Yata no Kagami

The {{transliteration|ja|Yata no Kagami}} represents "wisdom" or "honesty," depending on the source. Its name literally means "The Eight wikt:咫#Japanese Mirror," a reference to its size.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XEIiEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA127|title=RLE: Japan Mini-Set F: Philosophy and Religion (4 vols)|date=2021-03-18|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-136-90356-4|pages=127|language=en}}{{Cite book|last=Ponsonby-Fane|first=R. A. B.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BY23AwAAQBAJ&pg=PA108|title=Studies In Shinto & Shrines|date=2014-06-03|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-136-89294-3|pages=108|language=en}} Mirrors in ancient Japan represented truth because they merely reflected what was shown, and were objects of mystique and reverence (being uncommon items).

According to Shinsuke Takenaka at the Institute of Moralogy, {{transliteration|ja|Yata no Kagami}} is considered the most precious of the three sacred treasures.{{cite web |title=Akihito and Japan's Imperial Treasures that make a man an emperor |website=BBC |author=Anna Jones |date=27 April 2019 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-47931671 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220324032626/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-47931671 |archive-date=March 24, 2022}}

In the year 1040 ({{transliteration|ja|Chōkyū}} 1, 9th month), the compartment which contained the Sacred Mirror was burned in a fire.Ackroyd, Joyce. (1982). Lessons from History: the Tokushi Yoron, p. 29. The mirror was not damaged and managed to survive the incident. It is considered to be housed today in Ise Grand Shrine, in Mie Prefecture, Japan, although a lack of public access makes this difficult to verify. Concurrently, a replica is enshrined in Three Palace Sanctuaries of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo.

In Shinto, the mirror was forged by the deity Ishikoridome; both it and the {{transliteration|ja|Yasakani no magatama}} were hung from a tree to lure out Amaterasu from a cave. They were given to Amaterasu's grandson, Ninigi-no-Mikoto, when he went to pacify Japan along with the sword {{transliteration|ja|Kusanagi}}. From there, the treasures passed into the hands of the Imperial House of Japan.{{Cite book|last=Roberts|first=Jeremy|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xdfgjV2kw6oC&pg=PA4|title=Japanese Mythology A to Z|date=2009|publisher=Infobase Publishing|isbn=978-1-4381-2802-3|pages=4–5|language=en}}

The researcher Shinsuke Takenaka said according to the legends, Amaterasu told Ninigi: "Serve this mirror as my soul, just as you would serve me, with clean mind and body."{{Cite web |last=D |first=John |date=2012-02-17 |title=The circular mirror: Shinto symbol |url=https://www.greenshinto.com/2012/02/18/the-circular-mirror-shinto-symbol/ |access-date=2023-12-12 |website=Green Shinto |language=en-GB}}

File:Masakaki with Mirror and Jewel.jpg featuring a Mirror and Magatama]]

File:Fukakusa Kaidoguchicho, Fushimi Ward, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture 612-0805, Japan - panoramio (1).jpg, Yata-no-Kagami is seen as prototypical for the use of mirrors when worshipping other deities.]]

{{Main|Masakaki|Mirrors in Shinto}}

Replicas of the Imperial regalia of Japan including Yata no Kagami are included in Masakaki at Shinto shrines.{{Cite web |last=D |first=John |date=2015-04-05 |title=The Colours of Shinto (masakaki) |url=https://www.greenshinto.com/2015/04/05/the-colours-of-shinto/ |access-date=2023-11-27 |website=Green Shinto |language=en-GB}} Masakaki come in sets of two, with the left one containing a replica of Kusanagi no Tsurugi and the right one containing a replica of Yata no Kagami and Yasakani-no-Magatama. Mirrors in Shinto are highly significant with Yata no Kagami being seen as prototypical to them.{{Cite book |last=De_Garis |first=Frederick |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hUm0AAAAQBAJ&pg=PA237 |title=We Japanese |date=2013-09-05 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-136-18367-6 |pages=237 |language=en}}

• Kashikodokoro Riding Car
• {{transliteration|ja|Shinju-kyo}}

{{reflist}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20150505142439/http://www.isejingu.or.jp/english/myth/myth4.htm Ise Jingu's page on the Yata no Kagami]

{{Shinto shrine}}

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Category:Japanese mythology

Category:Japanese words and phrases

Category:Bronze mirrors

Category:Tourist attractions in Mie Prefecture

Category:Buildings and structures in Mie Prefecture

Category:Ise Shrine

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