The history and mythology of Japan are teeming with legendary tales, figures, and artifacts.
Among these revered symbols is the Kusanagi no Tsurugi, a sword that holds a place of honor not just as a weapon of great power, but as an emblem of the nation’s soul and history.
Although the sword was originally known as Ame-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi (Sword of the Gathering Clouds of Heaven), it was later renamed to Kusanagi no Tsurugi (Grass Cutting Sword).
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The Origin of the Kusanagi no Tsurugi
The Kusanagi no Tsurugi makes its first appearance in the ancient chronicles of the “Kojiki” and the “Nihon Shoki” – two of Japan’s oldest records.
The sword’s origin story begins with the storm god Susanoo’s expulsion from Heavens, due to his chaotic behavior.
As a form of penance, Susanoo descended upon the earthly realm and soon reached the province of Izumo.
Here, he encountered a grieving family of kunitsukami (earthly deities), who were distraught over the loss of seven of their eight daughters to an eight-headed serpent, known as Yamata no Orochi.
Moved by their plight, Susanoo made a pact with the family: in exchange for the last daughter’s hand in marriage, he would defeat Orochi.
To bait the serpent, Susanoo transformed the last daughter into a comb for safekeeping and set out eight vats of sake, one for each of Orochi’s heads. The dragon, allured by the intoxicating scent, drank from the vats and fell into a deep slumber. Seizing the opportunity, Susanoo decapitated each of the dragon’s heads and tails. As he was slicing the fourth tail, his blade struck against something hard.
It’s said that from within the tail, he extracted the legendary sword, naming it the Ame-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi, and later giving it to Amaterasu to settle a prior grievance.
The Grass Cutting Blade
However, the sword’s story doesn’t end there.
Later on, centuries later, it found its way into the hands of the great warrior Yamato Takeru.
The story states that during a hunting expedition, a treacherous warlord lured and entrapped him in an open grassland, and it was during this dire moment that the prince utilized the sword’s mystical power to control the wind.
By slashing the sword, he directed the flames back towards his adversaries, saving himself from a fiery demise.
Grateful for its seemingly divine intervention, Yamato Takeru renamed the sword “Kusanagi no Tsurugi”, which roughly translates to “Grass-Cutting Sword”.
Following Yamato Takeru’s death, the Kusanagi no Tsurugi’s reputation grew, and it was later incorporated as one of the Three Sacred Treasures of Japan.
The Imperial Regalia of Japan
The Sacred Treasures of Japan are the imperial regalia of Japan, consisting of the sword (Kusanagi no Tsurugi), the mirror (Yata no Kagami), and the jewel (Yasakani no Magatama).
These objects are symbols of the emperor’s legitimacy and are said to be of direct lineage to the sun goddess, Amaterasu.
The Modern Age
Today, the sword is believed to be housed at the Atsuta Shrine in Nagoya, but it is not displayed to the public, so it’s exact shape and form cannot be verified at this point in time.
Featured image credit: Artelino, Wikipedia
