八尺瓊勾玉やさかにのまがたま

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Meanings

1

noun

large jewel; string of jewels

archaic

Archaic term for a large magatama jewel or a string of such jewels, often associated with ancient Japanese regalia.

古こ事じ記きには八尺瓊やさかにの勾まが玉たまが神しん宝ぽうとして登とう場じょうする。
In the Kojiki, the Yasakani no Magatama appears as a sacred treasure.

2

noun

Yasakani no Magatama (one of the three Imperial regalia)

Specifically refers to the sacred jewel that is one of the Three Sacred Treasures of Japan, alongside the mirror and sword.

Written forms

八尺瓊勾玉やさかにのまがたま
Most common kanji spelling for the sacred jewel in Japanese mythology.
八坂瓊曲玉やさかにのまがたま
Variant spelling; 坂 and 曲 are less common in this context.
八尺瓊曲玉やさかにのまがたま
Variant spelling; 曲 is less common than 勾 for magatama.
八尺瓊やさかにの勾玉まがたま
Explicit possessive form with の; less common in modern references.

Kanji

八eight, eight radical (no. 12)
尺shaku, Japanese foot, measure
瓊red jewel, beautiful jewel
勾be bent, slope, capture
玉jewel, ball
坂slope, incline, hill
曲bend, music, melody

Similar words

勾まが玉たま
Generic term for comma-shaped beads; 八尺瓊勾玉 is a specific sacred jewel.
三さん種しゅの神じん器ぎ
The Three Sacred Treasures of Japan; 八尺瓊勾玉 is the jewel among them.

Etymology

The name combines 八尺 (yasaka, 'eight feet' or 'large'), 瓊 (ni, a type of jewel), and 勾玉 (magatama, 'curved jewel'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but it is deeply rooted in Japanese mythology.