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* ''Mythological character within both the [[Kojiki]] and the [[Nihon Shoki]]
* ''Mythological character within both the [[Kojiki]] and the [[Nihon Shoki]]
* ''Distinction: the king of the Korean kingdom of Silla's son
* ''Distinction: prince Korean kingdom of Silla
* ''Possible alternate name: Hiboko, Ama no Hihoko, Ama no Hi-hoko''
* ''Possible alternate name: Hiboko, Ama no Hihoko, Ama no Hi-hoko, Ame-no-Hihoko''
* ''Name meaning: Spear of the Heavenly Sun (Aston's translation), Prince of the Shining Spear (Aoki's translation)''
* ''Name meaning: Spear of the Heavenly Sun (Aston's translation), Prince of the Shining Spear (Aoki's translation)''
==Overview==
==Overview==
Ame no Hiboko is believed to have travelled from Silla to Japan, with "magical jewels" that made for tranquil ocean travel.
Ame no Hiboko is believed to have traveled from Silla to Japan, with "magical jewels" that made for tranquil ocean travel.
In the Cambridge History of Japan, it is suggested that he was reverenced by those Koreans that had travelled to the Japanese archipelago and brought continental technology.
In the Cambridge History of Japan, it is suggested that he was reverenced by those Koreans that had traveled to the Japanese archipelago and brought continental technology.
In the ''[[Fudoki|Chikuzen fudoki]]'', a deity called ''Hiboko'' is listed as being the tutelary kami of a strong family located in northern Kyushu. This ''Hiboko'' may be one and the same with Ame no Hiboko. This ''Hiboko'', within the ''fudoki'' is supposed to have came to earth in Koguryo.
In the ''[[Fudoki|Chikuzen fudoki]]'', a deity called ''Hiboko'' is listed as being the tutelary kami of a strong family located in northern Kyushu. This ''Hiboko'' may be one and the same with Ame no Hiboko. This ''Hiboko'', within the ''fudoki'' is supposed to have came to earth in Koguryo.
The items carried by Ame no Hiboko resemble those usually bore by other ancestor kami<ref>The Cambridge History of Japan Volume One: Ancient Japan; Page 345</ref>.
The items carried by Ame no Hiboko resemble those usually bore by other ancestor kami<ref>The Cambridge History of Japan Volume One: Ancient Japan; Page 345</ref>.
Kidder's description of Ame-no-Hihoko is much more detailed. He describes a Silla prince who travels to [[Harima Province]], bearing either seven or eight (depending on the source) sacred, ritual objects, during the reign of [[Emperor Suinin]].
Upon hearing of the foreigner's location, he sent two powerful family leaders to investigate. Ame-no-Hihoko claimed (in a fashion somewhat suspiciously similar to a past immigrant from the Korean kingdom of Kaya named Tsunoga-arashito) that he wished to "offer his services" to a worthy ruler such as Suinin. Suinin attempted to convince Ame-no-Hihoko to move from Harima to a region closer to Suinin's capital. Hihoko requested to be allowed to choose his residence, instead, and traveled throughout central Honshu until he found himself residing again near Harima: in Tajima. His descendants (through a Korean wife in a sizable Korean population) continued to live in Tajima.
The potters (traditionally Korean immigrants to those instructed by past immigrants) in the city of Ômi are said to have become his servants (he stayed there during his wanderings for a residence).<ref>J. Edward Kidder, Jr. "Himiko and Japan's Elusive Chiefdom of Yamatai." Hawaii: 2007, Page 197</ref>
==Ame no Hiboko within the Nihon Shoki==
==Ame no Hiboko within the Nihon Shoki==
Aston's ''Nihongi'' writes Ame no Hiboko as ''Ama no hi-hoko'', or ''Ama no hihoko'', and "Izushi" as "Idzushi", but it is of little matter. Many of the names contained within his work differ from modern history books.
Aston's ''Nihongi'' writes Ame no Hiboko as ''Ama no hi-hoko'', or ''Ama no hihoko'', and "Izushi" as "Idzushi", but it is of little matter. Many of the names contained within his work differ from modern history books.
Continuing, Kiyo-hiko attempted to hide the Izushi short sword from Emperor Suinin, but was caught in the act. However, it magically disappeared from Suinin's posession, and found itself on the Island of Ahaji, where it was worshipped and enshrined.
Continuing, Kiyo-hiko attempted to hide the Izushi short sword from Emperor Suinin, but was caught in the act. However, it magically disappeared from Suinin's posession, and found itself on the Island of Awaji, where it was worshiped and enshrined.
==Ame no Hiboko as a representative figure==
==Ame no Hiboko as a representative figure==
Michiko Aoki, in her ''[[Records of Wind and Earth]]'' (pages 15-19) chronicles the disagreements between Ôkuninushi and Ame no Hiboko. She raises the interesting point that Ôkuninushi belonged to the Izumo region, which lies along the Japan Sea side of the archipelago. Ame no Hiboko, the foreign immigrant, came to the region and was denied entrance to the land by the aforementioned diety. However, by means of magic (Ame no Hiboko's powers have already been brought up), he proved to Ôkuninushi that he was not going to flee. The ''[[fudoki]]'' are filled with occurences of battles between these two deities.
Michiko Aoki, in her0 ''[[Records of Wind and Earth]]'' (pages 15-19) chronicles the disagreements between Ôkuninushi and Ame no Hiboko. She raises the interesting point that Ôkuninushi belonged to the Izumo region, which lies along the Japan Sea side of the archipelago. Ame no Hiboko, the foreign immigrant, came to the region and was denied entrance to the land by the aforementioned diety. However, by means of magic (Ame no Hiboko's powers have already been brought up), he proved to Ôkuninushi that he was not going to flee. The ''[[fudoki]]'' are filled with occurences of battles between these two deities.
Aoki suggests that the name ''Ame no Hiboko'' (Spear of the Heavenly Sun) gives clues to the foreign immigrants' place in early Japan. The people already established in the Izumo region must have had to contend with immigrants who brought with them iron weapons or implements. If you pay attention to the dates (usually not to be trusted within many of the books within the Nihon Shoki) given by Aston, above, you'll notice they roughly correspond to the time when iron and bronze was brought to Japan. It is an interesting hypothesis, one that is given much credit by the fact that the Izumo kami are barely mentioned in the Nihon Shoki, as compared to the earlier Kojiki (Cambridge History of Japan).
Aoki suggests that the name ''Ame no Hiboko'' (Spear of the Heavenly Sun) gives clues to the foreign immigrants' place in early Japan. The people already established in the Izumo region must have had to contend with immigrants who brought with them iron weapons or implements. If you pay attention to the dates (usually not to be trusted within many of the books within the Nihon Shoki) given by Aston, above, you'll notice they roughly correspond to the time when iron and bronze was brought to Japan. It is an interesting hypothesis, one that is given much credit by the fact that the Izumo kami are barely mentioned in the Nihon Shoki, as compared to the earlier Kojiki (Cambridge History of Japan).
*''Yachigusano''
*''Yachigusano''
**This refers to the 8,000 soldiers gathered under Ame no Hiboko<ref>ibid. pg. 217</ref>.
**This refers to the 8,000 soldiers gathered under Ame no Hiboko<ref>ibid. pg. 217</ref>.
[[Category:Deities]]
[[Category:Deities]]
[[Category:Folklore]]
[[Category:Folklore]]
==Notes==
==Notes==
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