Note 29 — Chapter XIX · Rival Deities of Life and Death, Sunshine and Storm

From these deities the Japanese noble families have claimed descent. The Mikados were supposed to be descended from the Conquering God with Great Ears (Masa-ya-a-katsu-kachi-haya-hi-ama-no-oshi-ho-mi-mi). Another myth makes the Mikado a descendant of the sun-goddess and Taka-mi-musubi (the High, August God of Birth and Growth), who, in a sense, is a Japanese Osiris. He has been compared to the Hindu god Shiva. Aston says that “musubi” is “the abstract process of growth personified—that is, a power immanent in nature and not external to it”.29 Breasted similarly regards Osiris as “the imperishable principle of life wherever found”.30 Shiva, as “the fructifying principle”, is represented by the phallus. It is believed that this symbol was the “shintai” (god body) of Musubi.31