Reading Diary A Japanese Mythology

Myth-Folklore Reading Diary A: Japanese Mythology

(Ninigi Stands Next to Amaterasu)

Reading A:
Izanagi and Izanami

• Inanagi is the God of the Heavens and Izanami is Goddess of love and beauty.
• Izanami gave birth to everything: gods, humans, and all creatures.
• A flower fell down and became the moon.
• Out of the moon fell more gods, humans and creatures.
• A floating bridge of heaven (reminds me of the Rainbow Bridge from Norse Mythology)
• His spear dripped and made an island.
• I didn't like this part where Izanami was basically like, "Women aren't to speak before spoken to." This surprised me because a lot of old mythology is more focused on the Goddess rather than the God. In fact most "pagan" religions were matriarchal.
• And the infamous Amaterasu was born!

Izanagi and Izanami (cont.)

• Amaterasu is the sister of Susanowo is the god of the sea and of storms, and Tsukuyomi is the god of the moon. 
• This actually has a rainbow bridge. It's interesting when myths are similar.
• The moon God is morose, turbulent, and sinister.
• The moon God fell. The trope of the bad or evil son.
• Ifuya-zaka is the center of the earth
• Portal of yomi
• Amaterasu reminds me of an angel of a Valkyrie, the way she swoops down from the heavens into earth.

The Miraculous Mirror

• Weaving a dark web of doom with darkness and dismay. Makes me think of if faeries wove a web for evil magic. Maybe a curse of sorts?
• A dragon! I could write a story with a dragon in it! A classic fantasy where the hero slays a dragon.

The Eight-Forked Serpent of Koshi

• Monstrous fish. Makes me think of a story with sirens or evil water faeries. 
• The custom that is very Arthurian of, let me do this deed and I will marry your daughter.
• A person turned into a comb
• 
  
• The Heaven-Descended

• I like the poem included in this. I wonder if it would be good to put a poem into my stories?
• The celestial realm. Taking the body of the prince to the celestial realm
• Gaining three items: the necklace of jewels, the sacred sword, and the miraculous mirror.

The Heaven-Descended (cont.)

• The description of Uzume was...interesting. 
• The giant taking the fair maiden, very Arthurian.

The Fortunate Fish-Hook

• A magical fishhook, a magical tool.
• A cassia tree
• A secret wedding

The Fortunate Fish-Hook (cont.)

• I've said it, and it'll say it again--I don't like talking animals!
• I like the lamentation!
• I do like the idea of the Raven as a guide.
• Wearing all of the magic objects for the big quest!

The Labors of Yamato-The Rescue of the Princess

• The emperor (or King) thinks he is descended from the Gods. Reminds me of Alexander the Great, or Carolus Rex.
• A siren! Those are always fun.
• A castle being raided

The Rescue of the Princess (cont.)

• A jeweled dagger held in one's teeth.
• And a happy ending!