Barry Smith

Prof. Presnell
UWRT 1103-013
November 17, 2014
Japanese Mythology
Japanese Artifacts fill my childhood.
Its time to duel!. This is a line that many who grew up during the early 2000s may recognize
as the opening line for a popular cartoon known as Yu-gi-oh!. I not only watched the cartoon, but
played the card game myself. Entertainment company Konami's Yugioh originates from Japan, and has
become an international hobby. There are literally thousands, if not, tens of thousands of cards released.
The inspiration for the artwork of these cards is very diverse, ranging from Norse Mythology to Japanese
folk legends. One particular set caught my eye Bujins. The artwork consisted mostly of animals that
appeared to be mechanical, and their parts were connected by varying colors of energy. There were also
some items in the artwork, such as a sword and a mirror, that were titled Regalia.

Typically, the names of the cards were very uncreative. These, however, had names that sounded
deliberate. Some of the cards were simply titled Bujin- (for example, Bujin Hare), but there were also
cards called Yamato, Kagetsuchi, and Tsukoymi. In almost anything related to Japanese culture, the
English translation of something typically differs from its original Japanese form, because many terms do
not exist in English, or are derogatory. It is very rare for something to be the same in both Japanese and
English, which applied to some of the Bujins. With this in mind, questions began to race through my
head. What inspired these cards? Are the cards based off of Japanese Mythology? What are the Japanese

Regalia? Do they still exist today? Why are the Regalia such a big deal? I looked it up on the internet, and
I discovered they were inspired by Japanese Artifacts that are highly revered in Japan, as well as that
Bujin translates to War Gods. This was no coincidence. The Yugioh artists were inspired by
something that caused them to create the Bujins. To truly find the answers I was looking for, I had to learn
what the Regalia are, and educate myself on a bit of Japanese Mythology along the way.
The beginning of the path towards the truth of the War Gods.
A quick look on the internet yielded in some general information about the Bujins. The animals
are based off of Japanese artifacts known as the Tokusa no Kandakara, or 10 varieties of God's treasure),
which are said to be held within Isonokami Shrine. This is where my research began. I wanted to know
more about Isonokami Shrine, as well as its connection with the artifacts. Additionally, I began to conduct
general research on Japanese Mythology. I was uncertain as to whether my research pertaining to the
Bujins would be particularly long or fruitful, so I thought it best to give myself some options. The general
Bujins had been researched, but now I found myself curious regarding the cards with particular names,
such as Bujin Yamato.
A general Google search was not adequate, as I was overwhelmed with contradicting information.
To ensure I found the truth, I began to check through books, seeing if I could find anything noteworthy.
To my dismay, most sources were in Japanese, and had not been translated to English. I expected this
challenge from the beginning, but I began to feel discouraged as the sources seemed to become fewer. I
managed to find Wheeler's The Sacred Scriptures of the Japanese, which served me extremely well in my
research. It was difficult to find the names I was looking for, as historical books as the names of all deities
was offered exclusively in English. This meant that, for example, a Japanese name such as Susanoo (a
major Japanese deity very relevant to my research), was instead listed as Impetuous-Male-Deity. I
decided to give Isonokami Shrine another try, and I was actually able to find a book that gave me more
information.

The Emperor, the Prince, and the Shrine.

I found information in W. G. Aston's English translation on Nihongi. With a little help from the
internet, I was able to develop a more precise timeline regarding the Tokusa no Kandakara. A Sillan
Prince by the name of Amenohiboko (or Ama no hi-hoko) was connected to the artifacts, and any research
relevant to them was sure to mention him. Silla was one of the three great Kingdoms of Korea, back
before it united, and later split again. It became evidently very quickly that the Japanese chronicled their
history very differently than any manner an American would be accustomed to. Japanese mythology, as
well as ancient Japanese history, were recorded not by date, but by their respective era, which was named
after the emperor of that time. Isonokami Shrine, as well as Amenohiboko, were both connected with an
emperor known as Suinin. Luckily, the first part of Nihongi is separated in a similar manner. Emperor
Suinin is said to have been a great man, whom was involved with many godly affairs. The following,
taken from Suinin's section of Nihongi, is a passage that connects Emperor Suinin to Amenohiboko: 3rd
year, Spring, 3rd month. The Silla prince, Ama no hi-hoko, arrived. The objects which he brought were
one Ha-buto gem, Ashi-daka gem, one red-stone Ukaka gem, one Idzushi short sword, one Idzushi spear,
one sun-mirror, one Kuma-himorogi, seven things in all. These were stored in the Land of Tajima, and
made divine things for ever (W. G. Aston). However, a note at the bottom of the page offers a very
interesting point. Amenohiboko's name means The sun-spear of Heaven, and cannot be a Korean name,
as it is pure Japanese. Despite this, I was able to confirm that the story described above is the consensus
for how the Tokusa no Kandakara got to Japan.
I also found information pertinent to the establishment of Isonokami Shrine, which was erected
during Suinin's rule. Also found in Suinin's section, this passage depicts the aforementioned occurrence:
Yamato-hime no Mikoto (obviously the inspiration for Bujin Yamato), was entrused with Ama-terasu
no Oho-Kami (or Ameterasu for short), a female deity that is one of the most powerful and revered in
Japanese Mythology, and was tasked with finding a location to establish a shrine for her. She was told by
Ameterasu that 'The province of Ise, of the divine wind, is the land whither repair the waves from the

eternal world, the successive waves. It is a secluded and pleasant land. In this land I wish to dwell' (W.
G. Aston). This is how Isonokami Shrine came to be. The gifts (artifacts) that Amenohiboko brought were
placed in Isonokami Shrine later. What was strange was that only seven items were listed, despite the title
10 varieties of God's treasure. I confirmed this story was the most credible, so I decided the remaining
three items must be the Regalia, although I was certain that these items had never left Japan, and were not
connected to Silla in any way.
The argument that caused the First Sunrise.
There are three Regalia: the sacred Mirror, the sacred Sword, and the sacred Jewel. As I
investigated further, I was able to find stories relevant to each of them. It was during this time that I
persisted to learn more about the names of some of the Bujin cards, such as Susanowo and
Kagetsuchi. Two of the first Japanese deities to have existed were Izanami and Izanagi. Together, they
birthed Kagetsuchi, Tsukoyomi, Susanoo (also written Susanowo), and Ameterasu. Tsukoyomi is
considered the deity of the Moon and is associated with night. Susanoo is the god of storms and the sea,
and is said to have had a rivalry with his sister, Ameterasu. Ameterasu is one of the most highly-respected
and most powerful deities in both Shinto and Japanese Mythology, and she is associated with many
things. Most commonly, she is connected with the Sun, light, life, and nature. Kagetsuchi is associated
with fire, for when he was born, he killed his mother Izanami, and was subsequently killed by his father,
Izanagi. He was cut into eight pieces that, upon landing, each sprouted a volcano The blood that ran from
the blade instantly birthed many other deities. When I read this, I was struck with awe. This was a large
amount of information, and I was surprised that I had only just scratched the surface. From here, I knew I
had to dig deeper to learn more about the Regalia.
I began with a passage I found in The Sacred Scriptures of the Japanese, which went as such:
And in conclusion, when the persecutions of her [Ameterasu] brother, the Impetuous-Male-Deity
[Susanoo], drive her to retire into the Sky-Rock-Cave, the sunlight vanishes from both worlds: 'so that the

whole Plain-of-the-High-Sky [Heaven] was darkened and all the Central-Land-of-Reed-Plains [Earth, the
mortal realm] unilluminated, and from this unchanging night befell and the alternation of day and night
was unknown. The Kami [Gods] had no place to set their hands or feet, and all of their affairs were
carried on by means of lights' (Wheeler, Post). This was a very significant find, as I now had more
information pertinent to the Regalia.
Upon reading this, I was excited to find more information, so that I could fill the gaps. I was able
to discern that Susanoo was cast from heaven by Izanagi. In his leave, he visited his sister Ameterasu to
bid farewell. She did not believe him sincere, so a competition resulted, to prove who was right. The
challenge was for the deities to create something better than the other. Ameterasu chose to use Izanagi's
blade, which had been given to Susanoo. He decided upon Ameterasu's jewel, known as Yasakani no
Magatama. Using Susanoo's sword, Ameterasu created man, while her brother used the Jewel to create
woman. Susanoo claimed victory, and they were content with the results for awhile. However, Susanoo
soon grew bitter and destroyed some of Ameterasu's property, before slaying one of her servants, causing
Ameterasu to retreat to the heart of a dark cave in despair. This is where the final Regalia the Mirror,
Yata no Kagami, is introduced. The sacred Mirror was made as an effort to draw Ameterasu from the dark
cave. When she saw herself in the mirror, she was enticed to return to her realm. Upon her re-emergence
from the depths, the sun rose, and it was day again.
The only Regalia I had left to pursue was the sacred Sword. I was able to discover that the sword
known as Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi was found by Susanoo in the tail of an eight-headed serpent (Wheeler,
Post). At that point, I knew I needed more information than that. My quest to find more about my Yugioh
cards was almost at its end, and I was only one artifact away from having it all connected. I continued to
dig deeper, and I was able to put together information from various sources that, after some logical
ordering, yielded that tale of the Sword Regalia.

The following is mentioned in Wheeler's The Sacred Scriptures of the Japanese: When Susanoo
descended to Earth, he landed near a river. He followed this river upstream, until he met a family. It
consisted of a father, a mother, and a daughter. When Susanoo investigated these people, he noticed that
they were crying. He asked them what was wrong, and they informed him that an eight-headed serpent
(similar in description to the Greek mythological Hydra) harassed them every year for the past seven
years, demanding to devour one of their daughters each year. Emotions stirred within Susanoo as he
devised a solution to the family's circumstances. He told them he was the brother of Ameterasu. The
family leaped in praise as they offered the daughter to Susanoo. He accepted, changing her into a comb,
and placing her in his hair. He then instructed the man and woman to gather large amount of alcohol into
eight separate containers. The beast was lured to the alcohol, which it enthusiastically consumed. It
quickly fell asleep, and was slashed to pieces by Susanoo. However, his sword broke upon striking the tail
of the beast. He cut the appendage open to reveal a sword, Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi, the final Regalia. This
sword, translated as Herb-Queller(Wheeler, Post), was thereupon given to Ameterasu as a gift from
Susanoo.
The Mystic Tribes and the Objects of enormous power.
Ameterasu held the Jewel, the Mirror, and the Sword dear. She held her children in a similar
fashion, and saw it fit to give them to her son. He took them with him to Earth, where his son was born.
These artifacts then became the emperor's three great treasures, known as the Three Regalia. The research
I conducted and the connections I made had led me to a major conclusion Isonokami Shrine has nothing
to do with the Regalia, despite some rumors I encountered throughout my research. Isonokami Shrine,
which is open to the public to view, is relevant only to the Tokusa no Kandakara. A legendary sword
known as the Shichishito is located there. It is also regarded highly, but not nearly as highly as the
Regalia, especially in Shinto. When I reached this point, I became curious as to what Shinto was and how
it pertained to my findings. Shinto is the most-practiced religion in Japan. Rather than gods, Shinto
focuses on spirits and nature (Religion: Shinto).

The Shichishito is held in Isonokami Shrine, and is not available for public viewing. As such, I
faced this dead end, because I was unable to gather anymore information relevant to the sword. However,
the Regalia proved more interesting. According to The Sacred Scriptures of the Japanese, there are many
cults that exist today to protect or hide Japanese artifacts (Wheeler, Post). Despite this, the Regalia were
not nearly as hard to find information on. The Sword Regalia is revered in Shinto cults that focus on the
sword. The Mirror Regalia remains the chief symbol of Shinto and there is no shrine in the empire
without it (Wheeler, Post), meaning the mirror is the most-highly regarded object in Shinto. This is said
to be because it captures essences, and Ameterasu's essence was said to have been captured in the
Mirror (Wheeler, Post).
Where the Path has taken me.
With all of this knowledge, I was able to identify Konami's name choice for the Bujin cards. The
card set includes general Bujin animals, three Regalia, and a few creatures named after specific deities,
such as Susanoo. The confusion I had earlier has been eradicated, and I am left only with satisfaction. The
journey my inquiry took me one was beautiful, and I would not mind learning more about Japanese
Mythology, as well as Shinto itself. My appreciation for Japanese Mythology, as well as Japanese culture,
has grown greatly. Additionally, I now understand a great deal more about Japanese ancient history, and
modern practices. All of my questions were answered, and dots were connected.
There were two Gods in the beginning, who yielded many more. Those offspring's misadventures
led to the creation of three great objects known as the the three Regalia. Also regarded highly as spiritual
artifacts were the Tokusa no Kandakara, which my research began with. These objects and events are
what inspired the Bujin archetype in Yugioh.
Works Cited
Aston, W. G. Nihongi. London: Routledge, 2010. Print.

"Itsukushima Shinto Shrine." United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Web. 20
Oct. 2014.
"Japanese Imperial Regalia." Japanese Imperial Regalia. 18 May 2003. Web. 20 Oct. 2014.
"Religion: Shinto." BBC News. BBC, 7 Oct. 2011. Web. 20 Oct. 2014.
Wheeler, Post. The Sacred Scriptures of the Japanese. New York: H. Schuman, 1952. Print.