Ame-no-ohabari

Ame-no-ohabari
Personal information
ChildrenTakemikazuchi

Ame-no-Ohabari (Japanese: 天之尾羽張), Ameno Ohabari, or Ama-no-Ohabari is a legendary Japanese blade. that roughly translates to "Heaven-Point-Blade-Extended". It is primarily found in the Izumo mythology. It is a kind of sword known as a Totsuka-no-Tsurugi or a "Sword of Length of Ten Fists" which seems to be distinguished by its length and having a double-sided blade.

Overview

Wielded by the male creator-god Izanagi, this blade is used to cut up the infant Fire God Kagutsuchi after his birth burns Izanami to death. It cuts the Fire God into multiple pieces, creating eight volcano-gods. When blood drips from the blade afterwards, the Sea God Watatsumi and the Rain God 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.

In the Kojiki (Conquest of Izumo chapter), the heavenly deities Amaterasu and Takamusubi decreed that either Takemikazuchi or his father Itsu-no-ohabari ("Heaven-Point-Blade-Extended") must be sent down for the conquest. Itsu-no-ohabari (who appeared previously as a ten-fist 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 "Deity Heavenly-Bird-Boat" (which may be a boat as well as being a god).

See also

References

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ a b Chamberlain 1919, §XXXII, Abdication of the deity Master-of-the-Great-Land, pp.121-
  3. ^ a b 武田 1996『古事記』text p. 60/ mod. Ja. tr. p.244
  4. ^ 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

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