Japanese mythology: discovering similarities with other world cultures

Japanese mythology has several elements similar to other world cultures. One of the most obvious similarities is found in the story of the Great Flood , which also appears in Greek mythology and in the Judeo-Christian tradition. In Japan, this story is told in the myth of Toyoke , who built a ship to survive the deluge . Although the Japanese version is different from other cultures, the central theme is the same.

Another example of similarity is found in the figure of the dragon . In Japanese mythology, the dragon is called Ryu and is a sacred creature that represents good fortune . In other cultures, such as Chinese and European, the dragon also has an important role, often as a mythical figure that protects humans or as a feared and evil enemy.

The creation story also has similarities between Japanese and Greek mythologies. Both cultures believe that the world was created by a series of deities . In Japanese mythology, the god Izanami and Izanagi created the islands that make up Japan and the gods and goddesses that rule the world. In Greek mythology, the world was created by the gods of Olympus, led by Zeus.

Another interesting similarity is found in the figure of the god of death . In Japanese mythology, the god of death is called Shinigami and is depicted as a sinister and dark figure. In Egyptian mythology, the god of death is called Anubis and is depicted as a man with the head of a jackal. In Greek mythology, death is ruled by Hades , the god of the underworld.

Finally, Japanese mythology has a figure similar to that of the god Apollo from Greek mythology. The god Amaterasu is the goddess of the sun and is considered the most important in the Japanese pantheon . Amaterasu is known for her beauty and for being the protector of the emperor. In Greek mythology, Apollo is also the god of the sun and is considered one of the most important deities.

In Celtic mythology, the goddess Brigid was considered the patroness of poetry, healing, and metallurgy. Her story has similarities with the Japanese goddess Amaterasu, since both are considered goddesses of the sun and light. Brigid was also associated with flames and was said to control fires. In Japan, fire is also a major force and is controlled by the goddess of fire, Kagutsuchi .

In Indian mythology, there is the story of the goddess Durga , who was created by the gods to defeat a demon named Mahishasura. Durga rode on a lion and fought the demon, eventually killing it. In Japanese mythology, the goddess Uzume , who is credited with the creation of kabuki, performed a dance to attract Amaterasu, who had left heaven and locked herself in a cave. Uzume danced in such a way that Amaterasu came out of the cave and restored light to the world.

In Egyptian mythology, the god Anubis is the protector of the dead and is represented with the head of a dog. In Japanese mythology, the god Omoikane is the god of wisdom and intelligence and is often depicted with the head of an ox. Both gods are related to death and are credited with protecting the dead .

These stories demonstrate that although the cultures may be different in many ways, they share similarities in their mythologies. The stories of the gods and goddesses often reflect a society’s values and concerns , and while the details may vary, the central themes are often universal.