2021-10-07

"Good morning, everyone!" Sidon greeted the class with his usual cheer, a toothy grin of excitement for the lesson ahead of them. "I hope you are all doing well, and that you are looking forward to the school trip next week! I know I am! I'll certainly never complain about a visit to a place by the ocean!"

He was going to confuse so many local fishermen next week. It was practically tradition!

"But before we set our minds too firmly into vacation time, we still have a lesson ahead of us, continuing on our exploration of the various types of people found around Hyrule, and today, we'll be learning all about the Sheikah tribe!

( New Sheikah Slate, who dis? )

"So that," Sidon concluded proudly, "is the rundown of the Sheikah Tribe and a brief look into their history and their troubles. If you ask me, their position in the greater population of Hyrule is a rather intriguing one, isn't it? To possess the power and technology to save the world, only to have that technology then feared by others, and shunned, to the point of exile!, because of it! And then, once that technology is needed once more, to have to turn against you and threaten the world to ruin! And what of the Yiga Clan? What might drive a person to choose to side with the Darkness, instead of the Light? Are they misguided, or do they simply see things differently? I would be delighted to hear your thoughts, should you have any, and, of course, to answer any other questions you may have regarding the Sheikah and their history and place in Hyrule!"

When students arrived for class today, they'd find various teapots set out around the room, each one with a neatly-printed card saying what type of tea was in it, and enough cups for everyone to have two or three different types.

"Amaterasu, Amaterasu-ōmikami, or Ōhiru-menomuchi-no-kami, is a sun goddess and one of the principal Shinto deities or kami," Ghanima said once the class had assembled, sipping her own tea serenely. "Her name, Amaterasu, means literally 'that which illuminates Heaven.' She was born from the left eye of Izanagi as he purified himself in a river and went on to become the ruler of the Higher Celestial Plain, or Takamagahara. She is also said to be directly linked in lineage to the Imperial Household of Japan and the Emperor, who are considered descendants of the kami themselves."

"Amaterasu, the powerful sun goddess of Japan, is the most well-known deity of Japanese mythology. Her feuding with her uncontrollable brother Susanoo, however, is equally infamous and appears in several tales. One story tells of Susanoo's wicked behavior toward Izanagi. Izanagi, tired of Susanoo's repeated complaints, banished him to Yomi. Susanoo grudgingly acquiesced, but had to attend to some unfinished business first. He went to Takamagahara -- heaven -- to bid farewell to his sister, Amaterasu. Amaterasu knew her unpredictable brother did not have any good intentions in mind and prepared for battle. "For what purpose do you come here?", asked Amaterasu. "To say farewell", answered Susanoo. But she did not believe him and requested a contest for proof of his good faith. A challenge was set as to who could bring forth more noble and divine children. Amaterasu made three women from Susanoo's sword, while Susanoo made five men from Amaterasu's ornament chain. Amaterasu claimed the title to the five men made from her belongings. Therefore, the three women were attributed to Susanoo."

"Both gods declared themselves to be victorious. Amaterasu's insistence in her claim drove Susanoo to violent campaigns. He trampled Amaterasu Omikami's rice fields, filled all of her irrigation ditches and threw excrement into her palace and her shrines. The Omikami asked her brother to stop but he ignored her and even went so far as to throw the corpse of a skinned horse at her hand-maidens who were weaving at the time. The women were killed by the splintered wood from the looms piercing their bodies. Amaterasu, angered by the display, fled and hid in the cave called Iwayado. As the sun goddess disappeared into the cave, darkness covered the world

"Without her, everything began to wither and die. Countless Kami gathered in front of her cave and devised a way to lure her out. All the gods and goddesses in their turn strove to coax Amaterasu out of the cave, but she ignored them all. Finally, the kami of merriment, Ame-no-Uzume, hatched a plan. She placed a large bronze mirror on a tree, facing Amaterasu's cave. Then, Uzume clothed herself in flowers and leaves, overturned a washtub and began to dance on it, drumming the tub with her feet. Finally, Uzume shed the leaves and flowers and danced naked. All the male gods roared with laughter, and Amaterasu became curious. Amaterasu peeked out to see what the noise was about. She asked the nearest god what was going on and he replied that there was a new goddess. When Amaterasu asked where she was, he pointed to the mirror.

The Omikami had never seen herself before and when she caught her reflection, she stared at the radiance of her own form. She was so surprised she said "omo-shiroi", which means both "white face", which the Omikami had, and "fascinating". When she was out of the way, Tajikara-O shut the rock behind her. Having lured her out of the cave, the gods convinced her to go back into the Celestial Plain and all life began to grow again and become strong in her light. Once back in the Celestial Plain, she made sure that she was ready for her brother's harsh actions again by having a bow and quiver at her side."

"Eventually, Susanoo would apologize by gifting Amaterasu with the Ama-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi, a powerful sword that he found in the body of a eight-headed dragon. The sword would later be renamed the Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi, and become one of the three Imperial Regalia of Japan."

2021-10-07

A Traveler's Guide to Hyrule; Thursday, First Period [10/07].

Bardic Inspiration 2: the Bardening, Thursday, Period 2

World Mythology, Thursday, Period 3