“Welcome to Gajo, the Home of the Japanese Royal Family”
Thanks to Green Shinto friend, San-shin expert David Mason, for pointing out an intriguing item from a Korean poster about the small town of Gajo in the south-east of Korea, facing towards Tsushima and Japan. It makes the extraordinary claim of being the hometown of the Japanese imperial line, presumably some 1500 years or more ago.
The small town of Gajo (courtesy Douch)
Whether this is a publicity stunt, along the lines of the small village in Tohoku that claims to host the grave of Jesus Christ, I’m not sure. But since legend often holds a nucleus of truth, it would be nice to know when and how the idea first started…
It appears the connection rests upon the epithet High Celestial Plain, so the question arises as to how common the name was in former times – could it apply to any mountainous area, for instance, or was there only one?
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Article from Korean Trails By Andrew Douch
Gajo-myeon is a small town some 10km east of the county seat of Geochang, and 70km south-west of Daegu City. Visitors to the area are welcomed by signs reading “Welcome to Gajo, the Home of the Japanese Royal Family”
The plain of Gajo, was in ancient times known as Gocheonwon 고천원, “The Higher Celestial Plain”. According to information on the mountain, Japan’s two oldest historical books, Records of Ancient Matters (712) and “The Chronicles of Japan (720), name Gocheonwon as the home of the mythical ancestors of the Japanese Royal Family.
It is here where Amaterasu, the Shinto Goddess of the Sun, sent her Grandson Jimmu to earth some 3000 years ago to be the first ruler of Japan, beginning the family of Royal Emperors. Place names and sites in the small modest town of Gajo reveal their connection with the Japanese myth of Amaterasu, and the story of rivalry with her brother Susanoo, the god of storms and the sea.
Along the plain and through the mountain, nine sites are recognised and named to represent features of Gocheonwon.
Udu-san in Korea, which legend claims to be where the gods descended (courtesy Douch)
In the heart of Gajo town is Masangni, the centre of the celestial plain. The Gods and Goddesses of the plain dwell in Gomalli-deul, among the rice fields on the present road to the mountain. Gungbaemi, to the east of town, is the location of the principle God’s palace. Baram-gul or Cheonseok-gul, on the ridge to Bigye-san, is the “Heavenly Rock Cave” where Amaterasu went into hiding. Dangmoe, on the summit of Bigye-san, is where all the roosters of the world gathered to crow after Amaterasu entered the cave, plunging the world into darkness.
At the foot of the mountain, west of town, is Dangjip, where the dancing goddess Ameno Uzme lured Amaterasu from her hiding place. Gaso-cheon, the current stream Gacheon-cheon, flows west of town and is where Amaterasu and Susanoo confronted each other. Above the plain rise the peaks of Udu-san, the gateway from the higher celestial plain into the heavens, where Susanoo descended to Earth.
It seems more than a little unusual that the location of Japan’s mythical foundation could be in the rugged back-country of northern Gyeongsangnam-do, in what is now a modest farming town, particularly considering the “Heavenly Rock Cave” is celebrated by shinto at Ama-no-Iwato, a cave in Takachiho, Miyazaki Prefecture.
I think perhaps the locals here have taken some factual liberties. Perhaps these places were given their names by Japanese colonisers and stuck, or maybe the locals like to think their ancestors were responsible for founding Japan – unlikely methinks.
There is however some belief that the Japanese Royal blood-line has a Korean influence. From Wikipedia:
“It has been theorized that the Japanese imperial line has Korean ancestry. As reported in National Geographic, Walter Edwards, professor of Japanese studies at Tenri University in Nara, states that “Blood links between Korea and the Japanese imperial family are documented from the eighth century. Even the current emperor [Akihito] has said that he has Korean ancestry.”
Since 1976, foreign archaeologists have been requesting access to the Gosashi tomb which is supposed to be the resting place of Emperor Jingu, but these requests have been denied. In 2008, Japan gave foreign archaeologists limited access to the site, but without allowing any excavation. As National Geographic wrote, Japan “has kept access to the tombs restricted, prompting rumors that officials fear excavation would reveal bloodline links between the “pure” imperial family and Korea”
Mt Takachicho in southern Kyushu, where according to Japanese mythology the ancestor of the emperor, Ninigi no mikoto, descended to earth, bearing Amaterasu's mirror
This is in fact a quite typical case of Korean revisionism and attempt at stealing Japanese culture, for nationalist (or rather fascist) purposes.
Never heard of things like “Korea invented katana, samurai, ninja, sushi, kanji, tea ceremony and Inca ?” If you did, well, know that it’s bullshit.
It is true their is “korean” ancestry in Japan and in the Japanese Imperial Family, but saying “korean” is in fact almost sophistry. One of the early emperors (I forgot his name) had a consort who came from Korea. Japan doesn’t claim having “pure blood”, it is known japanese race emerged from ethnic mix since even before the Yayoi period. If anyone has righteous claim of dominance over someone else country here, it’s Japan, since modern Korea (both North and South) was build with japanese money, before and after the war. Samguk Sagi also stated a guy name Hogong was a Wa people (japanese) and he was an important miinister in Silla. Baekje was also a multy-ethnic country with rulers of Wa origin, and it has recorded Wa invasions and dominance over some part of Korea.
As for Takamagahara, the Celestial Plains, it is verry clear by reading the original texts it is either refering to the Milky Way or an higher plane of existence. Quite like 天 Tian, the Heaven, in chinese Civilisation… The Heaven gives Heavenly Mandate to the Emperor of China. Amaterasu did the same with the Emperor of Japan. Heaven is not a mere political system, and it can’t be reduced to something as simple as theocracy.
Kinjô-heika said that because he is a virtous man, inspired by Shun the Great and who have faith in Democracy and his own way of reigning over his country, despite everything. Thus, is was the only thing the Emperor could do, pointing some historical facts, in order to try to reconciliate South Korea and Japan. Because Korea don’t want to let go of his unfounded grudges and just continue to ask for money and keep saying bullshit. Even though the Emperor has a greater cause (Taigi) on his side, he can’t do anything else.
And while the monarch is totally helpless, incompetent politicians are doing shit with tax money and are so full of scandals their constituants stopped paying attention. But it’s okay, in democracy, politicians can get away by saying it’s the people fault, not theirs… it’s okay. Sole problem it’s that it won’t resolve anything, save for the rich, cause it will save them a lot of troubles. South Korea and the State of Japan are just like that too. Korean politicians are busy rejecting the fault on the japanese, because they need voters to forget the real issues in their country… like the horrible cost of human lives of their Economic model. Just what are they trying to accomplish exactly ? No one knows.
The Heisei era is truely the story of an helpless, yet heroic strugle. T.T
About the village claiming having Jesus’ tomb, Shingo-mura, it is clear their is someone in this tomb, and that it is verry ancient. It is also clear their is ancient traces of christanism their. And it is known Christianism was not first brought by Jesuit missionaries in the Sengoku period, but in more ancient times, with Nestorian Church, where it was possibly named “Keikyô” (Shining Religion).
We will never know if it Jesus, but know this… perjury in Korean court is 671 higher than in Japan ! Korea is well known for being a country of rumors. Japan is well known for being a verry polite and well mannered country (thanks to the samurai) who hate liars.
Green Shinto does not sanction anything to do with ‘Korean-bashing’, a tendency that is all too common amongst the right-wing in Japan. Mutual respect is vital to moving forward in matters of dispute, whereas immoderate comments simply foster hatred and division. Since Shinto owes much of its nature to borrowings from the Korean peninsula, acknowledging and celebrating that would be a first step towards building bridges. In the current climate it is a vital task, and one to which Green Shinto is dedicated to furthering. The emperor showed boldness in taking this path. Jinja Honcho (Association of Shrines) would be ideally suited to the task too if it hadn’t thrown in its hat with narrow-minded nationalists. Why have Shinto priests not spoken out against the hate speech directed towards Korean communities in their midst? I’m afraid it brings dishonour to Shinto in particular and to Japan as a nation to be seen as not condemning publicly the very worst elements of fascism. If we learnt anything from the Nazi experience, it’s that collusion is a moral crime.
John D.-san… You might have heard of Godwin’s law ? Their is many thing to say, but I think I said enough here and in the previous post, to not need to justify my own view.
Know this… the truth of japanese politics if that 80% of japanese people are right-winged in their heads. It’s just many don’t noticed it, and those who did don’t know how to express it. That’s confusion.
In a broad-minded sense, what is the difference between left and right ? “Un pour tous” vs “Tous pour un”. Or the reverse. No matter. Because in theory, both may work in practice, both may have arrived to the same conclusion, meaning : the country’s prosperity. So why people vote ? Because they disagree in the ways to do it and the people to put in charge, that’s all.
If one doesn’t know this truth, how can he even speak of respect, when it comes to politics ? Most democrats (I don’t talk about the american political party) don’t know this, especially in poor countries, but in rich, powerful, developped countries too. Proof is you see often political activists treating the others of retarded or saying their policies will ruin the country. Zuboshi, is it not ?
What is “Fascism”, mister D. ? It’s mostly a combo of Nationalism, Populism and Totalitarianism. And what are those ?
Totalitarianism is mostly about having 1 party in power… it’s bad, all right. But having only 2 party is just as bad. No need to argue about this, it’s just true.
Populism is bad, all right. But no democrat or mob ruler has the right to criticize that. Because in anycase, politicians just make false promises by saying to the people what they want to hear, and not doing it or even doing the reverse. And nobody cares, because being democratically elected is magik (more than the Sanshu no Jingi, or so it seems…) !
What about Nationalism ? Please, almost no modern young japanese know anything about Nippontô. They do not know of the awe and beauty of the japanese blade, who please and quench both human and divine soul. If they did, their would be more people who can make a living out of it. But some japanese never saw a real katana. If you ask them what they think about it, what do they think ? Few would say something you might qualify as “far-rightist” and I would qualify as “suited” or “traditional” such as “it has the perfume of Yamato” or “Nihontô is the soul of a nihonjin, so of course I have one… is it an unknown concept in the West ?”
Yeah, of course, one might get arrested if he carry a katana, especially in public, without a sheet or something. But you know, some american are so much gun-lovers they go to the super-market with assault riffles… and they don’t even do hold up ! People unhable to put things into perspective are verry frustrating for me, so I ask for your forgiveness. ^^’
Yet, it is a fact reflected in medias, mangas and video games. Almost none are true to japanese martial arts and Nihontô. What do you want the shintô priests community do? Eat themselves by propagating atheist agenda ? That’s not gonna happen. Modern japanese are not so pious as they were in the past already, so little shintô shrines are in danger if Jinja Honchô act rashly. ;)
The so-called “International Comunity” is mostly America, Israel, (official declarations from the governement of) China and some buzz on the media and internet. Most french don’t even know what is a “comfort woman” (well, most Koreans don’t know either… but one should expect a bit of contradictions when it comes to slander).
And something I’m sure you don’t know is this… many japanese feels harm because of korean bashing Japan and treating them as if they were Eta. But they also think Japan is the true friend of Korea, and was allready since Korea’s modernization. Because if the korean people ally himselves with China, they will just become their slaves again. That’s how average japanese feel.
In the Korean side however, being North or South, they just seek things to put the blame on japanese, because the government need some cover for it’s constituants to forget why they were elected in the first place, and why they don’t know anything about it.
The hate speech against Korea you spoke of didn’t came from nowhere. Japanese-bashing was strong since decades allready, Korea and China almost oppenly give anti-Japanese educations to their children.
It’s a shintô orientated site, I know. But you need to realize it’s not the Japanese nor the Shintô Priests who have to do something. It’s koreans people and scholars who have to do something for themselves and latter generations.
The Shinto revival of the 18th century was seen by the later Meiji reformers as the harbinger of the fall of the Tokugawa Shogunate: the latter represent Chinese learning (neo-Confucianism) and good-neighborly relations with Korea. The Japanese habit of prefixing everything with goku/kuni is a Shinto borrowing, which habit the Koreans borrowed with a comic effect for those who appreciate historical irony. Anti-Asianism, the founding ideology of modern Japan, was Japan’s kulturkampf if one were to compare Shinto with Lutheranism and Korean neo-Confucianism with Catholicism; hence the visceral hatred of Korea which the genro expressed in the years prior to the Japanese annexation of Korea. Anti-Asianism (read: anti-Koreanism) is built into modern Shinto ideology; it’s a legacy that the Japanese people will have to live with. Anti-Japanism (oh, the historical irony), on the other hand, is the cross that the Korean people will have to bear. Ideally, both nations should convert to Islam and forget about their pagan pasts.
Thank you for the input. The Neo-Confucian link with Korea in Tokugawa times is an important point, as is what you call anti-Asianism (though I’m not sure how Shinto gets compared to Lutheranism – I can’t see what they have in commmon). Your conversion point to Islam is obviously meant facetiously, but the two countries already have Buddhism in common which is supposed to be a universal religion capable of building bridges. Perhaps the syncretism with Shinto has blunted the bridge-building capabilities…
The word tenno has a strong Taoist connotation; the fact that the Japanese emperor system was patriarchal is an indication that the Shinto nationalism of the late Asuka / early Nara period was a Chinese borrowing. Wu-Kudara(Baekjae)-Wa connection represents links in the same chain of Sinicized barbarian nations who aped the Chinese political model. It was the same Chinese prejudice against women that demoted the status of the shamanic rulers (miko) to that of female assistants in jinjas: in Shinto religion, unlike its Siberian ancestor, the priesthood is male in the Chinese tradition.
Thank you for the input, and for highlighting the Chinese connection in the shift from female shamans to male priests that took place. Green Shinto has written of this elsewhere, though with more of an emphasis on the state-building that took place in the formative period you allude to, whereby female shamans were distrusted as spontaneous and uncontrollable whereas male ritualists in regional shrines acted as agents of state.
I should add this too… we don’t know well the exact origins of Shintô, but it didn’t solely came from Korea or any other place.
Yamato Takeru myth has many common points and common themes to King Arthur’s legend (now, I would laugh my ass off if Ame-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi was the original historic Excalibur) both of them finding is inspiration in prior mythology from Iran, according to C. Scott Littleton.
In the Yomotsu Hirasaka part of Izanagi & Izanami’s story, Izanagi-no-Mikoto is using a malediction to put to rest his wife… when he could have cut her down, cut her limbs with Totsuka-no-Tsurugi for she can’t follow him further. Why is Izanagi using a malediction ? Because he don’t want to harm is beloved wife further. So he try to do it in a more “peaceful” way. But what about this malediction ? You find one who is almost the same in the ancient, oldest version of “Snow White”. The sole difference is the kind of fruit used to cast it. Also, the evil queen was not her step-mother, but the biological one.
And there is many more.
Does those myths also come from Korea’s 10 thousand years history business ? I don’t know if those myths exist in Korea too, but it seems to me they don’t came from over there. :/
Shintô religion came from the gratitude and awe for Nature ancient japanese had, if anything. We know that because it’s the same for almost every ancient religion or ancient mythology (new religions and modern myths are a special case… :P). By building shrines and praising the gods, people are able to live a cosmic life.
In Jomon and Yayoi periods, they were people of japanese ethnicity and coming from japanese islands living in what is modern Korean territory. History books say so. A part of modern Korea was a japanese territory (now taboo subject in Korea)
Yamato Minzoku came from a huge ethnic mixing, not from Korea or China. And in Jomon era and prior, no one thought of himself as japanese or as korean.
Oh ! I forgot to say something.
It is true that in past, an Empress Consort had ancestry from what is modern Korea. But you see, at that time, Japan was what french politicians like to call a “Terre d’Accueil” to do populism. Meaning, it was a land where foreigner could settle and were giving advantages for what they bringed into the country : new knowledge. In fact, they had some priviledges compare to average natives, being Imperial Subject or “barbarians” from rival states and barbarian tribes. It is not always verry clear. For exemple, there is a theory saying the Tsuchigumo were invaders from Borneo or some other southern island who came at the instigation of the warring kingdoms in proto-Korea. But other theories, more widely accepted it seems, just say they were rebels against the Yamato or innocent guys who were demonized by evil Japan… not sure if it is because it may be true or because Heisei Japanese are masochists.
You know, Masochism is actually a feudal value… ? Those Meiji Shishi guys were so stupid they eliminated all the good parts in feudal society tand saved only the worst aspects of it. lol
Best exemples of foreign settlers being absorbed by proto-Japanese to form Wajin ethnicity would be the Hatta clan and Jofuku Dôshi.
Anyway… you see, even if the Imperial Family has pseudo Korean roots, it’s kinda the same for everyone in Japan, or should I say in the world, since we are all link to some point in we go further enough in ancient generations (and yet, of course, unlike what think some korean nationalist, the World do not originate from them).
Not a day goes by without some losers on both sides of the Straight of Tsushima/Korea exchanging potshots on topics as innocuous as Shinto theology. Nationalism is for losers. Prince Konoe harped on the theme of ‘naisen ittai’ because, being an aristocrat, he could not stomach unadulterated Japanese nationalism without diluting with Korean soda water. If you are an emperor or a king, the last thing you want is to have anything in common with the lesser mortals who inhabit your realm. Perhaps the Japanese aristocratic families – the Fujiwaras and the Ouchis – claimed Korean ancestry for the same reasons the Kings of France claimed their descent from Jesus Christ.
I wouldn’t be surprised if the Shinto gods were all Korean imports: perhaps the ancient Japanese worshiped them for the same reasons they now enjoy drinking French wine and all sorts of exotic cocktails.
Claiming foreign provenance has much to do with the levels of civilisation, does it not? When France was seen as a superior culture, it was common for English aristocrats to see themselves as deriving from the Norman conquest. At some point in history it must indeed have been chic to claim Korean ancestry, and I’ve read that in Nara times something like 30% of Japan’s leading families did just that…
Shinto gods most definitely came from Korea.
Modern day Koreans are descendants of multiple groups of people. Two of the groups of most interest are the aboriginal people of Korea who came from south China and were possibly related to the first cultivators of rice. Or at least here close to them. The other group came from south east Siberia and are most definitely the origin of the Korean language and Korean culture.
The aboriginal people were absorbed and possibly some were pushed further south into Kyushuu. This makes sense considering Japanese-like toponoyms apparently existed in ancient middle and south Korea. In addition the Gaya Confederacy was believed to have spoken a language related to Japanese but like of data makes it hard to verify. This subject goes very deep so I’ll avoid boring you any further but I have little doubt Shintoism was based off the ancient Jomon spiritual beliefs and the religion of the ancient aboriginal Koreans.
Thank you for this input. It’s of interest because of the link to southern China, as there is much in early Japanese developments that suggest links with ancient practices along he Yellow River. The religious influence is usually thought of coming through Korea, but there were direct connections too through marine routes though I haven’t as yet found much literature about them. But what your post does, Daniel, is clarify how Shinto’s roots lie in the two migration routes into the Korean peninsula, leading back on the one hand to Siberian shamanism and the other to southern China’s rice cultivation. This is a particularly important insight IMHO.
I’m returning to Gajo this weekend, some five years after my brief article above.
Surprised and pleased to see this quirky little spot in the corner of rural Korea spark such vigorous debate here.
My views on this story are not fixed in any direction, but it is small discoveries like this which make walking through an old land so compelling.
I’ll update the linked article if I come across anything of interest.