Japanese mythology is based on the Shinto religion, which includes thousands of gods, goddesses, and spirits. Major deities include Amaterasu, Hachiman, and Susano, with deities called “kami” representing the life force in every being and nature. Susano is linked to storms, while Amaterasu is the sun and fertility kami, and Hachiman is the kami of warfare and warriors. Rituals are performed to ward off evil spirits.
Japanese mythology mainly revolves around the Shinto religion and includes thousands of gods, goddesses and spirits. Indeed, according to Shinto beliefs, every object in nature, from the smallest rock to the largest tree, has its own spirit; this can make understanding the main elements of the belief system a bit overwhelming for the layperson. Despite the vast number of deities in Japanese mythology, however, a few major deities play an important role, including Amaterasu, Hachiman, and Susano.
In the Shinto religion, deities are called “kami”. The term, however, is more than just a name for deities, it also represents the life force said to flow through every being and piece of nature in the world. After death, human spirits become kami, and to honor this, influential citizens are often buried in one of the many shrines found throughout Japan so that the devotion of the faithful can reach them.
Susano, the kami of storms, is inexorably linked to the environment of Japan. Japan is surrounded by water, and sometimes that water can be especially rough, giving way to strong typhoons and massive tsunamis. Japan is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, a term used to describe the area prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Susano is thought to have little care for the land and its people.
Amaterasu is the sun and fertility kami in Japanese mythology and one of the most important kami. He plays an important role in creating the light that allows rice fields, one of Japan’s primary crops, to grow each season. His grandson, Ninigi no Mikoto, is said to be the grandfather of Jimmu Tenno, the first divine emperor of Japan. While an emperor no longer rules Japan, the symbolic role of the royal family remains very significant to the nation.
Hachiman is primarily the kami of warfare and warriors, but he is also worshiped by those working in the fishing and agriculture industries. The samurai, a group of highly trained and fiercely loyal Japanese warriors, seek Hachiman for protection. He is one of the most popular deities in Japan, with thousands of shrines dedicated to him across the country.
Japanese mythology also features numerous stories about evil spirits and most of the rituals performed in the country are designed to keep these spirits from causing harm. A popular ritual occurs before New Year’s when the Japanese clean their houses and use a broom to sweep away evil spirits. Cedar leaves can also be placed over the entrance to a Japanese home to ward off Amazake-babaa, an elderly woman who brings disease to all who answer the door when she knocks.
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