Conquests of Okinagatarashihimë

This essay concludes the legends of Okinagatarashihimë, a shaman-queen of ancient Japan who may be based on a historical figure recorded in Chinese documents. In these legends, she conquers the Korean peninsula with the aid of the kami and enshrines those kami at several jinja, all of which remain important today. Her independence from any male figures, and her association with northern Kyushu and with water, raise interesting questions about the origins of her myths.

Torii image © Dean Spencer, used with permission. All rights reserved.