Ask John: What’s the Significance of 3 Items?

Question:
In some anime, manga and video games, they sometimes have three items that go together to do something special: an orb, mirror, and rod (or sword). Soul Blazer, Sakura Wars, Sailor Moon, Ruin Explorers, Shadowgate, etc. Is there a Japanese legend behind those three items or something like that?

Answer:
There is a significant traditional Japanese basis for the triumvirate of mirror, sword and jewel. These three sacred items are called the “Shinki.”

According to the Kojiki an ancient record of Shinto creation myth, Susano-no-Mikoto enraged and terrified his sister Amaterasu no Omikami, the sun goddess, by flaying her favorite horse and throwing the corpse into her circle of sewing maidens. Amaterasu enclosed herself in a cave and plunged the world into darkness. In penance, Susano went down to earth and encountered a family fated to sacrifice their last daughter to an eight-headed dragon. Susano left 8 barrels of sake for the dragon, who got drunk and fell asleep. Susano then beheaded the sleeping dragon and discovered the Kusanagi (grass cutter) sword inside the dragon’s tail. Susano then used a mirror to lure Amaterasu out of the cave by tempting her with laughter which aroused her curiosity, then showing her her reflection, which drew her far enough out of the cave for him to be able to pull her out completely. Susano gave Amaterasu the Kusanagi, and in return Amaterasu gave Susano one or many jewels. When Amaterasu’s great-great-grandson, Jimmu, came to earth, Amaterasu gave him the sword, mirror and jewel, and Jimmu became the (mythical) first emperor of Japan. Thus the “shinki” are considered the royal emblems of Japan. The sacred sword is now kept at the Atsuta Shrine in the Aichi Prefecture. The Ise Shrine, considered the shrine to Amaterasu, houses the mirror.

See! Watching anime is good for you. It teaches you about Japanese culture and Shinto religion.