211 Kotankor Kamui (Ainu), 211 Kotoshironushi-no-kami, 212 xii Contents Koyasu-gami, 213 Kuraokami-no-kami, 213 Kuyebiko, 213 Marebito, 214 Marishi-ten, 215 Miroku-bosatsu, 215 Mirror, 216 Miyazu-hime, 216 Mizuhame-no-mikoto, 217 Monju-bosatsu, 217 Moshirikara Kamui (Ainu), 218 Mountains, 218 Myo¯gen-bosatsu, 220 Nai-no-kami, 220 Namazu, 220 Nihonjin-ron, 222 Ninigi-no-mikoto, 222 Ni-o¯, 223 Nusakoro Kamui (Ainu), 225 Okamutsumi-no-mikoto, 226 Okikurmi (Ainu), 226 O¯ kuninushi, 228 Oni, 230 Orihime and Kengyu¯, 232 O¯ toshi-no-kami, 233 Owatatsumi-no-kami, 233 Oyamatsumi-no-kami, 234 Oyashima-kuni, 234 Pauchi Kamui (Ainu), 234 Pure Land, 235 Raiden (also Raijin), 236 Raiko¯, 236 Renge, 238 Repun Kamui (Ainu), 238 Rokuji Myo¯-o¯, 239 Rusugami, 239 Ryu¯jin (also Ryu-o¯), 240 Ryu¯ju (Nagarjuna), 241 Sae-no-kami, 241 Sages (Buddhist and Daoist), 241 Contents xiii Sanbo¯-Ko¯jin, 244 Sarutahiko-no-kami, 244 Seishi-bosatsu, 245 Sengen, 245 Shaka (Shakyamuni, sage of the Shakya clan), 246 Shi Tenno, 247 Shichi Fukujin, 247 Shiramba Kamui (Ainu), 249 Sho¯ki, 249 Sho¯-ten, 250 Sho¯toku Taishi, 250 Shozuka-no-baba, 251 Shumisen (Mt. Meru, Sumeru), 252 Snakes, 252 Stones, 254 Suijin (also Mizu-no-kami), 255 Suitengu, 256 Sukunabikona, 256 Sumiyoshi, 257 Susano-wo, 259 Swords, 261 Taira, 263 Takamagahara, 264 Takamimusubi-no-kami, 265 Takarabune, 266 Takemikazuchi-no-kami, 266 Takeminakata-no-kami, 267 Ta-no-kami, 268 Tawara Toda (Toda Hidesato, Fujiwara Hidesato), 268 Tengu, 270 Tenjin, 272 Tenson (Ryukyus: Okinawa), 273 Thunder Deities, 274 Toyoashihara-no-chiaki-no-nagaioaki-no-mizuho-no-kuni, 277 Tsukiyomi-no-mikoto, 277 Ugajin, 277 Uminai-gami and Umikii-gami (Ryukyus), 278 Underworld, 278 Urashimataro¯, 281 Ususuma Myo¯-o¯, 282 xiv Contents Waka-ush-kamui (Ainu), 283 Weapons, 284 Yakushi Nyo¯rai, 286 Yama-no-kami, 287 Yamato, 287 Yamato-takeru, 288 Yama-uba, 290 Yaoyorozu-no-kamigami, 291 Yoshitsune, 291 Yuki-onna, 293 Yushkep Kamui (Ainu), 294 Zao¯-gongen, 295 Table of Minor Deities, 295 4 Annotated Print and Nonprint Resources, 299 Books and Articles, 299 Videos, 303 Websites, 304 General Japan, 304 Buddhism, 305 Shinto¯, 305 Mythology in Art and History, 306 Myths and Glossaries, 307 Glossary, 311 Appendix: Primary Sources, 319 Index, 331 About the Author, 377 PREFACE project of this magnitude contains numerous surprises. I had thought that I was fairly well acquainted with Japanese mythology, having spent Ayears studying contemporary Japanese religion and beliefs. As the writing of this book progressed, so too did my horizons expand. Heretofore obscure fig- ures took on flesh and color. Places I had been in and cursorily viewed, as tourist or researcher, took on new importance. In this volume I’ve tried to communicate some of the complexities and excitement of these (re)newed discoveries. It is useful to start, too, by saying what this book is not. First and foremost, this is not an exhaustive description of Japanese mythology. Given the Japanese happy multiplicity of deities and other mythological figures, that would be impossible. The key word here is the Japanese concept yaoyorozu-no-kamigami: the eight million deities. Even with ruthless pruning, I ended up with more entries in the second section than my editor, Bob Neville at ABC-CLIO, was happy with.
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