The Mythology Bible by Sarah Bartlett

By the title, it is obvious this book is an ambitious one and it is a decently thick one. Despite this, this book could be a lot thicker. The content in the book is good and the writing is nice to read with its straightforward nature, making the lack of what could be in the book disappointing. It gives a desire to want more and if the writer could work on a revision with a lot more added in, that would be amazing. It's a fantastic book held back by only adding a bit of each mythology and the lost potential is depressing to see.

Gods And Goddesses: Jurojin

A god of longevity, good luck and wisdom, Jurojin is one of Japans's Seven Lucky Gods whom is also referred to as Gama. He is a lover of wine and has a fondness for the company of women. He is depicted as an old man with a long beard and a staff with a scroll tied to it. Jurojin is often accompanied by a deer, stag, crane or tortoise, symbols of longevity. He is sometimes confused with Fukurokuju, another one of the Seven Lucky Gods.

Gods And Goddesses: Fukurokuju

Fukurokuju is one of the Seven Lucky Gods of Japan and is said to be the Chinese gods Fu, Lu and Shou as one deity, whom Fukurokuju takes the appearance most like Shou with a prolonged bald head, facial hair and staff.

He is the god of wealth, happiness and longevity plus a personification of the Southern Pole Star. Fukurokuju is the only one of the Seven Lucky Gods of Japan who is said to be able to revive the dead and is considered an immortal. He is sometimes confused with Juroujin who is said by some to be his grandson.

Gods And Goddesses: Hoori

Hoori is the god of hunting, the great-grandson of Amaterasu, the son of Ninigi and Konohanasakuya-hime and younger brother of Hoderi. Hoori is also called Fire Fade, Hohodemi, Yamasachihiko and Hikohohodemi.

Hoori once exchanged his hunting tools with his brother Hoderi, going to the sea to fish. Due to his inexperience fishing Hoori lost his brothers hook after spending a day by the seashore fishing. Hoori feared the reaction of Hoderi and asked an old man nearby for help. The old man guided Hoori, leading him to the palace under the sea.

Hoderi learnt of how Hoori lost his hook, promising not to forgive his brother until he brings back his hook. Hoori however met the daughter of Ryujin, Otohime, at the sea palace, staying with Otohime by her side for three years.

Due to waiting for so long Hoderi confronted the sea god Ryujin asking for the hook. Ryujin summoned his fish and found it. The hook was given to Hoori to guarantee that Hoderi would forgive Hoori. Hoori gave the hook back to Hoderi and despite the time it took to do so, Hoderi forgave Hoori.

Hoori eventually went on to marry Otohime and the two had a son. This caused Otohime to take on the form of a dragon.

Gods And Goddesses: Chimatano

Chimatano, also called Chimata-no-kami or simply Chimata-no, is the deity of signposts, crossroads, highways and footpaths. Chimatano is said to be responsible for anything that happens at the places he rules over. His symbol is the phallus, which is supposed to be stroked for luck.

Chimatano is said to be born when the god Izanagi took off his trousers to wash himself after returning from the land of the dead known as Yomi.

Gods And Goddesses: Tsukiyomi

Tsukiyomi is the moon god born from a tear from the right eye of creator god Izanagi. His name is also spelt Tsukuyomi. His siblings are the deities Amaterasu and Susanowo.

He once made a visit uninvited to see the goddess Uke Mochi, whom had no food to serve. When Uke Mochi had fish, forest game and a bowl of rice came out of her body Tsukiyomi was disgusted and killed the goddess. This angered Amaterasu and refused to ever look at Tsukiyomi again, leaving day and night separate.

Gods And Goddesses: Uke Mochi

Uke Mochi is the Japanese goddess of food and wife of inari. She is also called Uke-Mochi-no-kami, meaning “Goddess Who Possesses Food”.

The moon god Tsukiyomi came uninvited for a meal. Uke Mochi sadly had no food to serve. However, when she faced the ocean fish came from her mouth, when towards a forest game animals came from her body, then upon facing towards a rice paddy, Uke Mochi coughed up a bowl of rice. Disgusted, Tsukiyomi killed Uke Mochi. The corpse of Uke Mochi was still able to create food from the body, which fed the people of Japan.

Gods And Goddesses: Futen

Futen is the Japanese wind god. He is also known as Fuuten, Fujin and Fuujin. He is often appears as an elderly person with white hair and beard, red body armour and holding a sceptre in his right hand. He is what is known as of the Guardians of the Eight Directions. He uses a sack to bring winds out of it.

Gods And Goddesses: Ninigi

Ninigi is the grandson of the sun goddess Amaterasu, being the god of rice and of the imperial family. He is also known as Ninigi-no-Mikoto. He was sent to earth to plant rice and it is said he is also sent to earth to become emperor of Japan. Amaterasu sent Ninigi to pacify Japan, with three items, a sword, mirror and a jewel.

On earth, Ninigi married the daughter of a mountain god who conceived their child on the first of marriage causing suspicions in Ninigi. He built a house for her with no doors, where Ninigi’s wife would give birth in it. If she was unfaithful, the child would die. Over time three sons were born, one of them called Hikohohodemi would further on have a child called Jimmu-Tenno.

Gods And Goddesses: Uzume

Uzume, also called Ame-no-Uzume-no-mikoto or simple Ame-no-Uzume, is the goddess of dance, joy, good health and dawn. Her brother is Ninigi and is married to Saruta-Hiko.

It was Uzume who got the sun goddess Amaterasu out of the cave with her dancing, where she exposed her breasts and played with her genitals. It was this dance that caused the other deities to laugh, causing Amaterasu to become curious and to investigate.

Uzume also accompanied Ninigi to earth when Ninigi was to be the first emperor of Japan. It was a monster that appeared when Ninigi was about to descend that caused Uzume to approach this monster bare breasted and with a laugh. Uzume asked who this monster was, the answer was Saruta-Hiko, the god who later became Uzume’s husband.

Gods And Goddesses: Raiden

Raiden, also known as Raijin, Kaminari and Narukami, is the deity of lighning, thunder and storms. His companion is a demon known as Raiju and often depicted in art with the wind god Fujin. The name ‘Raiden’ comes from the words ‘rai’ (thunder) and ‘den’ (lightning).

It is said his appearance consisting of red skin, has the claws of an eagle and the head of a demon. Raiden carries a large drum and takes to eating the navels of humans.

Raiden is also referenced across games and various other forms of entertainment.

Gods And Goddesses: Fudo

Fudo is a Japanese god who is also called Acala. He is the deity of fire, wisdom and protection, but also is the patron of astrology. Fudo is a part of the “Myoo”, or “Great Kings” and is at times referred to as Fudo Myoo.

Fudo is usually depicted as an unattractive old man who is surrounded by flames, holding a sword in his right hand and a coiled rope in his left. Depiction often leaves Fudo alone, but it is not uncommon to see Fudo depicted with two attendants, sometimes even up to right.

Living in a temple upon the summit of Mount Okiyama, Fudo is surrounded by fire and people are not allowed to see him seated there.

Gods And Goddesses: Aizen Myoo

Aizen Myoo is the deity of love (romantic sexual love in particular) and lust suppression, having the ability to turn lust into spiritual awakening. Of depicted with a ferocious appearance with hair like flames, red skin, six arms, a third eye and a lions head in his hair, Aizen Myoo is a deity who tries to benefit mankind.

Aizen Myoo’s skin was originally white but due to his compassion for living beings, tears of compassion flowed throughout his body. His skin became tinted and hence red.

Gods And Goddesses: Bishamon

Bishamonten, or simply Bishamon, is the god of treasure, wealth, warriors and war. He is best known as the god of war and is a protector of Dharma. Due to being the god of wealth and treasure it shouldn’t be a surprise that Bishamon is one of Japan’s Seven Lucky Gods. Symbolically, black is the colour of Bishamon and his season is of winter. As such, he is known as the “Black Warrior”.

Bishamon is also the god dealing with defence against foreign invaders and of healing, whom is known to reward followers with riches, good fortune and even children. Bishamon can be identified as wearing armour and often depicted standing atop of a demon or two, although may be shown with a halberd, lance or baton. He often is depicted with a spear in his right hand and a pagoda in his left.

Bishamon is also considered a deva, with it being pronounced “ten” in Japanese and is at times referred to as Bishamon-ten. He is also the chief of a group known as the Four Heavenly Kings, and is Guardian of the North. At times, Bishamon is called Tamonten (meaning “listening to many teachings”) due to being viewed as a guardian of the places of where the founder of Buddhism, Siddhartha Gautama, preached.

Gods And Goddesses: Ebisu

Ebisu is one of the Seven Lucky Gods of Japan, also called Yebisu or Hiruko. He is the god of fishermen, good fortune, commerce, good luck, merchants and honest labour. His virtue is said to be of fair dealing. Ebisu is also known to hold a red snapper (a fish symbolizing luck and congratulation), but also known of often have a fishing rod in his right hand while a folding fan in the other.

Ebisu himself is fat, bearded and a often smiling fishermen, and a rather popular god out of the Seven Lucky Gods who is actually a protector of the health of small children, as well as the patron of tradesmen and fishermen. His image can be seen frequency in shops in Japan and in some Shinto shrines Ebisu is identified with Hiru-ko (the misconceived firstborn son of the creator couple Izanagi and Izanami).

Ebisu has a festival which is celebrated on the twentieth day of the tenth month while the other gods gather at a place known as The Grand Shrine of Izumo. Reason why Ebisu is not at the Grand Shine himself is due to poor hearing, as he doesn’t hear the summons and still available for worship thanks to this.

Ebisu is also paired with another of the Seven Lucky Gods frequently, Daikokuten, who are said to be father and son or master and apprentice by some.