IMPERIAL REGALIA

Dear Friends,

Thinking about Nihonto in the context of Japanese culture and the Imperial
Family, can anybody comment on how the three Imperial regalia of beads, mirror
and sword came to be chosen and when?? What is the purpose and significance of
the sword in this role?

Best regards,

Barry Thomas
(Melbourne, Australia)

Heres where Gordon or someone else will step on my you know what but
herre goes;
The tama (rhymes with and looks like comma) was considered to
have magical powers by the early Japanese and may have been a symbol
of tribal leaders/kings before the invasions from the continent.
The mirror represents Amamterasu Omokami the ultimate diety
in Shinto, also a very ancient symbol predating continental influence.
The sword too would naturally have been a symbol of the
military might of prehistoric kings. It plays a role in the ancient
creation myths and in the story of the First Emperors who used it to
slay dragons and subdude unruly tribes...
These became set in the earliest days of Yamato rule. I think
it absolutely natural that an "invading" authority would cloak
himself in the symbols and myths of the indigenous peoples he was
trying to gain sway over.
-t

Barry-
You asked the question, so I thought I was on that "other"
list. Which is where G and others may have better answers for you...
-t