Japanese Mythology - Ninigi's Descent To The Middle World

Ninigi's Descent To The Middle World

In the Nihongi here begins the section entitled "Age of the Gods: Part II" (kamiyo ge-kan (神代下巻?)).

The episode of the Tenson kōrin (天孫降臨, "Descent of the Heavenly Grandson"?) begins with description of how the heavenly gods (Ama-tsu-kami) who dwelled in the Heavenly Plains (Takama-ga-hara) peered down upon the earth below (known by the stilted name Ashihara no Nakatsukuni (葦原中国, "Reedy Plains Middle World"?). It represents Japan, not the whole wide world), and dispatched various members of their own kind to subjugate it. Amaterasu had decreed her own grandson Ninigi should rule the terrestrial world, but the terrestrial gods (kuni-tsu-kami) were not altogether willing to hand it over, and odd sorts of terrestrial gods were still lurking about making it too dangerous.

Some of the gods first appointed to quell the middle world were derelict in their mission, or joined leagues with the terrestrial gods. After several false starts, two gods were finally successful. They were Ame-no-ohabari(ja) (aka Itsu-no-ohabari; elsewhere this kami is said to be a sword) and Takemikazuchi. They embarked aboard the Ame-no-torifune(ja) or "Deity Heavenly-Bird-Boat" to their military campaign. These two sabre-rattling deities were able to frighten Ōkuninushi's two sons into flight, causing Ōkuninushi to abdicate and relinquish the territories to the Heavenly Grandson.

Amaterasu was now able to decree the Tenson kōrin (天孫降臨, "Descent of the Heavenly Grandson"?), also referred to as amori, amakudari (天降り, "descent from heaven"?), installing her grandson to rule over the terrestrial middle world. She endowed him the Three Sacred Treasures (Imperial Regalia of Japan):

• the magatama necklace of Yasakani no magatama (now situated in the imperial palace);
• the bronze mirror of Yata no kagami (now in the Grand Shrine of Ise); and
• the sword Kusanagi (a possible replica of which is now in Atsuta Shrine, Nagoya).

The mirror was to be worshipped as a representation of Amaterasu. A number of deities were made to make the descent at this time.

Ninigi and his company went down to the earth and came to Himuka (Hyūga province, today's Miyazaki prefecture), there he founded his palace.