# The Mythology Of Japanese Monarchy

Japanese monarchy is somewhat different than the typical European
monarchies nowadays. In addition to being symbolic, it is also
mythological. Because it is the oldest one in the world. Arguably
it was founded in 660 BC and still continues now.

I will make an analogy with Romulus & Remus of Rome. Because they
founded Rome in 753 BC. Only a century of difference.



The ancient books Nihon Shoki and Kojiki are like The Aeneid by
Virgil and The Iliad & The Odyssey by Homer. Those are half mythology
half history books. The boundary between mythology and history is
too vague.

The sun deity Amaterasu Oomikami is like Zeus. She is the ruler of
the heaven like him. She is the ancestor of the royal family. The
sun in the Japanese national flag represents her.

While her parents and the creator deities Izanagi & Izanami are
also ancestors of the royal family, she is considered the direct
ancestor. Because she sent her grandson Ninigi to rule Japan. She
is still being worshipped in Ise Jingu.

The first Emperor Jimmu is like Aeneas. Who is the son of the Trojan
prince Anchises & the Greek deity Aphrodite. Aeneas fled the fall
of Troy and founded Alba Longa in Italy. Which is the precursor of
Rome. Similar to that, Emperor Jimmu is a son of Ninigi and conquered
Japan.

Also like Aeneas, he is a legendary figure than a historical figure.
In fact it is highly controversial that who was the first actually
historical emperor. Like Amaterasu, he is being worshipped in
Kashihara Jingu as a deity.

Empress Jingu might be like Romulus & Remus. Who were nurtured by
a she-wolf and founded Rome. She is often identified with the shaman
queen of Yamatai, Himiko. Who appears in Chinese history books as
the queen of Japan. Though that identification is also highly
controversial.

Her controversial son Emperor Ojin is identified with the war deity
Hachiman. He is the first emperor in the Kofun period. After him,
it enters into history from legends.