Japanese Mythology Research Paper

From 30 BC to 300 AD is known as the Yayoi Period, and is the time when rice was introduced to the Islands of Japan. With agriculture now involved, social classes developed with landowners starting to create factions with followers underneath them. The most influential leader of this time is believed to be Queen Himiko, who ruled Japan as it gained advances such as iron working from other developing countries. The formation of the first true governing body of Japan was in the Kofun Period, which spanned 300 to 538. From 538 to 710, the Asuka Period introduced the Oni’s supposed creators, the religion of Buddhism. It also marked the end of Early Japan, and the several different Periods after would be much longer and hold many more events, changes in power, all the while shaping and molding Japan’s culture into what it is today. In the year 710, Nara, the first Japanese capital as built. Large Buddhist monasteries were scattered around the city, spreading the religion’s influence. This influence continued to grow to such a strong position, that the capital had to be moved to the city of Nagaoka in 784. Later, the capital was moved again, where it would remain in Heian, current day Kyoto, for over a thousand years. This time period is believed to be when the Oni myth and story was first created, if not

When people think of myths they usually think of the Greek or the roman but there are many more cultures with myths but they usually all relate to the same things. Myths are the traditional story, especially one concerning the early history of a culture (NA“ Myths”). One of the most popular myths is the Greek story of Hercules the strongest mortal alive. Did you know that the native American tribe Blackfoot used myths too? Yes, they did many native American tribes used myths too ,but they are more likely to be called a fable or a folktale. There is a tale of a Crow Brings the Daylight which is related to the Greeks story when Apollo son of Zeus rides a gold chariot over the sky and carries the sun. Then there is the Chinese which is called

“Mythos”- a Greek word meaning “tale” and the origin of the word mythology; according to the dictionary mythology means, a traditional story aiming to explain the meaning of things concerning deities and demigods.

Greek mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the ancient Greeks, concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. They were a part of religion in ancient Greece. Modern scholars refer to, and study, the myths, in an attempt to throw light on the religious and political institutions of Ancient Greece, its civilization, and to gain understanding of the nature of myth-making itself.

It should be noted that all creation myths tend to possess similar themes, despite differing story lines. As noted before, there exists the basic ideas of chaos before creation, and gods to form life. But then various myths show that, once life has been created, the gods tend to retreat from the humanity they create, instead watching them from afar and using specifically chosen and often religious contacts to spread their words and commands. This deus

As I mentioned above, everything began with Christopher Columbus discovering America in 1492. History is non-fiction, and perhaps the most concrete example of this non-fiction is the story of the beginning of the Indians. Native American mythology contains may different types of character including heroes, tricksters, and more. These characters can have both good and bad qualities, and fall into many categories. For example, creator gods usually restore order, but in some stories can be destructive. Tricksters can even be considered the hero in some stories. (Myths Encyclopedia, 2007). Indian stories are born from experiences and beliefs. Ross also states that “Native American societies are based on the concept of interdependence. Interdependence

Both Kojiki and Greek mythologies describe common belief in the creation of the world, in which gods give birth to another to form the world. In Kojiki, two of the seven gods who came into existence, Izanagi and Izanami give birth to many nature deities, creating the world. But because Izanami gives birth to too many deities, she dies while giving birth to the fire deity. In result of her death, enraged Izanagi kills the fire deity. In contrast, Greek myth describes the creation of the world with the four gods who came to existences, Gaea (earth) Chaos, Tartarus (Hell), and then Eros. Gaea asexually gives birth to Uranus (Sky) and marries her son. She then bears three types of gods; the Titans, the Cyclopes, and the Hecathonchires. However, Uranus repels at the monstrous creatures and sends Cyclopes and Hecatonchires down to Tartarus (Hell). Frustrated by Uranus’s action, Gaea forges the first sickle, gives it to her youngest son Cronos, and have him punish his father, Uranus. Once Uranus returns to make love to Gaea, Cronos emasculates him. Here we see the similarities in the creation of the world by birth and death of God by the hands of another god with fury.

Greek Mythology is a collection of myths and teachings that originated from the ancient Greeks. Tales of Greek Mythology are usually related to gods or heroes, the nature of the world, and the significance and origin of the Greek culture and ritual practices. Greek Mythology was part of the polytheistic religion in ancient Greece. Many scholars study the myths in an attempt to understand the religious and political institutions of Ancient Greece and its civilization. The scholars also wanted to gain knowledge of the nature of myth-making itself. The earliest Greek myths were part of an oral tradition that began in the Bronze Age. Greek mythology is made up of several different gods and goddesses. Greek myths attempt to explain the origins

The Japanese culture has been greatly influenced by its religions, and one of the most influential religions has been Shintoism. Shintoism has been dated back to 500BC, when the descendants of the sun goddess, Amaterasu-OmiKami, worshiped the gods and goddesses of Japan. Shinto means "way of the gods" and that represents what people who practice Shintoism believe in. Shintoism is a religion based on Japanese mythology, which is centered on a male god, Izanagi, and a female goddess, Izanami. These two gods were believed to have created Japan, which was thought to be the only land in the whole word. The two gods had two children, the sun goddess Amaterasu, and the storm god, Susanowo. These two gods fought over control of the people of

A reed was formed from the Earth becoming the god Kuni-toko-tachi no Mikoto. Furthermore, more gods were evolved which had both female and male. Izanagi no Mikoto and Izanami no Mikoto were the important ones here. They talked about how the earth was lacking things. They through their heavenly spear to create an ocean. After this, they created islands and the islands had deities which created rivers and mountains.

One creation story says that long ago, two gods named Izanagi and Izanami were commanded by the primal gods to make and solidify the land of Japan. The two gods then threw a spear into the sea. The mud that dripped from the spear became an island, and there, Izanagi and Izanami built a palace and married each other. Over time, Izanami gave birth to the islands of Japan and many deities, but she died giving birth to her last one, who was a fire god. Angry, Izanagi beheaded his son and followed Izanami to Yomi, the Land of the Dead, urging her to return back with him.

Influenced by China, Japan in the Heian period was a time of literature and writing development, but this time also marked the successful rise of the warrior class. The samurai, aristocratic fighters meaning “those who serve,” were the primary mediums of conflict by the end of the 12th century (Editors of Time-Life Books, 9). The official establishment of a military government in Japan began with the

Greek mythology is a different and unearthly world full of gods, heroes, villains, creatures and women and men fighting for the overall good. Greek mythology is the centre of all ancient Greeks, it influenced a lot of their religious believes, cult practises and spiritual believes. Greek mythology provides an insight into the life in Ancient Greek and some of the habits, ritual and customs practised. Greek mythology is show in many different ways such as stories, paintings, pottery and dramas. Greeks believed that there were extensive gods; there were 12 famous gods of mount Olympus and numerous deities and semi gods that played supporting roles to the original gods.

Many religions are popular within the Japanese culture. Two of the most influential religions, Shinto and Buddhism that help shaped a lot of Japanese values are Shinto and Buddhism, played a large role in shaping Japanese values. Numerous similarities and differences run between these two religions; nonetheless, the Japanese often believe in more than one religion at the same time. This is possible due to the polytheistic nature of most popular religions in Japan. It is not hard to say that religion is a big part of Japanese culture because a lot of religious beliefs can still be seen in their everyday lives.

Chinese mythology has several distinctive qualities, one of the most individual is the fact that Chinese myths are very concise: a single myth might only be one page long, but tells a story that could take up two or more pages. For example, the sentence, “The Wise Old Man at the River Bend stopped the foolish old man ” shows an entire short scene. Japanese myths, on the other hand, are more story-like in their structure, and they are told simply. In fact, the Japanese myths are told so simply and this author believes that they can be understood by children. Also Japanese myths have more of a definite beginning, middle, and end.