Ame-no-ohabari
| Ame-no-ohabari | |
|---|---|
| Genealogy | |
| Children | Takemikazuchi |
Ame-no-Ohabari (Japanese: 天之尾羽張, Old Japanese Ame-nö-Opobari) is a legendary Japanese sword.[1] that roughly translates to "Heaven-Point-Blade-Extended".[2][3] It is primarily found in the mythology of Izumo Province. It is a Totsuka-no-Tsurugi "Sword of Length of Ten Fists", which seems to be distinguished by its length and being a tsurugi (straight, double-bladed sword).[1]
Overview
Wielded by the male creator deity Izanagi, this blade is used to cut up the infant Kagu-tsuchi after his birth burns Izanami, his mother, to death.[1] It cuts the Fire God into multiple pieces, creating eight volcano-gods. When blood drips from the blade afterwards, the sea kami Watatsumi and the rain kami Kuraokami are formed.
The name of the ten-fist sword wielded by Izanagi is given postscripturally as Ame-no-ohabari, otherwise known as Itsu-no-ohabari.[4]
In the Kojiki chapter on the conquest of Izumo, the heavenly deities Amaterasu and Takamimusubi decreed that either Takemikazuchi or his father Itsu-no-ohabari ("Heaven-Point-Blade-Extended") must be sent down for the conquest. Itsu-no-owabari, who previously appeared as a ten-fisted sword, here has the mind and speech of a sentient god, and he volunteered his son, Takemikazuchi, for the subjugation campaign. Takemikazuchi was accompanied by Ame-no-torifune "Heavenly Bird Boat" (which may be a boat as well as being a god).[2][3]
See also
References
- ^ a b c "Encyclopedia of Shinto - Home : Kami in Classic Texts : Amenoohabari". 2011-05-19. Archived from the original on 2011-05-19. Retrieved 2023-11-04.
- ^ a b Chamberlain 1919, §XXXII, Abdication of the deity Master-of-the-Great-Land, pp.121-
- ^ a b 武田 1996『古事記』text p. 60/ mod. Ja. tr. p.244
- ^ Ouwehand, Cornelis; Logunova, Vera Vasil'evna (1964). Namazu-e and Their Themes: An Interpretative Approach to Some Aspects of Japanese Folk Religion. Brill Archive. pp. 57–., gives sword as "Itsu-no-o habari"
Bibliography
- Chamberlain, Basil Hall (1919) [1882]. A Translation of the "Ko-ji-ki," or a record of ancient matters. Transactions of the Asiatic Society of Japan. Vol. X.
- 武田, 祐吉 (Yūkichi Takeda) (1996) [1977]. 中村啓信 (ed.). 新訂古事記. 講談社. pp. 60, 62, 77, 78, 95. ISBN 4-04-400101-4.
- Aston, William George (1896). Nihongi: Chronicles of Japan from the Earliest Times to A.D. 697. Vol. 1. London: Japan Society of London. ISBN 9780524053478.
{{cite book}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help), English translation- 宇治谷, 孟 (Tsutomu Ujitani) (1988). 日本書紀. Vol. 上. 講談社. ISBN 9780802150585.