Imperial Treasures in Japan

2019年 04月15日



The Imperial dynasty of Japan, the family line of Yamato is the oldest family in the world. As a matter of fact, according to custom, the actual Emperor Akihito's family reignes over Japan since 7th century before Jesus-Christ and decends directly from gods.
 


The seal of chrysanthemum, the seal of Japanese Imperial family

 

All the Emperors who have reigned Japan derived from this dynasty from the first Emperor of Japan: the mythical Emperor Jinmu. He was the direct decendant of the goddess Amaterasu.


For this reason that the Emperor of Japan is also the head of the religion Shinto, the aboriginal Japanese religion. 
The Buddhism arrived later in Japan, about 6th century.


The Shinto worshipped a multitude of spirits called kami. The kami are principally the elements of the nature, the historical figures or even the ancestoral spirits.


The most ancient documents recounting the Japanese history are the Kojiki ("Records of Ancient Matters") and the Nihon Shoki ("The Chronics of Japan") dated 8th century.


Accoring to the legend, the sun-goddess Amaterasu sent her grandson Ninigi-no-Mikoto to the archipelago, and she entrusted him three objects, the symbols of the sacrality of the Japanese Imperial familly. Ninigi-no-Mikoto bequeathed them to his descendants, and they transmitted until Jinmu, the first Emperor of Japan.


The three sacred objects were as follows:

The mirror of Yata, the Yata no Kagami


The sword, Kusanagi: The goddess Amaterasu received it from her brother Susanoo who obtained it from the fight with Yamata no Orochi, A giant eight-headed snake.
 
A jewel, Yasakani no Magatama: The magatama is un talisman used in ancient Japan.
It had been originally made by rudimenetary stones or in clay, but later, in fine stones like jade. We find the similar objects in other Asian countries such as China or Korea.


They are the treasures which have been better preserved throught the Empire, and those three have the devine origin. Those three relics represent the three essential virtues which are:

the bravery with the sword,
the wisdom with the mirror,
and the goodwill with the jewel.


They are still kept in three different places in Japan and the only eminents priests and the Emperor himself are authorized to see them, at the ceremony of the enthronment which is not disclosed to the public.

Notwithstanding the above, there are many stories and speculations on this subject. No photography or representation have never been official. Moreover, they are the replicas of the sword and the mirror because the veritables pieces have been destroyed or been lost in the past.

The jewel, contrally, it would be an original and invaluable among three pieces.


It is said that the mirror is concerved in the three sacred sanctuaries of Ise, in Mie prefecture.


The sword might be in the grand temple Atsuya in Nagoya, and the jewel might be kept in the Imperial palace.


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