Yamata no Orochi’s Family Tree

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Relationships & Genealogy(15 connections)

About Yamata no Orochi

Family
  • Shuten-dōji(child)Miraculous

    In the Ibuki Dōji tradition from the Otogi-zōshi, Shuten-dōji was born on Mount Ibuki from the lingering spirit of Yamata no Orochi after the serpent was slain by Susanoo. The demon king inherited the great serpent's malice and supernatural power.

Enemy of
  • Yamata no Orochi terrorized Ashinazuchi and Tenazuchi for years, devouring seven of their eight daughters one by one as annual sacrifices before Susanoo intervened (Kojiki).

  • Yamata no Orochi had devoured Kushinadahime's seven elder sisters one by one, and she was to be the serpent's eighth and final victim when Susanoo intervened.

Slain by
  • Susanoo tricked Yamata no Orochi into drinking eight vats of sake, then hacked apart the stupefied serpent to rescue Kushinadahime, discovering the sword Kusanagi in one of its tails.

Associated with
  • Ashinazuchi and Tenazuchi brewed eight vats of sake on Susanoo's instructions to intoxicate Yamata no Orochi, enabling the serpent's slaying (Kojiki).

  • Susanoo discovered Kusanagi no Tsurugi hidden in one of Yamata no Orochi's eight tails after slaying the serpent. He named it Ama-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi for the clouds that gathered above the beast (Kojiki).

  • Susanoo encountered Kushinadahime about to be sacrificed to Yamata no Orochi. He transformed her into a comb tucked in his hair for safekeeping, then slew the serpent with a sake trap to win her hand in marriage.

  • Susanoo wielded the Totsuka-no-Tsurugi to hack apart the eight-headed serpent Yamata no Orochi after plying it with sake, and discovered the sacred sword Kusanagi embedded in one of its tails.

  • In the Ibuki Dōji tradition, the lingering spirit of Yamata no Orochi took refuge in Mount Ibuki after its slaying by Susanoo. The mountain became a nexus of serpentine malice, and from that remnant evil Shuten-dōji was eventually born.

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