Izanami Influence On Japanese Culture

Myths throughout history, within different cultures, have shaped many types of beliefs and customs. One such nation that has traditions rich in mythology is the Japanese culture. Where a number of influences come together. Japanese mythology is an important standard for spreading Japanese culture from one generation another. The myth gives the Japanese people a better understanding of their connection to nature. It also gives them an understanding of their connection with the past. The myth holds historical importance by providing the Japanese with a description of their ancestry. The mythological story of Amaterasu, a sun god, is just one of many myths in Japanese cultures, that shows how these people connected to the world and life around

Izanagi and Izanami who are mother and father to Amaterasu and Susano, and also had a bunch of other children. One of which, Kagutsuchi God of Fire, burned her to death in his birth. She was sent to the land of the dead. According to the Japanese version of Amaterasu, she is an ancestor of the emperor and is the most revered person of Heaven. Amaterasu was given rule over the heavens by Izanagi, while her brother, Susano-Wo was given rule over the sea. Jealous of his sister, Susano said he was going to go join his mother, Izanami, in the underworld. He went to Amaterasu to say farewell, but she suspected it to be a trick. He challenged her to a game to see who was more powerful. Amaterasu broke her brother’s sword into three pieces and chewed on it. When she spits out the pieces, it formed a mist and three gods appeared. Susano did the same but with Amaterasu beads and five gods appeared. Amaterasu claimed she had won because the five gods came from her jewels. After losing the battle to see who was more powerful, Susano went on a rampage. He destroyed a temple where rice harvest was held and skinned animals alive. Amaterasu fled into a cave to avoid her brothers’ wrath, leaving the Earth in darkness, where the world started to wither away. Over 800 gods through a celebration for her, into trying to get her to reemerge and with some help, her brother came back and submitted

The red circle represents the sun, as in “the rising sun”. Where the nickname of Japan also comes from, the land of the rising sun. ( Myths &

Legends of Japan). The name of the country, as well as the design of the flag, reflect this central importance of the sun.

Mythologies value is its teaching of Japanese culture and behavioral expectations. The myths project and emphasize the values of the Japanese people. It is from the myths that the Japanese culture formed. Japanese mythology has established a right way or proper form to any action due to the Buddhist components. Japanese mythology is highly valued for being a unifying manual to which the life of Japanese people has formed and lived