THE DRAGON GOD (DAI-JA) IX IDZUMO, JAPAN. 

 JAPANESE TALE 



By I. M. Casaxowicz 



Assistant Curator, Division of Old World Archeologii, United States National 



Miiseiun 



The Rev. J. C. Callioun Newton, President Emeritus of Kwansei 

 Gaknin, Union Methodist College at Kobe, Japan, in forwarding a 

 photograph of the dragon to the National Museum, wrote to F. W- 

 Hodge under date of April 27, 1921 : 



* * * I am sending under anotlier cover a description of the Dai Ja of 

 Idzumo Shrine, an ancient serpent god of that place. 



Some time ago an enlarged photograph of this serpent god was entrusted to 

 Bishop Walker R. Lambath, D. D., with the request that he deliver it to 

 Doctor Hough, and will you kindlj' pass over to him the enclosed description 

 of it. * * * [See plate.] 



An abstract of President Newton's description as far as it bears 

 on this serpent cult in Japan is as follows : 



Every year from ancient times all the gods in Japan assemble at "Ameno- 

 hizuminomiya," in Idzumo Province, for the marriage conference. This is 

 the reason why October is called in Japan, especially in Idzumo, the "Assem- 

 bling Month of the Gods." 



In this month a sea -god named " Wadatsuminokami " sends a white serpent 

 to the " Inasa Shrine " with his message. On his way the serpent is found by a 

 certain devotee and taken into the shrine, where he is made for that year the 

 pacifier of storms, fires, and floods. 



This legeiid is derived from the " Susano " mythology. Susanonomikoto, the 

 son of Isanakinomikoto, after his father's death goes to Idzumo. This terri- 

 toi'y was possessed by an old man and his wife named "Ashinadzuchi " and 

 '• Tenadzuchi," at this time. A terrible eight-headed dragon lived there, and 

 many young women were captured by him. So Susanonomikoto killed him 

 by giving him a strong drink, in order to save the old couple, and then he 

 married the daughter, named " Kushinada hime," of this old man and 

 woman. * * * 



At the present day there are two " Sliinto "' shrines in Idzumo, the one, 

 " Yaegaki Shrine," dedicated to Kushinada hime, the goddess of marriage, and 

 the other, " Kitsuki," dedicated to " Okuninushi," son of Susano Mikoto, the 

 god of fortune. 



Every year, from the 11th of October until the 17th, there is a great festival 

 in these two shrines, and during those days there was once a dreadful storm in 



No. 2587. — Proceedings U. S. National Museum, Vol. 67, Art. 15 

 uai 10—25 1 



