Japanese mythology, Davis retelling
Susa-no-o
Susa-no-o appears in Davis's myth cycle as both a disruptive deity and a serpent-slayer. In the latter episode he meets a family threatened by an eight-forked serpent and offers to save their remaining daughter. After overcoming the monster, he finds a divine sword in its tail and sends it to the Gods of Heaven.
Also known as Susanoo · Susano-o · The Impetuous Male
Loading your archive…
In the sources
A family threatened by the serpent
TraditionalSusa-no-o meets the parents of Kushi-nada-hime, whose sisters have been devoured. The serpent is described with eight heads and eight tails; he offers to slay it in return for marriage to the maiden.
A sword within the monster
TraditionalAfter the serpent drinks and falls asleep, Susa-no-o cuts it apart. He finds the Murakumo-no-Tsurugi in a tail, recognises it as divine, and gives it to the Gods of Heaven.
Context & interpretation
This entry focuses on Davis's serpent episode and its accompanying illustration. His retelling joins episodes whose continuity he himself questions; it does not establish a single definitive biography of the deity. Names and actions are retained as this English-language source presents them.
Original passages
Source 1
Myths and Legends of Japan
It had eight headsOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Chapter I, printed p. 29
Read directly from the active prepared scan; line breaks and spacing normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0052-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0052-E001-P0031
- Original scan leaf
- 37
- Recorded leaf number
- 37
- Current Reader position
- 30
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Source 2
Myths and Legends of Japan
he gave it to the Gods of Heaven.Open this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Chapter I, printed p. 30
Read directly from the active prepared scan; line breaks and spacing normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0052-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0052-E001-P0032
- Original scan leaf
- 38
- Recorded leaf number
- 38
- Current Reader position
- 31
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
