600 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1891. 



The original sacred mirror made in lieaven now rests iu a box, wrap- 

 ped in many folds of silk, iu the principal shrine at Ise, a most precious 

 emblem of the deity. The silk wrappings are never removed, but as 

 they become worn new ones are added outside. This mirror bas a flaw 

 which was caused by striking it against a rock when it was held before 

 the goddess. How it came to its present place we shall learn further on. 



Counteri)arts of tliis mirror are to be found in nearly every Shinto 

 shrine; but, contrary to the usual belief of travelers, the mirror is not 

 always visible in Shinto temples. The sacred emblem, whether it be a 

 mirror or something else, is always hidden from sight in the purest 

 Shinto shrines. 



THE SUSANO MYTH — THE SACRED SW^ORD OF ISE. 



We must now follow the adventures of Susano. He was subse- 

 quently sent by Amaterasu to visit the goddess of Food.* She set 

 before him some food, but he deemed it unclean, and, with his usual 

 inconsiderate impetuosity, he forthwith cut oft' her head and reported 

 the occurrence to Amaterasu. From the body of the deity grew va- 

 rious grains and seeds of every kind, mulberry-trees, and silkworms, 

 and all these things were afterwards grown in the field of heaven, and 

 from thence, iu due time, transmitted to Japan. 



Finally Sasano was banished from heaven and took up his abode in 

 Idzumo,t in the west of Japan. His adventure there with the great 

 eight-headed serpent is known to every Japanese child. There was an 

 old couple who had eiglit daughters, seven of whom had been devoured 

 in succession by a. serpent which liad eight heads and eight tails, and 

 whose body covered seven hills. They besought Susaiio to kill the 

 monster lest it should take the last daughter, and he agreed to do so if 

 he might afterwards make the daughter his wife. The parents con- 

 sented, and he immediately transformed the daughter into a fine-tooth 

 comb, which he stuck in his hair. He then directed them to j)repare 

 eight vats of liquor. When the serpent came it i»lunged a head into 

 each vat and drank, then all the heads laid down and slept. Then 

 Susano killed it, but when he tried to cut the middle tail his sword 

 broke, and be found within the tail a great sword, which he carried to 

 the Sun-goddess. This is the sacred sword of the Ise shrines. It Avas 



* She is known as O-getsu-bime, Ukc-mochi-no-kami, and Toyo-uke-biuie. Her 

 shrine is at Ise. 



t There are families in Japan who trace their ancestry to Susano iu Idznuio. This 

 province is the part of Japan wliicli seems to have been the earliest home of the 

 Japanese. It is the scene of their ancient traditions and vras perhaps their home 

 until the famous Jimmu Tenno, in the seventh century B. c, began his march to 

 Yamato, subdning savage deities and people on his way. The antiquarian would 

 doubtless find many interesting relics in the ancient province, which offers an 

 almost unopened tield for exploration. My friend Mr. Gowland found there some of 

 the finest and most remarkable tombs, quite different from any elsewhere known in 

 Japan, but his time was too limited for extended observations. 



