Post by SeraphMazrakiel on Mar 22, 2008 8:14:25 GMT -5
This thread is very much a spoiler thread - it references events, creatures and other important ideas in the Naruto universe. These references are made right up to Chapter 394, so if you haven't read up to this point, you may not want to proceed with reading this until you've done so.
Also note that I wanted to title the thread -SPOILER- Japanese Mythology and the Naruto Universe - The Uchiha Clan because I wanted to make it the first in a series of understanding the Japanese mythology in the Narutoverse... but it wouldn't accept a thread title that long.
Made it this far? Let's get to reading, then!
It has to be said. Most of the Uchiha/Tengu ideas (as referenced here) have been disproven. Kishimoto has taken the series in a couple of different directions than what was thought up at the time of this thread.
Having said that... it's actually interesting how many hints this person managed to pick up on. Because even if everything the user said didn't come true... they managed to touch on a lot of the things Kishimoto DID put into the story. (Note: I am aware that there is other mythology in the Naruto story... kitsune/Kyuubi being one of them... but this isn't about that. If further history and folklore comes about, that may be worth adding at a later stage... but there isn't enough at this stage.)
Japanese Mythology and the Uchiha Clan
There are many myths and ideas that are present in the Naruto story surrounding Itachi and Sasuke, some more than others:
* Izanagi and Izanami, the father and mother of the gods
* Izanagi's journey to the Underworld
* The Imperial Regalia of Japan
* The Three Noble Children - Amaterasu, Tsukiyomi and Susanoo
* Yamata-no-Orochi
* Tengu
The main reason this thread is so long is because, basically, all the above stories are linked, and are referenced during Naruto.
The Legend of Izanagi and Izanami
This myth is not fully expanded upon in the Naruto story. However, there are mentions to it, when Itachi defeats Orochimaru in the Itachi/Sasuke fight - chapter 392, pg 16.
In Japanese mythology, Izanagi and Izanami were the first two divine beings to be created (similar to Adam and Eve, I guess... though they were fully divine beings, and not just man). Izanami, the woman, gave birth to the islands of Japan, as well as many other deities. While giving birth to one of these deities - Kagu-tsuchi, the god of fire - Izanami was burned and killed. In his grief, Izanagi drew his sword - the Sword of Totsuka - and beheaded his son with it.
As an epilogue, Kagu-tsuchi's blood gave way to the creation of eight more deities. While that part of the story and it's relevance to the Naruto storyline ends here, the next chapter in Izanagi's life is also important to the Narutoverse...
Izanagi's Journey to the Underworld
While the myth itself has not fully manifested in Naruto, it does prove important. It could also be argued that Naruto's quest to return Sasuke to Konoha Village may parallel Izanagi... but I'm one to think it's not based on a legend, and is just Naruto missing his baby boy. Lol.
This story follows a similar plot to Orpheus and Eurydice. Depressed and alone from losing his wife to death, Izanagi ventured to the the darkness of the underworld to retrieve his beloved Izanami. He finally found her, and asked her to return to the world of the living. He had not seen her face, and it was only when he finally laid eyes upon her sleeping that she looked horrid and mutated. Disgusted, Izanagi fled the underworld.
After he fled, he cleansed his body in a river. As he washed his face, the waters from his cleansing gave birth to the three Noble Children.
First, from his right eye was born Tsukiyomi, god of the moon.
Second, from his left eye was born Amaterasu, goddess of the sun.
Finally, from his nose was born Susanoo, god of the sea and storms.
These, obviously, are the names of the Mangekyou Sharingan techniques used by Itachi.
The Three Noble Children/The Imperial Regalia of Japan
The Imperial Regalia of Japan are three sacred treasures - a sacred mirror, a necklace of sacred jewels, and a legendary sword - and are symbols of the emperor's divinity and legitimate rule over Japan. But first, a little backstory...
For a time, the three sibling gods - Amaterasu, Tsukiyomi and Susanoo - lived in peace. There was rivalry between the three, but there was peace. One day, however, Susanoo was challenged by Amaterasu and bested. In a fit of rage, the storm god lay waste to his sister's lands; he destroyed her rice fields and threw the corpse of a skinned horse at her maidens, killing one of them. In grief and anger, Amaterasu hid herself in a cave (known as the Heavenly Cave), and sealed it shut. Without the sun goddess, the world was plunged into darkness and began to die. </backstory>
A plan was devised to lure Amaterasu from the cave. The gods hung a large mirror, the Yata no Kagami, from a tree outside of the Heavenly Cave. Ame-no-Uzume, goddess of merriment, began to dance (it was a sexy dance. Lol). The other gods began to cheer loudly and laughed, which stirred the curiosity of Amaterasu who, interested in what was going on outside, opened and left the cave. When she asked the other gods what was going on, one replied there was a new goddess; when she asked who, he pointed to the mirror. Amaterasu was startled by her own reflection, something she had never seen before. Distracted, the gods closed the cave off, so she couldn't hide again.
Also, according to legend, a necklace of sacred beads, the Yasakani no Magatama, was also hung from the tree. Amaterasu claimed this necklace, which also eventually became one of the items she passed down to the first emperor of Japan.
The third item, however, has a special story of its own...
Yamata-no-Orochi
I would be one to believe that this particular myth proves once and for all that Orochimaru is dead. Anyone more familiar with this myth would've seen it much sooner. :-)
According to Japanese legend, after Amaterasu had emerged from her cave and brought her radiance back, the gods were angry at Susanoo and banished him from Heaven. Exiled, Susanoo descended to the earth, where he met an elderly couple. An eight-headed serpent, Yamata-no-Orochi, also known as Orochi, had devoured seven of their eight daughters. Susanoo, in exchange for marriage to the last daughter, agreed to slay Orochi. Using large amounts of sake to intoxicate the serpent, Susanoo beheaded the beast. As he proceeded to slice the tails off the beast as well, he found within one of the serpent's many tails the Sword of Kusanagi, or Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi.
The moral of the story is, don't drink - it might be a trap to lop your head off. I would be one to say that, much like the legend, Susanoo has bested Orochimaru for good.
Together, these three items make up the Imperial Regalia of Japan.
Tengu
Most of us have all read the Uchiha/Tengu storyline. As stated, this has mostly been disproven since then, given that Kishimoto has aimed the story in a different direction. It has to be said, however - I surely can't be the only person who noticed that Susanoo is, for all intents and purposes, a giant ethereal tengu. They are often noted for their long noses... was the tengu artistry on the walls of the Uchiha Temple actually a reference to the most powerful jutsu of the Mangekyou Sharingan?
References in the Naruto storyline
* Sword of Totsuka - Susanoo's weapon. Note that in Japanese mythology, as stated above, this was actually Izanagi's sword, not Susanoo's.
* Mirror of Yata - Susanoo's shield. This mirror is one of the three sacred treasures of Japan.
* Beads of Yasakani - not yet referenced. However, Itachi can be seen multiple times wearing a similar item - look at chapter 383, pg15 to see what I mean. This necklace is one of the three sacred treasures of Japan. It could also be argued that Naruto's necklace could be it, but his is not made up of actual beads, which is incorrect.
* Sword of Kusanagi - this sword is located within Orochimaru. This sword is one of the three sacred treasures of Japan.
* Tsukiyomi - Itachi's first jutsu using the Mangekyou Sharingan.
* Amaterasu - Itachi's penultimate jutsu using the Mangekyou Sharingan. The hottest of flames, perfect for the goddess of the sun.
* Susanoo - Itachi's ultimate jutsu using the Mangekyou Sharingan. Takes the form of a tengu.
----
If anyone has anything further to add (be it just comments or further knowledge/speculation), go right ahead. It's what this thread's for, after all.
Also note that I wanted to title the thread -SPOILER- Japanese Mythology and the Naruto Universe - The Uchiha Clan because I wanted to make it the first in a series of understanding the Japanese mythology in the Narutoverse... but it wouldn't accept a thread title that long.
Made it this far? Let's get to reading, then!
It has to be said. Most of the Uchiha/Tengu ideas (as referenced here) have been disproven. Kishimoto has taken the series in a couple of different directions than what was thought up at the time of this thread.
Having said that... it's actually interesting how many hints this person managed to pick up on. Because even if everything the user said didn't come true... they managed to touch on a lot of the things Kishimoto DID put into the story. (Note: I am aware that there is other mythology in the Naruto story... kitsune/Kyuubi being one of them... but this isn't about that. If further history and folklore comes about, that may be worth adding at a later stage... but there isn't enough at this stage.)
Japanese Mythology and the Uchiha Clan
There are many myths and ideas that are present in the Naruto story surrounding Itachi and Sasuke, some more than others:
* Izanagi and Izanami, the father and mother of the gods
* Izanagi's journey to the Underworld
* The Imperial Regalia of Japan
* The Three Noble Children - Amaterasu, Tsukiyomi and Susanoo
* Yamata-no-Orochi
* Tengu
The main reason this thread is so long is because, basically, all the above stories are linked, and are referenced during Naruto.
The Legend of Izanagi and Izanami
This myth is not fully expanded upon in the Naruto story. However, there are mentions to it, when Itachi defeats Orochimaru in the Itachi/Sasuke fight - chapter 392, pg 16.
In Japanese mythology, Izanagi and Izanami were the first two divine beings to be created (similar to Adam and Eve, I guess... though they were fully divine beings, and not just man). Izanami, the woman, gave birth to the islands of Japan, as well as many other deities. While giving birth to one of these deities - Kagu-tsuchi, the god of fire - Izanami was burned and killed. In his grief, Izanagi drew his sword - the Sword of Totsuka - and beheaded his son with it.
As an epilogue, Kagu-tsuchi's blood gave way to the creation of eight more deities. While that part of the story and it's relevance to the Naruto storyline ends here, the next chapter in Izanagi's life is also important to the Narutoverse...
Izanagi's Journey to the Underworld
While the myth itself has not fully manifested in Naruto, it does prove important. It could also be argued that Naruto's quest to return Sasuke to Konoha Village may parallel Izanagi... but I'm one to think it's not based on a legend, and is just Naruto missing his baby boy. Lol.
This story follows a similar plot to Orpheus and Eurydice. Depressed and alone from losing his wife to death, Izanagi ventured to the the darkness of the underworld to retrieve his beloved Izanami. He finally found her, and asked her to return to the world of the living. He had not seen her face, and it was only when he finally laid eyes upon her sleeping that she looked horrid and mutated. Disgusted, Izanagi fled the underworld.
After he fled, he cleansed his body in a river. As he washed his face, the waters from his cleansing gave birth to the three Noble Children.
First, from his right eye was born Tsukiyomi, god of the moon.
Second, from his left eye was born Amaterasu, goddess of the sun.
Finally, from his nose was born Susanoo, god of the sea and storms.
These, obviously, are the names of the Mangekyou Sharingan techniques used by Itachi.
The Three Noble Children/The Imperial Regalia of Japan
The Imperial Regalia of Japan are three sacred treasures - a sacred mirror, a necklace of sacred jewels, and a legendary sword - and are symbols of the emperor's divinity and legitimate rule over Japan. But first, a little backstory...
For a time, the three sibling gods - Amaterasu, Tsukiyomi and Susanoo - lived in peace. There was rivalry between the three, but there was peace. One day, however, Susanoo was challenged by Amaterasu and bested. In a fit of rage, the storm god lay waste to his sister's lands; he destroyed her rice fields and threw the corpse of a skinned horse at her maidens, killing one of them. In grief and anger, Amaterasu hid herself in a cave (known as the Heavenly Cave), and sealed it shut. Without the sun goddess, the world was plunged into darkness and began to die. </backstory>
A plan was devised to lure Amaterasu from the cave. The gods hung a large mirror, the Yata no Kagami, from a tree outside of the Heavenly Cave. Ame-no-Uzume, goddess of merriment, began to dance (it was a sexy dance. Lol). The other gods began to cheer loudly and laughed, which stirred the curiosity of Amaterasu who, interested in what was going on outside, opened and left the cave. When she asked the other gods what was going on, one replied there was a new goddess; when she asked who, he pointed to the mirror. Amaterasu was startled by her own reflection, something she had never seen before. Distracted, the gods closed the cave off, so she couldn't hide again.
Also, according to legend, a necklace of sacred beads, the Yasakani no Magatama, was also hung from the tree. Amaterasu claimed this necklace, which also eventually became one of the items she passed down to the first emperor of Japan.
The third item, however, has a special story of its own...
Yamata-no-Orochi
I would be one to believe that this particular myth proves once and for all that Orochimaru is dead. Anyone more familiar with this myth would've seen it much sooner. :-)
According to Japanese legend, after Amaterasu had emerged from her cave and brought her radiance back, the gods were angry at Susanoo and banished him from Heaven. Exiled, Susanoo descended to the earth, where he met an elderly couple. An eight-headed serpent, Yamata-no-Orochi, also known as Orochi, had devoured seven of their eight daughters. Susanoo, in exchange for marriage to the last daughter, agreed to slay Orochi. Using large amounts of sake to intoxicate the serpent, Susanoo beheaded the beast. As he proceeded to slice the tails off the beast as well, he found within one of the serpent's many tails the Sword of Kusanagi, or Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi.
The moral of the story is, don't drink - it might be a trap to lop your head off.
I would be one to say that, much like the legend, Susanoo has bested Orochimaru for good.Together, these three items make up the Imperial Regalia of Japan.
Tengu
Most of us have all read the Uchiha/Tengu storyline. As stated, this has mostly been disproven since then, given that Kishimoto has aimed the story in a different direction. It has to be said, however - I surely can't be the only person who noticed that Susanoo is, for all intents and purposes, a giant ethereal tengu. They are often noted for their long noses... was the tengu artistry on the walls of the Uchiha Temple actually a reference to the most powerful jutsu of the Mangekyou Sharingan?
References in the Naruto storyline
* Sword of Totsuka - Susanoo's weapon. Note that in Japanese mythology, as stated above, this was actually Izanagi's sword, not Susanoo's.
* Mirror of Yata - Susanoo's shield. This mirror is one of the three sacred treasures of Japan.
* Beads of Yasakani - not yet referenced. However, Itachi can be seen multiple times wearing a similar item - look at chapter 383, pg15 to see what I mean. This necklace is one of the three sacred treasures of Japan. It could also be argued that Naruto's necklace could be it, but his is not made up of actual beads, which is incorrect.
* Sword of Kusanagi - this sword is located within Orochimaru. This sword is one of the three sacred treasures of Japan.
* Tsukiyomi - Itachi's first jutsu using the Mangekyou Sharingan.
* Amaterasu - Itachi's penultimate jutsu using the Mangekyou Sharingan. The hottest of flames, perfect for the goddess of the sun.
* Susanoo - Itachi's ultimate jutsu using the Mangekyou Sharingan. Takes the form of a tengu.
----
If anyone has anything further to add (be it just comments or further knowledge/speculation), go right ahead. It's what this thread's for, after all.
As it turned out, once I found the starting point, I eventually found information on the Sword of Totsuka too, so victories all around.