Japan's Sacred Imperial Regalia
The Three Sacred Imperial Regalia
Ise Shrine, located in Mie Prefecture
Ninigi-no-Mikoto (His Augustness Prince Rice-Ears of Ruddy Plenty), the grandson of the Sun Goddess – Amaterasu and the first ruler of Ashihara no Nakatsukuni was invested with the Three Sacred Regalia on the day of his enthronement prior to descending to Earth. The mirror Yata no Kagami (the Mirror of Eight ‘Ta’) was forged by the Deity Ishikoridome and its diameter is approximately 96 centimetres; as one ‘Ta‘ – an ancient unit of measure – is equivalent to 12 centimetres (‘Ya’ means eight and ‘Ta’ – 12 centimetres = ‘Yata’; ‘kagami’ means mirror) . Its virtues are wisdom and honesty. Yata no Kagami is secured in the Grand Shrine of Ise in Mie Prefecture.
The sword Kusanagi no Tsurugi (the Grass Cutting Sword) was initially named Murakumo-no-Tsurugi (the Gathering Clouds of Heaven). It was found in one of the tails of the monster Yamata no Orochi by Susanowo no Mikoto. It measures 85 centimetres in length and its virtues are strength and resolution. The sword is guarded in the Atsuta Shrine in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture.
Atsuta Shrine, located in the Nagoya City
Kashiko-dokoro, the Palace Sanctuary of the Tokyo Imperial Palace
The jewel Yasakani no Magatama is an eight-foot long necklace made of 500 comma-shaped stone beads, given to Amaterasu by her father Izanagi as a memento. It is regarded as a source of compassion, as its virtues are gentleness and yielding. The jewel is secured in Kashiko-dokoro, the central shrine of the Imperial Palace in Tōkyō.
The Ten Sacred Heavenly Treasures
The Ten Sacred Heavenly Treasures, also known as the Tokusa no Kandakara, are believed to have been brought from Korea. They represent the duties of the subjects. They are housed in Isonokami Shrine in Nara Prefecture and consist of:
- Okitsu-kagami (a mirror)
- Hetsu-kagami (a mirror)
- Yatsuka-no-tsurugi (a sword)
- Iku-tama (a jewel)
- Makarukaheshi-tama (a jewel)
- Taru-tama (a jewel)
- Chikaheshi-no-tama (a jewel)
- Orochi-no-hire (a type of long scarf worn by women)
- Hachi-no-hire (a type of long scarf worn by women)
- Kusagusa-no-mono-no-hire (a type of long scarf worn by women
Isonokami Shrine, located in Nara Prefecture
Iwafune Shrine, located in Osaka Prefecture
Tokusa no Kandakara have been bestowed on Nigihayahi-no-Mikoto, (His Augustness Prince Rice-Ears of Ruddy), a Heavenly Royal blood, the elder brother of Ninigi. He was born the first son of Oshihomimi-no-Mikoto (first son of Amaterasu) and Takuhatachiji-Hime-no-Mikoto (daughter of the main coadjutor of the Sun Goddess – Takamimusubi). As such, Nigihayahi would have been the first Ruler of Ashihara no Nakatsukuni. However, prior to his coronation, he was supposed to make a quick descend to the Earth to establish the unruliness of the place and return back to Takama no Hara. Though the exploratory Young Prince was reported dead when his experimental rock ship – Ama no Iwafune, which with he descended crashed on Earth. Heavily injured, but not dead, the Young Prince had no strengths to fly back to Takama no Hara. He had no one to communicate back to Heaven the accident nor to help him back to health. For days the Young Prince drifted between life and death.
Aided by the magic powers of the Ten Sacred Regalia, Amaterasu had bestowed on him, he eventually recovered. Nevertheless, his numerous attempts to repair the ship failed and there was not a way back. All he could do was to remain in Ashihara no Nakatsukuni and govern the land in the name of his Divine Ancestress. Ninigi-no-Mikoto, Nigihayahi’s younger brother, born soon after him, was then designated to become Ashihara-no-Nakatsukuni new lord. The Ten Sacred Regalia represent the duties of the subjects. Whilst the Three Sacred Imperial Regalia are the symbol of the Ruler’s virtue. Therefore, the latter are superior to the former.
Nigihayahi is credited as the founding father of the Mononobe Clan – a powerful and influential clan of the Kōfun and Asuka periods, who opposed to the introduction of Buddhism in Japan. Nigihayahi is enshrined at the Iwafune Shrine in Kisaichi, Katano City, Ōsaka Prefecture. The Goshintai (repository of a Shintō shrine where the kamis reside) of Iwafune is a big rock with a length of 18m and a height of 12m. Its position, laying on the back of the Haiden hall (oratory), gives the impression of a ship made of a stone, hence its name – Iwafune (rock ship). As a Heavenly Deity, upon his death, Nigihayahi was taken back to Heaven.