Kusanagi no Tsurugi

Kusanagi no Tsurugi, literally "Grass-Cutting Sword," is one of the three Imperial Regalia of Japan (Sanshu no Jingi), alongside the sacred mirror Yata no Kagami and the jewel Yasakani no Magatama. Originally named Ama-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi (Sword of the Gathering Clouds of Heaven), it was discovered within the body of the eight-headed serpent Yamata no Orochi by the storm god Susanoo.

The sword represents valor and military virtue, complementing the mirror's wisdom and the jewel's benevolence. Together, these three virtues form the spiritual foundation of Japanese imperial authority, passed down through generations from the sun goddess Amaterasu herself.

Susanoo and the Eight-Headed Serpent

After being banished from Heaven for his violent behavior toward his sister Amaterasu, the storm god Susanoo descended to Izumo Province on earth. There he encountered an elderly couple weeping because seven of their eight daughters had been devoured by Yamata no Orochi, a monstrous eight-headed, eight-tailed serpent, and the eighth was soon to be sacrificed.

Susanoo agreed to slay the monster in exchange for the hand of Kushinadahime, the remaining daughter. He prepared eight vats of sake and waited. When Yamata no Orochi came and drank from all eight vats with its eight heads, it fell into a drunken stupor. Susanoo then hacked the creature to pieces.

When he cut open the serpent's middle tail, his sword struck something hard. Within the flesh he discovered the magnificent sword Ama-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi. As the clouds had always gathered over the serpent's heads, so they gathered at the blade. Susanoo presented this sword to Amaterasu as a reconciliation gift.

Yamato Takeru and the Grass-Cutting

The sword received its more famous name during the adventures of Prince Yamato Takeru. During his campaign to conquer the eastern lands for his father, Yamato Takeru was trapped in an open grassland when enemies set fire to the field around him.

Using the sword, Yamato Takeru cut down the burning grass and turned the fire back on his enemies, escaping death. From that day, the sword was called Kusanagi, "Grass-Cutter." Some versions say the sword itself controlled the wind to turn the flames.

According to the Tale of the Heike, the original Kusanagi was lost at sea during the Battle of Dan-no-ura in 1185, when the child Emperor Antoku drowned along with the Taira clan. The grandmother holding the emperor reportedly took the sword and mirror and jumped into the sea.

While the mirror was recovered, the sword was never found. The sword currently housed at Atsuta Shrine is believed by some to be a replica, though official Shinto doctrine maintains it is the original. Like the other regalia, the sword has never been publicly displayed or photographed.