Yatagarasu
is a crow in Shinto stories and is an important character in their mythology. According to the tale, during Emperor Jimmu's Eastern Expedition, Yatagarasu guided him from the Kumano Region to Yamato Province. Takamimusubi, one of the Shinto gods, sent the crow.
Yatagarasu is usually shown as a bird with three legs, and its picture has been passed down for many years.. Its name comes from the words "Ba Zhi Wu ," which means "eight-span crow" in Japanese. The number eight means a large lucky number in Japanese culture as in the phrase Yaoyorozu no Kami or eight million gods. So this means large wingspan crow
In Shinto beliefs, when the great bird is seen, it is a sign of divine intervention in human affairs or the will of Heaven. The crow's guidance is regarded as a blessing and a good omen.
Related pages
9106 Yatagarasu
Sunspot
Three-legged crow -Explains the three-legged birds of other countries that are similar to the Yatagarasu.
List of Japanese deities
Huginn and Muninn, the Crow twin-familiars of Odin AllFather, King of the Gods in Norse mythology.
References
Other websites
Ri Ben satsukaXie Hui Zu Zhi - There is a description about Yatagarasu in the "Symbol Mark" section at the bottom of the site.
Ba Zhi Wu Shen She (Nai Liang Xian Yu Tuo Shi )
Pages with unreviewed translations
Articles containing Japanese-language text
Gods and goddesses of Japan