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1985.52.957

Amulet, a curved, comma-shaped stone bead, perforated at the thicker end for suspension, known as a 'Magatama' or 'jewels'. [RB 20/04/2012]

1985.52.957

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Collection type
Object
Description
Amulet, a curved, comma-shaped stone bead, perforated at the thicker end for suspension, known as a 'Magatama' or 'jewels'. [RB 20/04/2012]
Geographical reference
Japan
Asia > Eastern Asia > Japan
Date / Period
Date made: Before 1931
Date collected
By 1931
Acquisition information
Transferred: 1985
Materials and processes
Material Stone, Material Agate Stone, Process Perforated, Process Carved, Process Polished
Dimensions
Length x Width: max 38 x 15 mm
Object numbers
Accession number: 1985.52.957 Other numbers: 1912
Research and responses

Takeshi Matsumae (1980) The Heavenly Rock-Grotto Myth and the Chinkon Ceremony. Asian Folklore Studies, Vol.39, No.2, pp.9-22. Hard copy held in RDF. [CB 29/08/2012]

Associated publications
This amulet was selected for the Small Blessings project website [http://web.prm.ox.ac.uk/amulets], online text as follows: This comma-shaped stone jewel from Japan is called a magatama. ʻMagaʼ means curved or bent, and ʻtamaʼ means precious stone or gem. Magatama date back to the Neolithic period, and are typically made of stone, glass or jade. Their curved shape is thought to represent animal teeth and claws. Magatama are both personal ornaments and highly valued ceremonial objects. Women once wore magatama in their hair, and as decorative arm and ankle bracelets. They were also attached to sacred bows, mirrors and swords, placed at temple shrines, and used as funerary objects. A source of spiritual power and good fortune, magatama can still be bought in Japan today. Magatama also feature in Japanese mythology. According to the Kojiki, a collection of myths dating from the early 8th century, the storm god Susano-o terrorised his sister, the sun goddess Amaterasu, so much that she hid in a cave. Without Amaterasu the world became dark. In order to lure her out, the other gods hung a mirror, pieces of cloth, and many magatama jewels on a sacred evergreen sakaki tree outside the cave. Amaterasu looked out to see what the gods were doing, and as she emerged the world became light again. [CB 29/08/2012]

Search terms: Religion, Ornament, Amulet, Pendant

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