This whirlwind of an exhibition takes us on a whistle-stop tour of the myths and folktales that influence Japan’s social consciousness today.
As an archipelago sitting on top of four tectonic plates, the Japanese islands have long had a turbulent relationship with nature. The Young V&A’s ‘Japan: Myths to Manga’ exhibition takes us through how Japanese myths about cosmology and the sea still pulse through Japanese everyday life in the 21st century. These ancient stories are full of tales about the dangerous- but also vitalising- nature of Japan’s landscapes. Here are some of the main tales that’s featured in the exhibition:
Cosmology
Also known as the Land of the Rising Sun (‘Nihon’), it’s no surprise that the sun features heavily in Japan’s folktales. And Amaterasu no Ōkami reigns over all as the goddess of the sun in Shintoism. Incidentally, she’s also believed to be the celestial ancestor to the current Japanese imperial family. In one legend, her brother the storm god Susanoo disrespects her in multiple ways and Amaterasu hides in a cave, plunging the world into darkness. 800 gods and goddesses gather outside with cockerels, a mirror and jewels in front of the cave and make such a festive ruckus that Amaterasu is lured out of her hiding place- bringing light back into the world.
Similarly, many of Japan’s festivals are based on different cosmologies. The annual Tanabata festival that happens around July and August for example, originates from the Chinese folklore ‘The Cowherder and the Weaver Princess’ and tells of two star-crossed lovers who are only reunited when the stars Vega and Altair line up. It’s also celebrated in China as the Qixi festival, and Korea as the Chilseok festival. And for the moon, the Otsukimi festivals around September and October honour the autumn moon as a Japanese variation of the Mid-Autumn festival in China.
The Sea
With no less than 14,000 islands surrounded by deep seas, active volcanoes and ever-shifting tectonic plates, Japan is besieged by a treacherous territory that gives to life as much as it takes away. And in Japanese mythology, the sea overflows with creatures that symbolise just that- the perils of the sea, but also its central role in everyday life. There are the Seven Gods of Luck (‘Shichi-fuku-jin’) who travel in a dazzling treasure ship and bring good fortune to those who pray to them. Among the seven, there’s Ebisu, the patron of fishermen; Bishamon, the patron of warriors; Daikoku, the patron of farmers; and Benten, the patron of the arts and femininity.
The sea creatures that symbolise the sea’s dangers, however, are perhaps even more visible in today’s society. The giant catfish (‘namazu’) for example, is synonymous with earthquakes in Japan as a mythological creature that loves thrashing in the mud. It’s been used as a mascot for earthquakes in disaster prevention apps and even road signs. And in Pokémon, Whiscash attacks its opponents by triggering earthquakes with its giant fin.
Mermaids on the other hand, are believed to bring both good and bad luck in Japanese folktales. The Amabie in particular, went viral on social media during the Covid-19 pandemic as an image that could ward off infectious diseases.
Explore Japanese culture and mythology further in Young V&A’s ‘Myths to Manga’ exhibition, open until 8th September 2024.
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