The heart of Kojiki (4) 2017/05/10
There are 8 millions Gods in Japan. All of them are connected with each other and compose a large family.
Amenominakano-nushi appeared first among all Gods. Several Gods followed after Amenominakano-nushi but they remained as single. Then Izanagino-mikoto and Izanamino-mikoto appeared and they made a couple. Since then, all following Gods are members of a family.
Amaterasu-omikami, the founder of Royal family, is a daughter of Izanagino-mikoto. Jinmu Emperor who is considered as a human-being and the first Emperor of current Royal family is the 6 generations descendant of Amaterasu-omikami.
All Gods and humans form a large family in Japan and all Japanese can reach to some Gods when they trace the roots.
According to Kojiki, Amaterasu-omikami who lived in the world of Gods, ordered her grand children, Ninigino-mikoto to go down to “the Land of green rice fields” (old name of Japan) and “shirasu” the Land (to live comfortably with people there).
There are two different expressions in Kojiki to mean “governing a land”, namely “shirasu” and “ushihaku”.
“shirasu” is to govern with pure heart and to live peacefully together with people, while “ushihaku” means to govern the Land by the power with personal interest.
As Kojiki described in this way, it has become basic understanding for leaders in Japan to govern the Land without personal interest but for public interest.
Among numberless classical ceremonies, “Daijousai” is the most important for the Royal family. At “Daijousai”, new Emperor drinks and eats rice together with Amaterasu-omikami and the soul of predecessor.
Through this ceremony, they become integrated and the precious life continues forever even if the predecessor already has died physically.
The spirits of Daijosai have prevailed among people. Therefore, it is widely spread custom among all Japanese when we thank to the grace of Gods and or ancestors, we always offer drinks and rice to them firstly and drink and dine together with them afterwards..
offerings to Gods
