Ninigi-no-Mikoto

For the asteroid, see 10619 Ninigi.

Ninigi-no-Mikoto (Japanese: 瓊瓊杵尊) is a deity in Japanese mythology.^[1] (-no-Mikoto here is an honorific title applied to the names of Japanese gods; Ninigi is the specific god's name.) Grandson of the sun goddess Amaterasu,^[2] Ninigi is regarded according to Japanese mythology as the great-grandfather of Japan’s first emperor, Emperor Jimmu.^[3][1][4] The three sacred treasures brought with Ninigi from Heaven and divine ancestry established the Japanese Imperial Family.^[5][6]

Ninigi-no-Mikoto
Genealogy
Parents	Ame-no-oshihomimi (father) Takuhadachiji-hime (mother)
Consorts	Konohanasakuya-hime (wife)
Children	Hoderi, Hosuseri, Hoori, Hikohohodemi, Tamanoya

The three generations of kami starting with Ninigi are sometimes referred to as the three generations of Hyūga, they are said to represent a transitional period between the heavenly kami and the first emperor.^[7]

Name and etymology

Ninigi-no-mikoto statue at Kunimigaoka Viewpoint

Ninigi-no-Mikoto (瓊瓊杵尊), means "The Great God Ninigi." Another name of his is Ame-nigishi-kuni-nigishi-amatsuhiko-hiko-ho-no-ninigi-no-Mikoto (天邇岐志国邇岐志天津日高日子番能邇邇芸命) or "The Great God Ninigi, of the Imperial State, The Child of the Sun of Many Talents." Ninigi is speculated to be translated as "beloved jeweled mallet."^[1]

Myths

Birth

Ninigi was born from Ame-no-oshihomimi and Takuhadachiji-hime. Takamimusubi treated him with special affection and nurtured him with great regard.^[8]

Sent to rule

Depending on the version Amaterasu sends Ninigi to rule either after his father refuses the offer, after several failures, or to replace Ōkuninushi after his troubled rule.^{[9][10][page needed]}

In many stories, Ninigi receives three gifts. The sword Kusanagi no Tsurugi, the mirror Yata no Kagami, and the jewel Yasakani no Magatama.^{[11][12][page needed]}

Descent to earth

Further information: Tenson kōrin

Ninigi's descent to earth appears in both the Nihon Shoki and the Kojiki. In an earlier version of the Nihon Shoki Ninigi descends to earth unaccompanied.^[13]: 59

But in a later version of the Nihon Shoki and the Kojiki, other gods accompany Ninigi’s journey to earth; who accompanies him and how many depends on the version. But it usually includes the following gods: Uzume, Sarutahiko, Ame-no-Koyane, Futodama, Ishikori dome, and Tamanoya; many of these deities would later become the ancestors of many clans like Sarume clan [ja], Nakatomi clan, Shinabe clan, and Inbe clan.^{[13]: 58–59}

Ninigi tries to go to earth but he is blocked by Sarutahiko. Uzume then persuades Sarutahiko to let Ninigi pass.^[14][15]

In most versions Ninigi descents to earth landing on to Mt. Takachiho located on the island of Kyushu in Kagoshima Prefecture where Ninigi built his palace.^{[16][17][18][19][page needed]}

Loss of immortality

One story involves Ninigi looking for a wife; he meets this mountain god named Oyamatsumi, Oho-Yama presents Ninigi his two daughters Konohana and Iwa-Naga. However, Ninigi rejects Iwa-Naga for her looks and is cursed for rejecting her. Now he and his descendants will live shorter lives.^{[20][21][page needed]}

Birth of Ninigi’s children

Soon after Ninigi and Konohanasakuya-hime got married, Konohanasakuya-hime got pregnant. Ninigi accused his wife of adultery. In many versions his wife decided to go in to a hut and set the hut on fire to prove that she was a faithful wife. Konohanasakuya-hime and her sons survived, she gave birth to three sons named Hoderi, Hoori, and Hosuseri.^{[22][page needed]}

One variation says that Konohanasakuya-hime gave birth to Hoderi in the hut and had the other two children later.^[23]

Death

Later on, Ninigi died and was buried at E no Goriyo.^[1]

Family

Further information: Family Tree of Japanese deities

• v
• t
• e

Amaterasu[24]

Takamimusubi[25][26][27]

Ame-no-oshihomimi[24]

Takuhadachiji-hime[25][26][27][28][29][30]

Ōyamatsumi[31][32]

Ninigi-no-Mikoto[28][29][30][24][33] （天孫）

Konohanasakuya-hime[31][32]

Watatsumi[34][35][36][37]

Hoderi[31][32][38]

Hosuseri[31][32] （海幸彦）

Hoori[31][32][33] （山幸彦）

Toyotama-hime[34]

Utsushihikanasaku [ja][35][36][37][39]

Furutama-no-mikoto [ja]

Tensori no Mikoto [ja][38]

Ugayafukiaezu[33][40]

Tamayori-hime[34]

Azumi people[39]

（Owari clan Yamato clan)

Hayato people[38]

Itsuse[40]

Inahi[40]

Mikeiri[40]

Jimmu[40]

Ahiratsu-hime[41]

Imperial House of Japan

Tagishimimi[42][43][44][41]

• Red background is female.
• Green background means groups
• Bold letters are three generations of Hyuga.

Many versions have Amaterasu and Takamimusubi as Ninigi's grandparents, and the son of Ame-no-oshihomimi and Yorozuhatahime as his parents.^[45] Ninigi is said to be the nephew to Futotama and Ame-no-Koyane.^{[46][page needed]}

Ninigi is in the Three generations of Hyuga a time period between Tenson kōrin and Jimmu's Eastern Expedition.^[47]

Children

Most stories state that Ninigi had three sons Hoderi, Hosuseri, and Hoori. However, other ancient Japanese texts say that he had four sons and lists "Hikohohodemi no mikoto" as the fourth child of Ninigi. However, it isn’t clear if Hikohohodemi is a fourth child or another name of Hoori.^[1]

According to Nihongi, Tamanoya is a offspring of Ninigi.^[19]

Worship of Ninigi

Shrines

Ninigi has very few temples where he is enshrined.^[48]

Shrines like Amatsu Shrine and Kirishima-jingu Shrine are dedicated to Ninigi.^[49][50] At Ise shrine, Ninigi is said to be worshipped with Kunitokotachi.^[51]

See also

• Tamanooya-no-Mikoto

References

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2. Borgen, Robert; Ury, Marian (April 1990). "Readable Japanese Mythology: Selections from Nihon shoki and Kojiki" (PDF). The Journal of the Association of Teachers of Japanese. 24 (1). American Association of Teachers of Japanese: 61–97. doi:10.2307/489230. JSTOR 489230. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
3. Willis, Roy, ed. (2006). World Mythology: The Illustrated Guide. New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 114, 116, 120. ISBN 978-0-19530752-8.
4. Huffman, James L. (2010). Japan in World History. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 13.
5. Sykes, Egerton (1993). Kendall, Alan (ed.). Who's Who Non-Classical Mythology. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 141.
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9. Ashkenazi, Michael (2003). "Ninigi-no-Mikoto". Handbook of Japanese mythology. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-CLIO. p. 222. ISBN 9781576074671.
10. Roberts, Jeremy (2009). Japanese Mythology A to Z. Infobase Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4381-2802-3.
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23. worldhistory.org
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36. https://www.mlit.go.jp/tagengo-db/common/001562761.pdf
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38. Tsugita, Masaki (2001) [1977]. 古事記 （上） 全訳注 [Complete Translated and Annotated Kojiki, Part 1]. Vol. 38. 講談社学術文庫. p. 205. ISBN 4-06-158207-0.
39. "Ofune Matsuri – A Unique Festival in Nagano, Japan! - Festivals & Events｜COOL JAPAN VIDEOS｜A Website With Information About Travel, Culture, Food, History, and Things to Do in Japan". cooljapan-videos.com. Retrieved 2023-12-06.
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48. RLE: Japan Mini-Set F: Philosophy and Religion (4 vols). Routledge. 2021-03-18. p. 324. ISBN 978-1-136-90356-4.
49. "Amatsu Shrine | Discover Itoigawa". discover-itoigawa.com. April 2019. Retrieved 2020-09-30.
50. Organization, Japan National Tourism. "Kirishima-jingu Shrine | Kagoshima Attractions | Travel Japan | JNTO". Japan Travel. Retrieved 2020-09-30.
51. Teeuwen, Mark; Breen, John (2017-02-09). A Social History of the Ise Shrines: Divine Capital. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 132. ISBN 978-1-4742-7281-0.