Kashima (god)

Takemikazuchi ( or , "Brave-Awful-Possessing" or "Thunder-God") is a deity in Japanese mythology, considered a god of thunder and sword god. He also competed in what is considered the first sumo wrestling match recorded in mythology.

He is otherwise known as Kashima-no-kami, the chief deity revered of the Kashima Shrine at Kashima, Ibaraki (and all other subsidiary Kashima shrines). In the namazu-e or catfish pictures of the Edo Period, Takemikazuchi/Kashima is depicted attempting to subdue the giant catfish supposedly dwelling at the kaname-ishi (要石, "pinning rock") of the Japanese land-mass and causing its earthquakes. (See image above right).

In the Kojiki the god's name is sometimes written in the full-blown form "Brave-Awful-Possessing-Male-Deity". He also bears the alternate names Takefutsu (建布都神, "Brave-Snapping-Deity") and Toyofutsu (豊布都神, "Luxuriant-Snapping Deity")

In the Nihon shoki different sets of characters are used to represent the name (). Its early translator Aston styled the name simply as Ikazuchi no Kami or "The Thunder-God".

Also a more simple notation (建雷命) is employed as well.

In the Kamiumi ("birth of the gods") episodes of the Kojiki, the god of creation Izanagi ("the Male-Who-invites") severs the head of the fire deity Kagu-tsuchi ("Shining-Elder"), whereupon the blood from the "ten-grasp sabre" or "ten-fist sword (Totsuka-no-Tsurugi)" splattered the rocks and gave birth to several deities. The blood from the sword-tip engendered one triad of deities, and the blood from near the base of the blade produced another triad that included Takemikazuchi (here given as "Brave-Awful-Possessing-Male-Deity" by Chamberlain).

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