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Amatsu-Mikaboshi

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Amatsu-Mikaboshi (天津甕星[1]), also called Ame-no-Kagaseo (天香香背男[1]) or Hoshi-no-Kami Kagaseo[2] (星神香香背男), is a god of stars who appears in Japanese mythology. No reference to Mikaboshi is made in the Kojiki, however, he plays a minor role in the Nihon Shoki as a deity insubordinate to the amatsukami during the latter's subjugation of the land.[2][3]

Name

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The deity is referred to as both Ama-tsu-mika-hoshi (天津甕星; "August Star of Heaven"[4] or "Dread Star of Heaven"[3]) and Ama-no-kagase-o (天香香背男; "Brilliant Male of Heaven" or "Scarecrow Male of Heaven"[3]) in the Nihon Shoki.[2] With the name Kagaseo theorized to come from the word kagayaku (輝く; "to shine").[5][6]

Furthermore, the component mika (written using the kanji 甕; "earthenware pot"), from Mikaboshi, is interpreted as being derived from ika (厳; "imposing" or "austere"),[7] which prompted the kokugaku scholar Hirata Atsutane to identify Amatsu-Mikaboshi with the planet Venus.[8]

Mythology

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The Mikaboshi-Kagaseo Shrine (甕星香々背男社) at Ōmika Shrine [ja] (Hitachi City, Ibaraki).

In the Nihon Shoki, during the amatsukami's conquest of the Central Land of Reed-Plains, Mikaboshi (referred to as Kagaseo) is mentioned in passing as a rebellious kunitsukami who is subdued by Takehazuchi [ja] at the behest of Takemikazuchi and Futsunushi:

The two Gods at length put to death the malignant Deities and the tribes of herbs, trees and rocks. When all had been subdued, the only one who refused submission was the Star-God Kagaseo (星神香香背男, Hoshi-no-Kami Kagase-o). Therefore they sent the Weaver-God Takehazuchi-no-Mikoto (倭文神建葉槌命, Shitorigami Take-ha-dzuchi-no-Mikoto) also, upon which he rendered submission. The two Gods therefore ascended to Heaven.[9][10]

A second account provided in the Nihon Shoki instead presents Mikaboshi as an amatsukami, who is slain by Takemikazuchi and Futsunushi before their descent to earth:

The Heavenly Deity sent Futsunushi-no-Kami and Takemikazuchi-no-Kami to tranquillize the Central Land of Reed-Plains (葦原中国, Ashihara-no-Naka-tsu-kuni). Now these two Gods said: "In Heaven there is an Evil Deity (悪しき神, Ashiki-gami) called Amatsu-Mikaboshi, or Ame-no-Kagaseo. We pray that this Deity may be executed before we go down to make clear the Central Land of Reed-Plains."[11][10]

These are virtually the only passages in the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki that deal with a kami of stars, and, uniquely, present the deity as antagonistic towards the amatsukami.[2]

Worship

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The Ōmika Shrine [ja] in Hitachi (Ibaraki Prefecture) enshrines Mikaboshi-Kagaseo (甕星香々背男) as a landlord deity (地主神, Jinushigami) alongside Takehazuchi-no-Mikoto (武葉槌命).[12] Additionally, a "spirit-housing stone" (宿魂石, Shukukonseki) within the shrine's precincts is believed to contain Mikaboshi's "violent spirit" (荒魂, Ara-mitama).[13]

Mikaboshi is also enshrined at various Hoshi-Jinja [ja] (星神社; "star shrine") and Hoshimiya-Jinja [ja] (星宮神社; "star palace shrine") throughout Japan.

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Main article: Amatsu-Mikaboshi (character)

Amatsu-Mikaboshi, the Chaos King, is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.[14]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b 長崎大学教育学部人文科学研究報告 (in Japanese). 長崎大学教育学部. 1988.
  2. ^ a b c d "Encyclopedia of Shinto詳細". 國學院大學デジタルミュージアム (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-01-31.
  3. ^ a b c Aston 1905, p. 142.
  4. ^ Coulter 2013, p. 96.
  5. ^ Aston 1896, p. 69.
  6. ^ 長崎大学教育学部人文科学研究報告 (in Japanese). 長崎大学教育学部. 1988.
  7. ^ 長崎大学教育学部人文科学研究報告 (in Japanese). 長崎大学教育学部. 1988.
  8. ^ 長崎大学教育学部人文科学研究報告 (Nagasaki Daigaku Kyōiku-bu Jinbun Kagaku Kenkyū Hōkoku) [Nagasaki University Education Department Report on Humanities Research]. Issues 37-45 (in Japanese). Nagasaki: Nagasaki University. 1988. Retrieved 2013-06-06. ...願染みの度合い、等の様々な観点から判定して、この金星が、やはり、天津甕星(天香 香背男)として、一番相応しいのではないかと考える。 - ...so judging from degree of familiarity, and various other perspectives, this Venus indeed looks to be the most appropriate match for Ama tsu Mikaboshi (Ame no Kagaseo).
  9. ^ Aston 1896, p. 69-70.
  10. ^ a b "Scroll 2- Age of the Gods (2) - shoki". web.archive.org. 2011-08-23. Retrieved 2025-01-31.
  11. ^ Aston 1896, p. 79.
  12. ^ "皇紀元年（紀元前660年）創祀。茨城県日立市にある大甕神社のWebサイトです。 | 大甕神社". 大甕神社 Webサイト (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-02-01.
  13. ^ "皇紀元年（紀元前660年）創祀。茨城県日立市にある大甕神社の境内のご案内です。 | 大甕神社". 大甕神社 Webサイト (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-02-01.
  14. ^ "Mikaboshi Powers, Enemies, History | Marvel". www.marvel.com. Retrieved 2025-02-03.

Bibliography

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