Takamimusubi no Mikoto - Takamimusubi no Mikoto

Japanese: 高皇産霊尊 - たかみむすひのみこと

A god in Japanese mythology. In the Kojiki, he is written as Takamimusubi no Kami, and is also known by the alias Takagi no Kami. The "musu" in his name represents the power of plant creation and luxuriance, so it is thought that he originally deified the power of plant creation. The pronunciation of "musubi" has become more vague over time. In the Kojiki, he is written at the beginning as one of the three gods of creation (the three gods who control the beginning of things) along with Amenominakanushi no Kami and Kamimusubi no Kami. In Japanese mythology, this god occupies an important position as a key god of the heavenly world, and in terms of lineage, he is the maternal grandfather of Ninigi no Mikoto. Incidentally, the idea that the imperial ancestor (the ancestral deity of the imperial family) is Amaterasu Omikami is widespread in the general public today, but a close examination of the traditions in the Kojiki and Nihon shoki reveals that the original imperial ancestor was Takamimusubi, and it seems that Amaterasu was placed in that position relatively close to the time when the Kojiki and Nihon shoki were compiled. For example, in the main text of the Nihon Shoki, from the subjugation of the earthly world to the descent of the heavenly grandson, Amaterasu is never seen except in genealogical articles, and the heavenly world is presided over by Takamimusuhi. On the other hand, in one of the separate writings (separate traditions), contrary to the main text, only Amaterasu is depicted, and Takamimusuhi does not appear at all. Also, in the Kojiki, the two gods are almost always standing side by side and giving orders. Of these, the traditions centered on Takamimusuhi are recognized as the older type. In addition, various evidence, such as the nature of the rituals at the Imperial Court, suggests that Takamimusuhi was the ancestral god in the ancestral traditions originally passed down by the Imperial family. The other name, Takaki no Kami, literally means giant tree, and from the stories in which the name is used, it is a god who controls thunder. The fact that it is a giant tree is the result of the generative power of plants being greatly exerted, and since lightning also has the power to make crops grow, it is thought that it was syncretized with the god of "musuhi," who is the deification of the generative power of plants. <References> Akihide Mishina, "Various Issues in the Founding Myth," Noriki Kanda, "Takagi no Kami and Takamimusuhi" (Kojiki Society, ed., Kojiki Annual Report, No. 24)

(Noritaka Kanda)

Source: Asahi Japanese Historical Biography: Asahi Shimbun Publications Inc. About Asahi Japanese Historical Biography

Japanese:

日本神話の神。『古事記』では高御産巣日神と記し,また高木神という別名も用いる。神名の「むす」は植物の生成繁茂する力を表すところから,元来は植物の生成力を神格化したものと思われる。「むすび」と読むことがあるのは,時代が下って語尾が濁るようになったもの。『古事記』では天之御中主神,神産巣日神と合わせ造化3神(物事の出来始めを司る3柱の神)として冒頭に記される。この神は日本の神話のなかで,天上世界の枢要な神として重要な位置を占めており,血統としても瓊瓊杵尊の外祖父に当たる。ところで今日の世間一般では,皇祖神(天皇家の祖先神)を天照大神(アマテラスオオミカミ)とする観念が流布しているが,記紀の伝承群を精査すると本来の皇祖神はこのタカミムスヒであり,アマテラスがそこに位置づけられてくるのは,比較的記紀成立に近い時期と思われる。というのも,例えば『日本書紀』の本文では,地上世界の平定から天孫降臨に至るまで,アマテラスは系譜的な記事に名を記される以外,全く姿をみせず,天上世界はタカミムスヒの主宰するところとなっている。一方で一書(別伝)のひとつには,本文とは逆にアマテラスのみが描かれ,タカミムスヒが全く登場しないものがある。また『古事記』では,ほぼ両神が並び立って指令するのを常としている。そしてこれらのうち,タカミムスヒを中心とする伝承の方が,より古いタイプと認められている。そのほか,宮中の祭祀のあり方など様々な徴証から,天皇家の本来的に持ち伝えていた祖先伝承では,タカミムスヒが祖先神とされていたことが推測される。なお別名の高木神は文字通り巨木を意味し,その名の用いられた話からすると雷を使役する神。巨木であること自体,植物の生成力の大いに発揮された結果であり,雷にも穀物を生育させる力があることから,植物の生成力を神格化した「むすひ」の神と習合したものと思われる。<参考文献>三品彰英『建国神話の諸問題』,神田典城「高木神とタカミムスヒ』(古事記学会編『古事記年報』24号)

(神田典城)

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