Nara Period The Nara Period – a time in classic Japan’s ancient history, ran through the years 710 to 794 AD. It was also when Empress Genmei established Heijo Kyo as capital, which is today’s Nara. An exception was from the years 740 to 745, when the capital was again, moved. The area remained the […]
Who Was the God the Samurai Worshipped?
The God the Samurai Worshipped Also known as Yahata no kami, the name Hachiman can be traced back to a prehistoric place in Kyushu. It means “God of Eight Banners”. These heavenly banners signaled the birth of the 15th emperor of Japan, Emperor Ōjin. Moreover, Hachiman is the syncretic divinity of war and archery. For […]
The Most Remarkable Japanese Mythology and Legends
Japanese Mythology The mythology of Japan has an epic history (including that of the Samurai!), beginning from 2,000 years ago. It embraces two major religious traditions, the Shinto and Buddhist traditions; moreover, folk religion was used as an agricultural base. Japanese mythology contains quite a few numbers of gods, goddesses, and spirits. In fact, most […]