Magatama
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Magatama(勾玉 or 曲玉), are curved beads which first appeared in Japan during the Jomon period, around circa 1000 BCE and in Korea (where they are called Gogok or Kokkok) during the Prehistoric period, mainly from the end of Neolithic period and continuing into the Bronze Age. [1][2]
They are often found inhumed in mounded tumulus graves as offerings to deities (see grave goods). They continued to be popular with the ruling elites throughout the Kofun Period of Japan, and are often romanticised as indicative of the Yamato Dynasty of Japan. Some consider them to be an Imperial symbol, although in fact ownership was widespread throughout all the chieftainships of Kofun Period Japan. It is believed that magatama were popularly worn as jewels for decoration, in addition to their religious meanings. In this latter regard they were later largely replaced by Buddhist prayer beads in the Nara period.
In modern Japan, the magatama's shape of a sphere with a flowing tail is still the usual visual representation of the human spirit (hitodama). Wearing one during life is considered a way of gaining protections from kami.
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[edit] Yasakani no Magatama
The most important magatama is the Yasakani no Magatama (八尺瓊曲玉, also 八坂瓊曲玉), which is part of the Imperial Regalia of Japan, added some time around the Heian period. The Yasakani no Magatama stands for benevolence, and is one of the three items used in the ceremony of imperial ascension. In Japanese mythology, the jewels, along with the mirror, were hung on the tree outside of Amaterasu's cave (where she had hidden) to lure her out. It is believed to be a necklace composed of jade magatama stones instead of a solitary gem as depicted in popular culture. It is believed to be enshrined in Kokyo, the Japanese Imperial Palace.
In popular culture, the Yasakani no Magatama has been presented as a baseball-sized orb with a tail, similar to a three-dimensional comma, cored through by a hole in the center. It is thought that the original magatama was broken somehow and crafted into the jade necklace that is the current one, though there is no historical evidence that points to this.
[edit] Origins
The origins of comma-shaped beads are controversial. But archaeologists usually think that magatama originated in Japan before spreading to the Asian continent through Korea, where they are known as Gogok [1] [2] [3]. A statement by Charles T. Keally, an archaeologist studying the culture of the Kofun period, states:
The magatama's origins are more controversial. These curved jewels of jadeite are common in Kofun Period burials, and they are common also in Korean sites of the same age. This fact seems to have led most archaeologists to conclude that the magatama originated in Korea. But magatama are found in Yayoi sites, too, and unquestionable true magatama are reported also in Jomon sites in Tohoku as early as about 1000 B.C., long before true magatama appeared in Korea.[4]
[edit] In popular culture
- In the manga and anime series Ikki Tousen, also known in the West as Battle Vixens, magatama are worn by the characters in the series as earrings, and are infused with the spirits of warriors from the Sangokushi era. This causes the wearers, known as Toushi, to re-enact the past time and again, as they have done for the past 1800 years.
- In the Ace Attorney video game series (also known as the Phoenix Wright series and the Gyakuten Saiban series), the Fey (Ayasato) sisters wear necklaces with one large magatama in the center. It is also used from the second game onwards to detect Psyche-Locks, which the player must unlock to discover hidden truths in the game.
- In the manga and anime series Naruto, the character Orochimaru also wears magatama earings. His "Sword of Kusanagi" also has a magatama on it.
- In the anime Blue Seed, the magatama are the physical souls of the Aragami. Several characters have these permanently stuck to the forehead.
- In the video game Magatama, magatama are used as power sources to summon demons and other creatures of legend.
- In the anime Otogi Zoshi there are five magatamas, which are getting collected by main characters.
- In the video game Ōkami strings of magatama are used as whip-like weapons or used for firing the individual magatama as projectiles, similar in manner to a bullet.
- In the video game Tales of Symphonia an item called "Yasakani Jewel" which bears the characteristic comma-like shape of the Yasakani no Magatama can be obtained along with the items "Yata Mirror" and "Kusanagi Blade," the remaining parts of the Imperial Regalia of Japan.
- In the manga and anime series My-HiME the main character Tokiha Mai's Elements (a type of weapon) are bracelets with magatama on them.
- The manga Kukuru & Nagi mentions magatama as a high-capacity power source. However, they are also easily destroyed.
- In Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne, from the Megami Tensei series, magatama are ingested to grant the protagonist access to various demonic skills.
- In the anime Earth Girl Arjuna (Chikyuu Shoujo Arujuna), a magatama-like jewel is given to Juna. It is known as the Drop of Time and is claimed to be a remnant from a very ancient, long lost civilization, enabling her to synchronize with Earth and living beings.
- Inuyasha's Beads of Subjugation from the manga and anime series Inuyasha features Magatamas as well.
- In the RPG series known as Shadow Hearts for the Playstation 2 console, the main protagonist possesses a jewel resembling a magatama that absorbs the malice and souls of the monsters he defeats. The jewel and its purpose become a main plot focus in both the first and second game installments.
- In Shaman King, Yoh Asakura is always seen wearing a string of magatama, though it is never mentioned.
- The logo of Gentoo Linux (a silver lowercase g) looks like a silver magatama.
- Its appearance also made a debut in the Neo Geo fighting game, The King of Fighters '94. It appears as the power of spiritual flames for its character, Kyo Kusanagi. Then later again in The King of Fighters '95 with Iori Yagami, and his own tainted version of it called Magatama no Orochi. And it would appear over and over again in later versions of the same game, becoming a power shared by several other characters with no blood relations to either of them.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "Art History, Materials, Music" (Portable Document Format), The Arts of Korea: A Resource for Educators pages 51–76. Elizabeth Hammer, edited by Judith G. Smith. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2001. ISBN 0-58839-009-8. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Accessed 27 January 2007.
- ^ "Magatama". Encyclopædia Britannica. 2007. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Accessed 27 January 2007.
[edit] External links
- Jadeite by the Canadian Institute of Gemmology
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