The heart of Kojiki (2) 2017/04/10

To build a nation

 

Most nations have their own mythologies how their brave strong ancestors built their nations.

Usually, almighty God appeared and created natures and animals. After necessary circumstances had been prepared, God created humans. All natures and animals were just for humans to live comfortably. Then severe conflicts occurred between tribes and especially strong hero appeared and built a nation after fierce battles.

 

On the contrary, according to Kojiki, natures appeared first in Japan, then, 5 Gods (Something Great ) appeared one by one. Then, 7 Gods followed and among them,  6th and the 7th Gods made a couple and gave birth to many important Gods including Amaterasu Omikami, the founder of the Imperial family.

There are uncountable numbers of Gods in Japan and these Gods are not almighty or not in a position to control natures but to live in corporation with natures.

Japanese first Emperor, Jinmu is 6 generation’s descendant of Amaterasu Omikami and current Emperor is 125th generations after Jinmu.

There is no clear borderline between Gods and humans in Japanese history.

 

Japanese islands are off from Eurasia continent and there is huge Pacific Ocean in the east. Therefore Japan has been, to some extent, isolated from other world. It was natural to have a united kingdom surrounded by seas with single culture, single people and single language.

There were no brave heroes who fought to build a nation and little records of war to get power.

According to Kojiki, Jinmu Emperor came up from south-western Kyushu Island through western part of main land and reached to the central part of Japan, Yamato district. Jinmu encountered a resistance from local tribes there but controlled the area successfully and built  Yamato Kingdom.

There are only few records of wars in Kojiki and presumably Japan built a nation, relatively in peaceful and natural way.

 Jinmu’s conquest of Yamato district