Mythology & Folklore

Story: The Labors of Yamato - The Dragon Story source: Romance of Old Japan, Part I: Mythology and Legend by E. W. Champney and F. Champney (1917). Japanese Dragon After regaining the Sacred Sword, Yamato encountered a siren. The siren sang and seemed to confuse Yamato, putting him in some sort of trance. He then discovered the city in panic. A terrific dragon had descended upon the land. Yamato went to investigate, and there he saw it. Susa-no-wo, Dragon of the Sea was hurtling towards him. A battle between Yamato and the dragon raged. He was able to subdue Susa-no-wo. Yamato told his beloved Tacibana "No longer shall our arch-enemy defile the land. Hereafter hath he power alone over the sea.” However, one day, Yamato exclaimed that he feared Susa-no-wo no longer, for he had conquered him in land, and so he would conquer him in the sea. At his word the Sea God raged. At his words, the Sea God raised mighty tempest.  Out of the depth...

Story: Izanagi and Izanami Story Source: Romance of Old Japan, Part I: Mythology and Legend by E. W. Champney and F. Champney (1917). Izanagi and Izanami, source: Wikimedia This is a creation story which I really enjoyed.  Story Plot: In the beginning, all was gloomy chaos. Out of the infinite void rose a cloud, floating on the sea of space. Out of the depths of the cloud, a bud sprouted and an iris flowered rose into the air and to the Taka-ma-no-hara (high plain of heaven). Once it bloomed, it became the bright shining sun. At the same time, a night-blooming flower fluttered downward from the firmament and became the moon. From the heart of the blossoms sprouted a score of gods. Among the gods were Izanagi (the powerful-God-of-the-Air), and Izanami (Fair-Goddess-of-the-Clouds). From Izanagi and Izanami, issued all life. Near the beginning of time, Izanagi, the God of the Heavens, took for wife Izanami, the beautiful Goddess of Love. Fr...