Purification in Early Japanese Myths: Significance and Rituals
School
Northwood High School**We aren't endorsed by this school
Course
AP HUMAN GEOG
Subject
Industrial Engineering
Date
Dec 10, 2024
Pages
3
Uploaded by BailiffMooseMaster242
Nguyen 1Ethan NguyenFleming & MazanecEACS 4A5 December 2024Prompt: How do you see the importance of purification reflected in the early Japanese myths?What is the purpose of purification?Importance and Purpose of Purification in Early Japanese MythsAcross cultures and civilizations, purification rituals have had a universal purpose,practiced not just physically, but appearing in myths as symbols of renewal, transformation, andrestoration of balance. In Japanese mythology, theKojiki, considered the earliest record of mythand history of the origins of the gods, the universe, and Japan itself, describes the importance ofpurification as a seminal act. Not just a pedigree of creation, it reflects early Japanese beliefs thatpurification is not merely a physical cleansing but a spiritual process essential for reestablishingorder after meeting chaos or impurity. Through stories describing ritual cleansing, theKojikiexhibits the transformative power of purification that restores harmony to both individuals andthe world. In these stories, purification describes spiritual renewal and balance, reflecting itsprevalent role in shaping early Japanese cultural and religious practices.In theKojiki, the story of Izanagi’s purification after his journey to Yomi describes thepower of purification in early Japanese myths. It is noted that Izanagi delved into the underworldto retrieve his wife, but after observing her putrescent form, he runs and is followed by thecorruption of death. After escaping, Izanagi performs a ritual cleansing in a river to clear himselfof the impurity he encountered, and “[a]s he washed his left eye, Amaterasu, the Sun Goddess,
Nguyen 2was born; as he washed his right eye, Tsukuyomi, the Moon God, was born” (Kojiki, Philippi,74). This action did not just serve as a physical cleansing but a symbol of spiritual renewal andthe reestablishment of order. Through his purification, Izanagi not only purges himself ofdesecration, but also bore deities that embodied light and harmony, demonstrating the generativepower of purification in restoring balance to the universe. In this story, purification is a way tosurpass chao and ensure renewal, ideas that are prevalent in Shinto beliefs. Similar to Izanagi’sactions ultimately restoring cosmic balance, myths have shaped religious and cultural traditionsin Japanese culture in which ritual acts of purification are used to maintain spiritual and societalharmony.Through Izanagi’s purification, theKojikidescribes the necessity of cleansing as a way torestore balance and allow for the flourishing of both life and order. These rituals not only clearsphysical defilement but also renews the individual spiritually, consequently restoring order in theuniverse and the creation of the gods that sustain it. The universal theme of purification acrossdifferent myths and cultures exhibits a universal human need for renewal and clarity, beingtasked with overcoming chaos in both the spiritual and material worlds. Beyond the myths, theKojiki’s emphasis on cleansing continues to be prevalent in cultural practices in Japan, alongwith other cultures across the world.
Nguyen 3Works CitedPhilippi, Donald, translator.The Kojiki: Records of Ancient Matters. Princeton University Press,1968.