Takeminakata

Takeminakata-no-kami 建御名方神 ("Brave Honourable Name Kami") or Takeminakata-no-mikoto 建御名方命 ("Lord Brave Honourable Name"), a.k.a. Suwa Myojin 諏訪明神 ("Shining God of Suwa") is a Shinto deity associated with warfare.

In the Kojiki, Takeminakata is portrayed as the son of Ōkuninushi, the earthly deity of Izumo province. When the heavenly deities sent Takemikazuchi to conquer Izumo, Takeminakata's brother Kotoshironushi acceded to the heavenly gods' demands and surrendered. However Takeminakata himself then appeared, carrying an enormous rock on the fingers of one hand, and insisted on a test of strength with the newcomer. When he tried to seize Takemikazuchi's hand, the latter turned his hand into a sword, but when Takemikazuchi grasped Takeminakata's hand in return, he was able to crush it like a reed. This contest is regarded as the first example of sumo.[1]

Takeminakata fled to Suwa, where he surrendered to the heavenly deities.[2][3] Some oral traditions relate that Takeminakata fought and defeated the mountain god Moreya-no-kami (洩矢神) in order to enter Suwa, using a wisteria vine as a weapon.[4] Takeminakata subsequently became the principal deity of the Suwa shrine.[5] A natural ice phenomenon of Lake Suwa is explained in Shinto mythology as being caused by Takeminakata leaving the shrine and crossing the lake to visit his spouse Yasakatome, who is enshrined on the opposite shore.[6]

References

  1. ↑ Alan Pate (13 December 2013). Ningyo: The Art of the Japanese Doll. Tuttle Publishing. p. 136. ISBN 978-1-4629-0720-5.
  2. ↑ J. Hackin (1932). Asiatic Mythology: A Detailed Description and Explanation of the Mythologies of All the Great Nations of Asia. Asian Educational Services. p. 395. ISBN 978-81-206-0920-4.
  3. ↑ Jean Herbert (18 October 2010). Shinto: At the Fountainhead of Japan. Routledge. p. 437. ISBN 978-1-136-90376-2.
  4. ↑ 呉清恵 (November 2011). Cosmogonical Worldview of Jomon Pottery. 株式会社　三恵社. p. 157. ISBN 978-4-88361-924-5.
  5. ↑ Michael Ashkenazi (1 January 2003). Handbook of Japanese Mythology. ABC-CLIO. pp. 267–268. ISBN 978-1-57607-467-1.
  6. ↑ Japan. Dept. of railways (1922). The Hot Springs of Japan (and the Principal Cold Springs) Including Chosen (Korea) Taiwan (Formosa) South Manchuria, Together with Many Tables Giving Classification, Chemical Basis, Curative Values, Radio-activity, Etc. 196 Illustrations, 15 Maps, Specially Drawn, 2 Colored Lithographs. p. 194.
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