In the United Kingdom, for example, the regalia includes the crown, orb, scepter, a sword known as Curtana, and even the throne, all of which are displayed during the coronation ceremony.
Astonishingly, there are over 100 of these items! Some of them are exhibited as part of the World Heritage collection at the Tower of London, allowing the public to see them in person.
Japan, too, has an emperor, and the legitimacy of the emperor's position is symbolized by the regalia.
These items are known as the Three Sacred Treasures.
In this series, I will introduce the Three Sacred Treasures.
Under the Japanese Constitution, the emperor is currently regarded as the "symbol of the State and of the unity of the people," but prior to World War II, the emperor held the position of head of state for over 2,600 years, dating back to around the 5th century BCE.
The Three Sacred Treasures, which have been passed down through generations of emperors, consist of three sacred objects: the Yata no Kagami (Eight-Hand Mirror), the Ame-no-Murakumo no Tsurugi (Sword of the Gathering Clouds of Heaven), and the Yasakani no Magatama (Curved Jewel of Eight Shaku).
The exact size and appearance of these items remain a mystery; they are considered forbidden to see, and even emperors throughout history have not been allowed to view them directly.
Thus, no one truly knows what they look like! Of course, some unofficial records claim that a few individuals secretly glimpsed them over the long history, though whether those accounts are true or not is unknown—a topic I may cover at another time.
How did the Three Sacred Treasures come to be?
Their story traces back to the mythological age over 2,600 years ago.
In the celestial realm, there were two deities: Amaterasu, the goddess of the sun, and her brother Susanoo, a god known for his turbulent nature as the deity of the sea and storms. Their parents were believed to have created Japan, the earthly realm.
Susanoo was a wild and forceful god, causing constant havoc in the celestial world, much to Amaterasu's dismay. One day, overwhelmed by despair, Amaterasu hid herself inside a cave.
With Amaterasu in hiding, the celestial world plunged into complete darkness, which troubled the other gods.
To lure Amaterasu out of the cave, the gods devised a plan.
They held a lively celebration right outside the cave, with feasts and sake, and created the Yata no Kagami (Eight-Hand Mirror) and the Yasakani no Magatama (Curved Jewel of Eight Shaku) to add to the festivities.
Inside the cave, Amaterasu could hear the sounds of laughter and merriment, which piqued her curiosity.
She opened the door to the cave just a crack, and in that instant, two powerful gods seized the opportunity to pull open the door entirely, allowing light to once again fill the celestial realm. This well-known legend tells how light was restored to the heavens.
Susanoo, whose reckless behavior had driven Amaterasu into hiding, was ultimately banished from the celestial realm.
Descending to the earthly realm, Susanoo began a new chapter with renewed determination.
While walking along a river, he noticed a chopstick drifting downstream, indicating human presence nearby. Following the river, he encountered an elderly couple weeping with their daughter between them.
When Susanoo asked why they were crying, the elderly father explained, "We had eight daughters, but each year, the monstrous Yamata no Orochi comes down from the mountain and devours one of them. Now, the time has come for the creature to take our last daughter, and we are devastated."
Hearing this, Susanoo devised a strategy to confront the beast.
According to the elderly man, the great serpent had a single body with eight heads and eight tails, and its eyes were blood-red. Furthermore, trees grew all over its body, and it was such a colossal creature that it spanned across eight valleys and seven hills.
Upon hearing the details, Susanoo set about preparing his plan. He instructed the couple to build a fence around their home, with eight gates along it. At each gate, he placed a large vat filled with strong sake.
When the preparations were complete, they awaited the serpent's arrival. Soon, with a resounding tremor, Yamata no Orochi appeared.
What will happen next?
Yamata no Orochi appeared with a tremendous rumble, and as soon as it caught the rich aroma of the sake, it plunged each of its eight heads into the barrels and began drinking.
After draining the vats, the serpent became drunk and fell into a deep sleep. That was when Susanoo drew his sword and attacked, slashing the creature into pieces.
When Susanoo cut open the tail of Yamata no Orochi, he discovered a magnificent sword within. This sword became known as the Ame-no-Murakumo no Tsurugi.
Recognizing its rarity, Susanoo decided to present the sword to Amaterasu.
Thus, Amaterasu came to possess the Three Sacred Treasures: the Yata no Kagami, the Ame-no-Murakumo no Tsurugi, and the Yasakani no Magatama.
With the Three Sacred Treasures in her possession, Amaterasu entrusted them to her grandson, Ninigi, saying, "Descend to the earthly realm and rule over it."
Thus, Ninigi, accompanied by the treasures, descended to earth.
According to ancient Japanese texts, it was Ninigi’s great-grandson, Emperor Jimmu, who became Japan's first emperor in 660 BCE. For over 2,600 years since then, the Three Sacred Treasures have been handed down as symbols of the emperor's rightful authority.
The Three Sacred Treasures brought to earth have since followed a complex path through history to the present day. I hope to cover this story in "The Imperial Regalia (Earthly Chapter)" in the future.
FIN
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