The Yamato and Izumo Cycle: Okuninushi and Emperor Jimmu, Slides of English Literature

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THE YAMATO

AND IZUMO

CYCLE

OKUNINUSHI

The Yamato Cycle of Japanese myths follows Amaterasu, and focuses on the celestial deities, whilst the Izumo Cycle follows her brother Susanowa and the earthly Deities. Each cycle contains numerous stories of the siblings adventures and the adventures of their offspring. Perhaps the most important member of the family is Susanowa's son-in-law Okuninushi, who as Great Land Master, is the

CHARACTERS

Sashikuni-waka-hime  (^) Mother of Okuninushi  (^) Clam goddess Suseri-hime  (^) Daughter of Susanowa  (^) Became wife of Okuninushi Susanowa  (^) the storm god, younger brother of the sun goddess Amaterasu.

OKUNINUSHI

The most popular story about Okuninushi involves a journey he makes with his 80 brothers in order to seek the hand of the Princess Yakami. En route, his brothers encounter a skinned hare, lying in agony by the side of the road. They advise the hare to bathe in the saltwater of the sea to help its pain, but this only makes the hare's pain even worse.

OKUNINUSHI

CAPE KETA, WHERE OKUNINUSHI

MET THE RABBIT OF INABA.

OKUNINUSHI

His mother brings him back from the dead, only for his brothers to kill him once again this time crushing him to death. At this point Okuninushi's mother tells him to seek refuge in the underworld. He does, and falls in love with Susanowa's daughter, whom he later marries.

OKUNINUSHI

Motifs  (^) Hero  (^) Adventure Themes  (^) Adventure  (^) Divine Intervention  (^) Resurrection  (^) Jealousy

EMPEROR JIMMU

CHARACTERS

Amaterasu  (^) Sun goddess  (^) Sent the three legged crow to assist Jimmu  (^) Help Jimmu during his batte against Nagasunehiko Yatagarasu  (^) The three legged crow Nagasunehiko  (^) Long legged man  (^) Chieftain of Yamato

Jimmu and his three brothers head east towards modern-day Osaka, in order to try and unite Japan and become its first rulers, There they fight a series of battles, chiefly against Nagasunehiko.  (^) The migration to east across the mainland of Honshu was led by Jimmu’s brother, Itsuse no Mikoto  (^) Itsuse no Mikoto was killed with their battle against Nagasunehiko and his forces; leadership fell to Jimmu EMPEROR JIMMU

EMPEROR JIMMU Jimmu’s brothers are all killed in the battles, and he himself is at the point of exhaustion in his final battle when suddenly the sky becomes dark and a golden kite flies from the heavens to land upon his bow. Jimmu's enemies are so dazzled by the brightness of the kite that they can no longer fight, and the victorious Jimmu becomes emperór.

EMPEROR JIMMU Jimmu's victory is celebrated in Japan on National Foundation Day, which also marks New Year's Day in the traditional lunisolar calendar- February 11.

EMPEROR JIMMU

Motifs  (^) Hero  (^) Adventure  (^) War Themes  (^) Conquering land  (^) Persistence  (^) Divine Intervention