Ame no Hohi

Ame no Hohi
The sun
Other names
  • Ame no Hohi no Mikoto (天之菩卑能命, 天菩比命, 天菩比神, 天穂日命, 天穂比命)
  • Ame no Fuhi no Mikoto (天乃夫比命)
Genealogy
Parents
SiblingsAme-no-oshihomimi (brother)

Amatsuhikone (brother) Ikutsuhikone (brother)

Kumanokusubi (brother)
ChildrenAme no Wakahiko, Ame-no-Hinadori, Takehi-Nateru

Ame no Hohi (天菩比神, 天穗日命,アメノホヒ, "Heavenly grain sun"),[1] also known as Ame no Fuhi (天乃夫比, アメノフヒ) is a male deity and the second son of sun goddess Amaterasu in Japanese mythology.[2][3] Izumo no Kuni no Miyatsuko or the historical rulers of Izumo and modern heads of Izumo-taisha and Izumo-taishakyo descend from him.[4][5]

Mythology

Oath between Amaterasu and Susanowo (based on the Kojiki)

Ame no Hohi is found in the main works of literature that record the mythology and the mythologized history of Japan. He is found in the both the Kojiki and the Nihon Shoki as Ame no Hohi no Mikoto (Kojiki: 天之菩卑能命, 天菩比命, 天菩比神; Nihon Shoki: 天穂日命). In the Izumo no Kuni Fudoki he is referred to as Ame no Fuhi no Mikoto (天乃夫比命).[6] He is also mentioned in the Engishiki by the name Ame no Hohi no Mikoto (天穂比命).

In some myths he was sent first to earth to rule after his brother Ame-no-oshihomimi refused the offer. However, when he didn't return after three years they sent another god to rule.[7]

Family

Ame no Hohi's sons are called Ame-no-Hinadori and Takehi-Nateru.[1] Ame no Hohi is believed to be the ancestor of the Izumo no Omi[8][page needed] as well as the priests of the Izumo and Sugawara clans.[9] Nomi no Sukune is said to be one of his descendants.[10] He is also believed to be the ancestor of the Haji clan.[11]

Worship

Ame no Hohi is worhsipped across Japan as a god of agriculture, ears of rice, sericulture, cotton fabric, and industry, among other things.

The Japanese version of this page lists the following shrines as being dedicated to Ame no Hohi:

Tagata Shrine is a shrine dedicated to Ame no Hohi.[12] He is also said to be enshrined at Kameido Tenjin Shrine.[13]

References

  1. ^ a b Brown, Delmer M.; Hall, John Whitney; Brown, Delmer Myers; Press, Cambridge University; Jansen, Marius B.; McCullough, William H.; Shively, Donald H.; Yamamura, Kozo; Duus, Peter (1988). The Cambridge History of Japan. Cambridge University Press. p. 346. ISBN 978-0-521-22352-2.
  2. ^ "Encyclopedia of Shinto - Home : Kami in Classic Texts : Amenohohi". eos.kokugakuin.ac.jp. Retrieved 2020-09-28.
  3. ^ "Encyclopedia of Shinto詳細". 國學院大學デジタルミュージアム (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2021-10-21. Retrieved 2021-09-04.
  4. ^ Ashkenazi, Michael (2003). Handbook of Japanese Mythology. ABC-CLIO. p. 84. ISBN 978-1-57607-467-1.
  5. ^ Zhong, Yijiang (2016-10-06). The Origin of Modern Shinto in Japan: The Vanquished Gods of Izumo. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4742-7109-7.
  6. ^ 中村, 啓信 (2015-06-25). 風土記 現代語訳付き (in Japanese). KADOKAWA. pp. 128, 306. ISBN 978-4-04-400119-3.
  7. ^ Roberts, Jeremy (2009). Japanese Mythology A to Z. Infobase. p. 5. ISBN 978-1-4381-2802-3.
  8. ^ Mason, Joseph Warren Teets (1939). The Spirit of Shinto Mythology. Fuzambo. p. 209. ASIN B00085CL4K.
  9. ^ Cali, Joseph; Dougill, John (2012-11-30). Shinto Shrines: A Guide to the Sacred Sites of Japan's Ancient Religion. University of Hawaii Press. p. 69. ISBN 978-0-8248-3775-4.
  10. ^ "Sumo". World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2021-09-04.
  11. ^ Cali, J.; Dougill, J. (2012). Shinto Shrines: A Guide to the Sacred Sites of Japan's Ancient Religion. University of Hawaii Press. p. 69. ISBN 978-0-8248-3775-4. Retrieved 2020-11-21.
  12. ^ Fr?d?ric, Louis; Louis-Frédéric (2002). Japan Encyclopedia. Harvard University Press. p. 922. ISBN 978-0-674-01753-5.
  13. ^ Cali, Joseph; Dougill, John (2012-11-30). Shinto Shrines: A Guide to the Sacred Sites of Japan's Ancient Religion. University of Hawaii Press. pp. 67–69. ISBN 978-0-8248-3775-4.