Imperial Treasures – Symbols of Japan

Known as the Sanshu no Jingi 三種の神器, the Imperial Treasures of Japan consist of a sword , Kusanagi no Tsurugi (草薙劍), a Yasakani no Magatama jewel (八尺瓊曲玉) and a Yata no Kagami mirror (八汰鏡) which represent the three main virtues of Japan connected to the Buddhist ideal: courage (the sword), wisdom (the mirror) and benevolence (the jewel)

Since the 7th century, these objects have been part of the Emperor’s coronation ceremony, being presented by a group of Shinto priests. This is a private ceremony where only the Emperor and some priests can see these objects. There are no photographs of the objects, only artistic interpretations of them.

These objects have a legendary origin closely related to Japanese folklore and are symbols of the divinity of the emperor as a descendant of Amaterasu, the main deity of Shintoism. Due to this, the location of these objects is not known with certainty although it is believed that the sword is in the Atsuta Temple in Nagoya , the jewel in Tokyo (the Imperial Palace) and the mirror in the Ise Shrine in the Prefecture of Tokyo. wed .

The Yata no Kagami is a mirror believed to have been made by Ishikoridome (Ishigoriba no Mikoto) to lure the sun goddess Amaterasu out of her cave and return light to the world.

Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi is the official name of the sword which is also called ‘ Kusanagi no Tsurugi ‘. This is a sword that came from the tail of Yamata no Orochi , whom Susano had defeated at the upper reaches of the Hinokawa River in Izumo (present-day Yasugi region, Shimane prefecture)

It is said that Yamato Takeru (Yamato Takeru no Mikoto) received the sword and when he was surrounded by fire while moving, he cut the grass around him and used the sword when he set the grass on fire with flint. The sword was called ‘ Kusanagi no tsurugi ‘ (literally Kusanagi’s sword) because it leveled grass to escape danger.

Yasakani no magatama (comma-shaped jewel) was made by Tamayasu no Mikoto during Iwato-gakure (when Amaterasu hid in the cave). It was hung on the Sakaki tree along with the Yata no Kagami (mirror) for Amaterasu to come out of. the cave when seeing the jewel and its reflection in the mirror.