JAPANESE

Ancient culture, gods and myths

Mythology

After you have finished studying this Lesson, you should be able to: 1) Appreciate the contribution of the Japanese culture. 2) Identify the civilization and their significance in mythology and religion. 3) To compare the Japanese culture from other foreign culture.

Answer the following by filling the boxes with correct letters.

1) A god or Supreme Being. 2) It refers to the study of past human cultures, usually by excavating ruins. It is also the scientific study of material remains (as fossil relics, artifacts,and monuments)of past human life and activities.

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3) A custom or practice often associated with a religious observance. 4) The ancient Japanese religion that finds sacredness in everything. 5) A holy sacred place that is dedicated to a god, goddesses, saint or religious martyr.

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6) All the gods and goddesses of a particular culture. 7) A Japanese word meaning god or goddess Or spirit.

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8) It means majestic; full of grandeur.

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9) A person who studies the origin and behavior of human beings and their culture. 10) The land of the rising sun.

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Probably about 10,000 b.c. people whom we now call the Jmon were living in Japan. The name Jo mon (ropepattern) comes from a type of pottery they made (Figure 1). It looks as if rope was pressed onto it to make markings, or it was made by coiling strips of clay. By fourth century B.C. a new culture emerged in Japan. These peoplenamed Yayoi, after the place where their homes were first found by archaeologists. The archeologists thought that in those periods, they came from China and Korea or persons who were traded with. In Yayoi period, there were called prominent people, Figure 1 the Yamato clan. Yamato leaders extended their rule over the Japanese islands through warfare and diplomacy. To justify their control, the Yamato rulers associated their clan with a story about the beginning of the world that linked them to the gods who had created it.

This creation myth, or story about the creation of the world, became central to the Shinto religion. Once writing was introduced in Japan, those oral traditions were recorded in the Kojiki (Book of Ancient Things) and the Nihongi (Chronicles of Japan, compiled in the eighth century).

Religion
Honoring the kami became known as Shintowhich simply means "the way of the kami"only after it needed to be distinguished from Buddhism, which was brought to Japan from Korea in 522 CE. By this time, writing had been introduced from China, and the stories of the kami were written down as well as passed along by word of mouth. However, the earliest text we have of Shinto stories is from 712 CE. Written at the emperor's request, it is called Kojiki,(Figure 2) or "Record of Ancient Matters." It includes myths about the creation of the world and of the islands of Japan, the origins of the Figure 2 sun and moon, and how death came into the world. The Kojiki also explains the necessity of washing and ritual purification, both essential to Shinto and to Japanese culture. Shinto is a religion that concentrates on our life in this world. Although its myths speak of the heavens (the High Plain of Heaven, from where the original gods came) and of an underworld (the Dark Land, an unclean place), they did not resemble a Christian heaven or hell. Neither is a place where people go to be punished or rewarded after death. The Kojiki includes no commandments or explicit rules for how to live. It does not even say that people have to believe in the kami: it just tells the tales. The Kojiki also gives a genealogy (family tree) of the gods (Figure 3), which says that the emperor's family is descended from the kami of the sun. (The command to write the Kojiki was intended to strengthen the imperial family's right to rule at a time when Buddhism and other Chinese influences were emerging and the various tribes were not yet fully under the emperors power. The book
Figure 3

was meant to establish that the emperor wasn't just any kami but was descended from the most important kami.) Unlike many other religions, Shinto was not and is not based on a holy book or on the agreement to believe certain stories or teachings. Shinto did not originate from a single person's beliefs or experiences. At the core of Shinto are the spiritual rites of washing and purification and offerings to the kami, such as food or tokens that have been bought at the shrines. These tokens usually accompany a prayer or a request. Shinto also has its roots in communal and family festivals celebrating the annual spring planting and fall harvest, as well as births and marriages. Because the kami are everywhere, in everything, Shinto honors and focuses on nature.

Figure 4

This idea of paying attention to nature is important because each kami has the power to be creative or destructive, gentle or fierce. The rituals help people avoid the destructive, angry aspects of the kami. They also help people avoid the aggressive, destructive aspects of themselves. There is little sense in Japanese mythology of an ongoing fight between good and evil. Still, humans sometimes do wrong and must recognize these wrongs and purify themselves.

Shinto Myths
People had told some of these Shinto myths for centuries before they were written down. When they were documented in the Kojiki, they were written down for the emperor, at his command, at a time when Japan was reflecting on its relationship to Chinese and Korean cultures. The Shinto myths in the Kojiki are official versions, intended (among other things) to prove divinity of the emperor. But before that, there were already many written and oral versions of these myths. Even before writing, there was the katari-be, the "corporations of reciters," who had, however, become less important after the stories were documented in writing. As is often true, many versions of the myths existed. There wasn't necessarily a "right" one.

Buddhism
Buddhism (Figure 5) was introduced in Japan in the sixth century CE when the Korean king sent the Japanese emperor a golden statue of the Buddha. Buddhism, by this time, was 1,000 years old and had already taken many forms in various regions throughout the world. Unlike Shinto, a Japanese tradition that had no specific founder or dogma, Buddhism had priests, many written texts, and welldefined beliefs. Central to these is the belief that people are meant to gain wisdom and eventually free themselves from the cycle of reincarnationdeath and rebirth and from a physical world of suffering.

Figure 5

It was Chinese Buddhism rather than the Korean form of Buddhism that was eventually accepted by the Japanese court and then by the people. Rather than replacing Shinto, however, Chinese Buddhism was absorbed and changed, as Japanese society adapts and reinterprets everything it learns from other cultures. If we imagine culture as a rich soup, then the addition of Chinese Buddhism in Japan wasn't like adding noodles, which are independent from the broth, but rather like adding an ingredient that becomes part of the broth itself. This combination of Shinto and Buddhism remains to this day. Buddhism added to Japanese religion a concept of an afterlifea time when people are judged, then rewarded or punished. The lines between Buddhism and Shinto are often blurred. The merging of Buddhist and Shinto teachings is even referred to as RyobuShinto, or "Double-Shinto." Buddhism teaches personal salvation and escape from the cycle of life, death, and rebirth, but it split into various branches. Originally it taught that people must follow the teachings of the Buddhathe person who began the religion, who then became the subject of many myths. Another branch said that people could get help from innumerable smaller gods, though they are actually more like saints, or, in Japan, which adopted this form of Buddhism, like kami.

Buddhist gods
Bodhi Dharma (Figure 6), an Indian monk who traveled to China, began Zen Buddhism. One day while practicing meditation, he fell asleep. When he awoke, he was so angry with himself that he cut off his eyelids, ensuring that he would never sleep again. From his eyelids grew the first tea plants. Tea is sacred to Zen Buddhists; it also contains enough caffeine to help people not fall asleep. Although Bodhi Dharma is presumed to be a historical character, the myth resembles the Shinto myth in which the body parts of a dismembered god are transformed into foods that are essential to the culture. There are three distinct Buddhist deities in Japan Figure 6 Amida, Kannon, and Jizoand they are considered gods of mercy. (There are also many other deities, though they are lesser known.) The first god, Amida (Buddha), has been passed down into Japanese culture from China. He is originally derived from the Sanskrit figure Amitabha since India is the birthplace of Buddhism. Amida is a bodhisattva ("an enlightened being") who postponed the opportunity to obtain his own salvation until all humans had been saved. The second god of mercy, Kannon, is another bodhisattva whose desire to protect humanity comes in the form of a postponed salvation. He is the god who protects children (and women during childbirth). Japanese Buddhists turn to Kannon for wisdom and counsel. Kannon is usually depicted as Senju Kannon, or the "Kannon of a Thousand Arms." These images are similar to those of Indian bodhisattvas with all of their arms outstretched in a pose showing their compassion. In Japan, Senju Kannon is also usually seen with a miniature Amida on his head. Kannon is sometimes depicted holding a lotus, or as a horse-headed figure with a third eye.

Jizo is the third Buddhist god of mercy. Like Kannon, he protects children, especially those who have died. Jizo also protects human souls who are in pain. Japanese Buddhists believe Jizo can redeem troubled souls from hell. Temples honoring Jizo are popular in Japan.

Creation
In the beginning, there was nothing but a shapeless egg of swirling gases. Slowly, the lighter areas rose up to form the heavens, and the darker, denser material sank to form the earth. Three gods created themselves, and hid in heaven. Landmasses floated about on the surface of the earth until eventually something appeared drifting between heaven and earth. It looked like the first shoot of a new reed and two gods were born from it, which also hid. Seven more gods were born in this way, the last two being Izanagi and Izanami. Izanagi and Izanami were commanded by the heavenly deities "to complete and solidify the drifting land" - in other words to form the Japanese islands. Standing on the "Floating Bridge of Heaven," they wondered whether there was anything below them, and so dipped the heavenly Jeweled Spear into the sea below to find out. They stirred the brine with a churning sound, and when they lifted up the spear again, the dripping brine from the tip of the spear piled up and became the island of Onokoro. Descending from the heavens, Izanagi and Izanami decided to make their home there, and stuck the spear into the ground to form the Heavenly Pillar. Discovering that their bodies were differently formed, Izanagi asked his spouse Izanami if she was agreeable to giving birth to the land in order to produce more islands. When she agreed, they devised a marriage ritual: they walked around the Heavenly Pillar in opposite directions; when they met, Izanami said "How lovely! I have met a handsome man! and then they made love. Instead of producing an island, however, she gave birth to a deformed leech-child, which they cast a drift on the sea in a reed boat They returned
to heaven to consult the gods who told them that their mistake lay in the marriage ritual: Izanami should not have spoken first when they met around the pillar, as it is not a woman's place to initiate a conversation. In order to have children, they repeated the ritual, but this time, Izanagi spoke first.

On their return to earth, Izanagi and Izanami tried again and were successful. Over time, Izanami bore all the islands of Japan. They produced gods to beautify the islands, and also made gods of wind, trees, rivers, and mountains, completing the creation of Japan. The last god produced by Izanami was the fire god, whose birth scorched her genitals so badly that she died. However, as she died, she continued to produce more gods from her vomit, urine, and excreta. Izanagi was so angry that he cut off the fire god's head, but drops of his blood fell on the earth, producing still more deities.

Major and minor Deities

Amaterasu--Mi-Kami ( or ) Commonly called Amaterasu, she is the goddess of the sun. Her full name means "Great Goddess" or "Great

Ame-no-Uzume ( or ) Commonly called Uzume, she is the goddess of dawn and revelry. She is also known as The Great Persuader and The Heavenly Alarming Female.

Hachiman () Also known as Hachiman-shin or Yawata no Kami, he is the god of war and the divine protector of Japan and its people.

AizenMy- () Known as god of Love and worshipped by prostitutes, landlords, singers and musicians.

Izanagi ( or ) The forefather of the gods, he is the first male as well as the god of creation and life. He and his wife, Izanami, were responsible for the birth of the islands of Japan and many kami, though she died in childbirth. Later, after his failed attempt to retrieve her from the underworld, he sired Amaterasu, Susanoo and Tsukuyomi.

Izanami ( or ) Izanagi's wife and sister, she is the first female as well as the goddess of creation and death. She died shortly after the birth of Kagu-tsuchi, and Izanagi followed her to the underworld, but failed to bring her back to the living world. A marital spat between the pair caused the cycle of life and death for all living beings.

Inari () The god or goddess of rice and fertility. His/her messengers and symbolic animal are foxes. He/she is often identified with the Buddhist deity Dakiniten.

Susanoo-no-Mikoto () Alternately romanized as Susano-o, Susa-no-o, and Susanowo. Reportedly called "Futsushi". He is the god of storms as well as in some cases the god of the sea. He is also somewhat of a trickster god, as Japanese mythology extensively documents the "sibling rivalry" between him and Amaterasu. Susanoo also was responsible for the slaying of the monster Yamata no Orochi and the subsequent discovery of the sacred sword Kusanagi.

Omoikane () The deity of wisdom and intelligence, who is always called upon to "ponder" and give good counsel in the deliberations of the heavenly deities.

Suijin () The God of Water.

Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto ( or ) Also known as Tsukiyomi, Tsuki no Kami, TsukiyominoMikoto, and Tsukiyumi no Mikoto, he is the god of the moon. He killed the goddess of food, UkeMochi, out of disgust and anger in the way she had prepared a meal. This caused Amaterasu to never face him again, causing the sun and moon to be in different parts of the sky.

The Seven Lucky gods

Benzaiten () or ) Also known as Benten, she is the goddess of everything that flows: words (and knowledge, by extension), speech, eloquence, and music. Said to be the third daughter of the dragon-king of Munetsuchi, over the course of years she has gone from being a protective deity of Japan to one who bestows good fortune upon the state and its people. Derived from Saraswati, the equivalent Hindu goddess.

Bishamonten () Also called Bishamon or Tamonten, he is the god of fortunate warriors and guards, as well as the punisher of criminals. Said to live halfway down the side of Mount Sumeru, the small pagoda he carries symbolizes the divine treasure house that he both guards and gives away its contents.

Daikokuten () Often shortened to simply Daikoku, he is variously considered to be the god of wealth (more specifically, the harvest), or of the household (particularly the kitchen). He is recognised by his wide face, smile, and flat black hat. He is often portrayed holding a golden mallet, seated on bales of rice, with mice nearby (which signify plentiful food).

Ebisu (, , or ) The sole member of the gods believed to have originated in Japan, he was originally known as Hiruko (), the first child of Izanagi and Izanami. Said to be born without bones, he eventually overcame his handicaps to become the mirthful and auspicious Ebisu (hence one of his titles, "The Laughing God"). He is often depicted holding a rod and a large red sea bream or sea bass. Jellyfish are also associated with this god and the fugu restaurants of Japan will often incorporate Yebisu in their motif.

Fukurokuju () Often confused with Jurjin, he is the god of wisdom and longevity and said to be an incarnation of the Southern Polestar. He is a star god accompanied by a crane and a turtle, which are considered to be symbols of longevity, and also sometimes accompanied by a black deer. The sacred book tied to his staff is said to contain the lifespan of every person on Earth.

Hotei () Best known in the Western world as the Laughing Buddha, Hotei is likely the most popular of the gods. His image graces many temples, restaurants, and amulets. Originally based on a Chinese Chan monk, Hotei has become a deity of contentment and abundance.

Jurjin () Also known as Gama, he represents longevity. He is often seen with a fan and a stave, and accompanied by a black deer.

Kichijten () Also known as Kisshten or Kudokuten, she is the eighth member of the Seven Gods of Fortune, a Taoist deity often combined with the traditional members. She is considered to be the goddess of happiness, fertility, and beauty.

Monsters and evil characters

Abumi-guchi - A furry creature formed from the stirrup of a mounted military commander works for Yama Orochi

Abura-akago - An infant ghost who licks the oil out of andon lamps.

Akaname - The spirit who licks the untidy bathroom.

Abura-sumashi - A spirit who lives on a mountain pass in Kumamoto Prefecture

Amabie - A Japanese mermaid yokai

Baku - An auspicious beast that can devour nightmares.

Fjin - The wind god.

Satori - An ape-like creature that can read minds.

Taka-onna - A female monster that can stretch its waist to peer inside buildings.

Ysei - The Japanese word for "fairy".

Uma-no-ashi A horse's leg which dangles from a tree and kicks passersby.

Check Up QUIZ

A. Matching type: Match Column A with Column B. A. 1. He is the first god of the earth who created the earth; father of Amaterasu, Tsuki-yomi and Susanoo 2. Son of Amaterasu, who sent to control the earth, but he refused to go because it was too full of disturbances. 3. The wicked storm god and brother of Tsuki-yomi and Amaterasu. 4. She is the goddess of everything that flows: words (and knowledge, by extension), speech, eloquence, and music. 5. The god or goddess of rice and fertility. His/her messengers and symbolic animal are foxes. 6. The god of war and the divine protector of Japan and its people. 7. She is the first female as well as the goddess of creation and death. She died shortly after the birth of Kagu-tsuchi. 8. He killed the goddess of food, UkeMochi, out of disgust and anger in the way she had prepared a meal. 9. .She is considered to be the goddess of happiness, fertility, and beauty. 10. She is the goddess of dawn and revelry. B a) Izanami

b) Susanoo-no-mikoto

c) Izanagi

d) Amaterasu e) Kichijten

f) Tsuko-yomi-no-mikoto

g) Leech Child

h) Uzume

i) Hachiman

j) Benzaiten

k) Inari

l) Ame-no-oshido-Mimi

B. True or False: Write T if the statement is TRUE and F if the statement is FALSE. 1. About 10, 000 B.C. when the people lived in Japan were called Jmon. ________ 2. The name Jo mon (ropepattern) comes from a type of pottery they made. ________ 3. Archaeologist thought that the people lived in Japan about 4th century b.c. were people came from Europe. ________ 4. The oral traditions in Japan were written in one book. ________ 5. Kojiki tells the genealogy of the gods of Japan. _________ 6. Shinto did not originate from a single person's beliefs or experiences. _________ 7. Kojiki means Record of Ancient Matters. _________ 8. Kami can be found only in wild forest. ________ 9. Bodhi Dharma, an Indian monk who traveled to China, began Zen Buddhism. ________ 10. There are five distinct Buddhist deities in Japan. ________ B. Multiple Choice: Circle the letter of the correct answer. 1. According to the archaeologist, Jomon were lived in Japan ____________. a) 10,000 B.C. b) 4th Century 2. What religion concentrates on our life in this world? a) Buddhism b) Hinduism c) Shinto d) Taoism c) 5th Century d) 1,000 B.C.

3. Who was the Indian monk who traveled to China, and began Zen Buddhism? a) Bhodi Dhama b) Siddharta Gautama 4. The Kojiki, were written down for the ______ a) Emperors b) Clan Leaders c) Future generation d) Wives of the emperors c) Yayoi d) Amaterasu

5. The Shinto myths in the Kojiki are _______________, intended (among other things) to prove divinity of the emperor. a) Books c) Versions b) Scribe d) Official versions 6. The merging of Buddhist and Shinto teachings is even referred to as RyobuShinto, or _______________. a) Shinto c) Triple-Shinto b) Double-Shinto d) Shinto-Buddhism 7. In the creation, the beginning was nothing but a shapeless ______________. c) Egg of swirling gases d) Moist land 8. Kannon is sometimes depicted holding a _____________. a) Lotus b) Rose 9. ________________ is sacred to Zen Buddhists. a) Shrines b) Tea 10. Shintowhich simply means _______________. a) The way of the gods b) The way of the Kami c) Bamboo d) Calligraphy a) Jelly fish b) Floating smog

c) Temples d) Incense

c) The way of the Emperors d) Appreciating Nature

References
Internet
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Japanese_deities www.wikipedia.com www.googleimages.com

Books
Ancient Cultures; Japanese gods and Myths Published by Chartwell Books Mythologies around the World: Japanese Mythology by Judith Levin Japanese Mythology A to Z by Jeremy Roberts

Answer Key

Vocabulary
1. Deity 2. Archaeology 3. Ritual 4. Shinto 5. Shrine 6. Pantheon 7. Kami 8. August 9. Anthropologist 10. Japan

True or False
1. T 2. T 3. F 4. F 5. T 6. T 7. T 8. F 9. T 10. F

Matching Type
1. c 2. l 3. b 4. j 5. k 6. i 7. a 8. f 9. e 10. h

Multiple Choice
1. a 2. c 3. a 4. a 5. d 6. b 7. c 8. a 9. b 10. b