In Japan, the emperor is perceived as a symbol of national unity and a figure who is formally the head of state. Although these functions, according to the constitution, are predominantly representative.
However, the institution of the emperor for Japan is sacred, and the title itself means "heavenly master." The first Emperor Jimmu, who is in second place in the Shinto pantheon of gods, enjoys special reverence.
Vicar of the Gods
To date, only the head of Japan, Akihito, has the official imperial title in the world. This country is the oldest hereditary monarchy. According to the legends, its history dates back to 660 BC. e.
There is an opinion that the founder of both the monarchy and the state itself in Japan was Emperor Jimmu. He is considered a descendant of Amaterasu Omikami herself, the great goddess who illuminates the heavens. In Shinto, she personifies the sun, isinventor of the loom, silk technology and rice cultivation.
Relics of Amaterasu
How did the descendants of the solar goddess end up in our world? According to legend, to the islands where Japan is today, Amaterasu sent her grandson named Niningi. He was supposed to be the ruler here.
The Goddess provided her grandson with three important relics: a sword, a bronze mirror, an ornament with precious stones. But these were not just things, but symbols of what a conscientious ruler needs. These are necessary attributes such as wisdom, prosperity and courage.
Yatagarasu Guide
The grandson of the goddess Nininga, over time, handed over these artifacts to his grandson, who was Jimmu, the first emperor of Japan. The new ruler, armed with the received sword, went on an aggressive campaign from the island of Kyushu, where his grandfather descended from heaven, to the east, to the island of Honshu.
At the same time, he had a guide - a three-toed raven Yatagarasu. This mythical creature in Japanese mythology symbolized the expression of the will of the gods.
In other words, it emphasized that the establishment of imperial power on the islands took place not just at the request of people, but at the will of the gods. According to legend, this campaign took place in 667-660. BC e. Thus, Jimma is considered in Japan as the founder of the state.
Historical information
According to researchers, ancient legends about Jimmu's campaign are a reflection of migratoryprocesses of Japanese tribes, as well as the formation of their unions. Although modern science attributes this process to a later period.
Analysis of archaeological excavations shows that the emergence of the Yamato state dates back to the turn of the 3rd-4th centuries. n. e. Whereas in the 7th century BC. e. nowhere in Japan were the rudiments of statehood observed, primitive relations existed everywhere. Nevertheless, it is with Emperor Jimmu that the Day of the Foundation of the State is directly connected, which will be discussed in more detail below.
Resourceful Ruler
According to legend, Jimmu was an unusually resourceful person. When he failed for a long time to annex the province of Iso to his own possessions, in a dream the gods suggested to him one recipe. It was necessary to make several jugs from clay from the sacred mountain, which would miraculously lead to victory.
The problem was that the mountain was in enemy territory, so it was very difficult to take clay from it. And then the emperor Jimmu was offered a way out: to dress two warriors as beggars, so that they would penetrate into enemy possessions in this form. As a result, the jugs were made, and the victory was won.
Worship of the people
Emperor of Japan Jimmu, as a descendant of the goddess Amaterasu, is the object of worship of Shinto supporters. He is revered as one of the supreme deities, immediately following the goddess of the sun. Several temples have been erected in his honor, and his mausoleum is also a sacred place for all Japanese.
Interesting fact: onFor a long period, the mausoleum was considered lost. But thanks to the information gleaned from the epic "Kojiki" (the largest monument of ancient Japanese literature), his whereabouts still managed to be discovered. Anyone can visit the surroundings of this structure, but it will not be possible to get inside, as a strict ban has been imposed on this.
It should be noted that the divine Jimmu has other titles:
- The first ruler of China.
- Young lord of sacred foods.
- The Prince of Rice descending from heaven.
The very name of Jimmu is translated as "divine warrior". And as a child, the emperor's name was Sano.
Kigensetsu Festival
This is one of the most famous Japanese holidays associated with the accession to the throne of Emperor Jimmu. Its date was calculated on the basis of data contained in ancient legends. The Founding of the State was established in 1872
When Jimmu's accession to the throne turned 2600 years old, that is, in 1940, the Japanese government signed an agreement with Germany and Italy, called the Tripartite (Berlin Pact). It provided for the delimitation of territories between these countries and the reign of a new world order, where Japan was destined for the leading role in Asia.
The celebration of the round date was used by official propaganda as a justification for aggression against the peoples of Asia.
