9 Yamato and the Hero’s Journey
“Yamato Take bathed daily in these waters, and gradually he felt his strength come again, and the pains left him, till at last one day he found with great joy that he was quite recovered.”
Reflection
I am Yamato. In my folly, I am brash and arrogant. In my youth, I am selfish and imprudent. My change is complete. My transformation, powerful. In my life experiences, I suffer, and my sorrow brings me insight and joy. I am stricken, but I soak in the healing waters of the mountains and my tears, and I am recovered. I am strong. There is none like me. I heal, and I move forward to accept my gifts: a peaceful day - with wings, I take flight. Long beautiful feathers - I have returned - home.
Following the Journey of the Hero: Yamato.
A Nobel Birth into an Ordinary World
How is the hero's lineage mythically established?
Yamato Takeru was born Prince O-usu, younger brother to Prince Oh-usu in the royal palace of Emperor Keikô.
Separation
The Call to Adventure
What calls the hero to take action?
Yamato’s brother, Oh, usu deceives his father and continues to show disrespect to him. His father, the great Emperor Keikô learns learns of his son's deception and is concerned about his oldest son’s lack of loyalty. He asks his other son, Prince O-usu (our hero Yamato) to discover why his brother is acting in this way and to remind him of his responsibilities. When the days pass and Oh-usu continues to be absent from the palace, Emperor Keikô summons O-usu and inquires about Oh-usu. O-usu relates to his father that he killed his brother in a surprise and brutal attack. Stunned and horrified, the Emperor sends Prince O-usu away from the palace on a mission to conquer the leaders of the clan in Kumaso who had not yet submitted to the rule of the clan Yamato.
The Refusal of the Call
Why is this hero not following his heart fully as the story begins?
In this particular story, I only learn that he was loved greatly by his father and that from youth, he was recognized for his strength. By the age of 15, he had become a violent killer. He kills his brother through surprise - and dismembers him. His father clearly wanted O-usu that have a conversation with his older brother and give him a warning. I find it odd that the hero story begins with the hero performing such a heartless act.
The Mentor and Supernatural Aid
Who helps guide the hero to begin the quest?
Yamato is guided by his father who tells him where to go and what to do. His aunt, Yamato-hime, a Shinto priestess, gifts him with various gifts throughout the quest. She always gives him just the things he needs to accomplish his mission.
The Crossing of the Threshold
His quests cycles through several times. The gateway to his adventures out from the palace is Ise where his aunt, a powerful Shinto priestess to Amaterasu, resides. After receiving the gifts from his aunt, he hides a saber in his clothing and leaves for Kumaso
When he embarks on the second mission outside of the palace, he again first visits with his aunt who bestows on him several gifts.
Initiation
Helper/Mentor
His aunt gifts him before he leaves on every mission. First with the clothing of women. Second, as he prepares to travel east, he again visits his powerful aunt who gifts him with amulets, the Grass-Mower sword, and a pouch that he is to open when danger is near.
On his second mission away from the palace, Prince Sumitomo-mimitake, and a spear, symbolic of authority and made of holly, and magical, are gifted to him. He has earned great respect among his people.
The Road of Challenges and Temptations
First, O-usu faces the Kumaso clan. Using his aunt’s gifts, he dresses dresses as a woman and joins the group who is feasting. With a surprise attack, he pulls his saber and kills the leaders. Just before the second is killed he gives O-usu the title: Yamato Takeru, the brave one of Yamato.
Traveling to Izumo, Yamato soon becomes friends with his enemy, the Izumo hero. Again he plans trickery to make his win. When Izumo is defenseless, Yamato Takeru kills him.
His father then sends him east to challenge more demons and deities and clans. and with cunning, and the gifts of his aunt, he passes through them all, growing stronger and stronger.
Abyss
What is the defeat?
Made aware of a god on Mount Ibuki who is causing trouble, Yamato climbs to meet him, leaving his mighty sword behind. He encounters a white boar. Thinking the animal to be but a messenger of the god, he does not challenge it to battle. But this boar is the mountain god and causes great trouble for our hero. Disoriented, Yamato is soon deeply wounded. He eventually dies of these wounds.
Revelation - Death and Rebirth
How is the hero reborn?
After he is buried, Yamato Takeru turns into a great white crane. He returns to his family in flight.
Return
Atonement
What atonement is made?
When his wife sacrifices herself to the water god, Yamato’s heart is deepened. As he ages, he shows great love for his homeland through song and poetry.
The Gift/ Reward
In his life, he expanded the empire. And at his death, he contributes to imperial rites of passage: with his return flight as a crane, he inspires four songs which are the songs sung at the funerals of Japanese emperors.
And so the hero passed from the ordinary into the extraordinary and back again - home. But in the return, changed, transformed. And, bearing gifts for the community.
Questions
What important aspects of life are highlighted in this story?
Other than entertainment, what purpose could this story have?
How are you like this particular hero?
Blessings
Thank you for joining me today! I hope you have a beautiful day! Please leave a comment below. I would love to hear from you. Peace for now, and remember, stay CHARMED ~