{{short description|Japanese deity}}{{Infobox deity | type = Shinto | name = Futodama | deity_of = God of Rituals, Oracle, Divination and Shimenawa | parents = Takamimusubi | image = file:Futodama.jpg | children = Kamotaketsunumi no Mikoto | greek_equivalent = Phoebe | siblings = Omoikane, Takuhadachiji-hime }} '''Futodama''' ({{langx|ja|布刀玉命}}) or '''Futotama''' is a god in Japanese mythology, claimed to be the ancestor of Inbe clan, whose characteristics are believed to reflect the functions of the clan as court ritualists.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=Encyclopedia of Shinto - Home : Kami in Classic Texts : Futodama|url=http://eos.kokugakuin.ac.jp/modules/xwords/entry.php?entryID=52|access-date=2021-07-13|website=eos.kokugakuin.ac.jp}}</ref>
== Name and etymology == The god is known as Ame-no-Futodama-no-Mikoto ({{lang|ja|天太玉命}}) or Futodama ({{lang|ja|布刀玉}}, {{lang|ja|太玉}}) for short. His name is speculated to mean great gift or offering.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Aston |first=W. G. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DNPOCgAAQBAJ&q=futodama+name&pg=PT135 |title=Shinto - The Ancient Religion of Japan |date=2015-11-16 |publisher=Read Books Ltd |isbn=978-1-4733-7719-6 |pages=52 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Aston|first=William George|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nyUNAAAAYAAJ&q=divination+futodama&pg=PA184|title=Shinto, the Way of the Gods|date=1905|publisher=Longmans, Green|page=184|isbn=9780524006801|language=en}}</ref>
== Myths == After Susanoo accidentally killed one of Amaterasu's attendants in her weaving hall, she got upset and locked herself in Ama-no-Iwato, causing the world to plunge into darkness. After almost a year of chaos, Omoikane and the other gods came up with a plan to get her out.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Amaterasu|url=https://mythopedia.com/japanese-mythology/gods/amaterasu/|access-date=2021-07-13|website=Mythopedia|language=en}}</ref> Futodama and Ame-no-Koyane were tasked with performing a divination. After Amaterasu left the cave, Futodama used a shimenawa to prevent her from going back to the cave again. This story is said to be the mythical origin of shimenawa.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Bocking |first=Brian |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MWGQAgAAQBAJ&q=Shimenawa |title=A Popular Dictionary of Shinto |date=2005-09-30 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-135-79738-6 |pages=164 |language=en}}</ref>
In the ''Kogo Shūi'', Futodama is placed as the leader of the performed rituals.<ref name=":2" />
== Family == {{Further information|Family Tree of Japanese deities}}
{{Tree chart/start|align=center|summary=Futodama family tree}} {{tree chart| Tak | | | | | | Ame |Tak=Takamimusubi|Ame=Amaterasu}} {{tree chart| |!| | | | | || !}} {{tree chart| |)|-|-|.| | | | !}} {{tree chart| Fu | | Ta |y| Oh |Fu='''Futodama'''|Ta=Takuhadachiji-hime|Oh=Oshihomimi}} {{tree chart| |!| | | | || !}} {{tree chart| In | | | |Ni |In=Inbe clan|Ni=Ninigi-no-Mikoto}} {{Tree chart/end}}
In the ''Kogo Shūi'', Futodama is recorded as the son of Takamimusubi, and brother of Takuhadachiji-hime and Ame-no-Oshihi-no-Mikoto.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hoshino |first=Hikoshirō |url=https://archive.org/details/dli.ernet.16216/page/17/mode/2up |title=Kogoshūi – Gleanings from Ancient Stories |last2=Katō |first2=Genchi |publisher=Meiji Japan Society |year=1925 |location=Tokyo |pages=17 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Ponsonby-Fane |first=R. A. B. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BY23AwAAQBAJ&q=futotama+cousins&pg=PA11 |title=Studies In Shinto & Shrines |date=2014-06-03 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-136-89294-3 |pages=11 |language=en}}</ref>
== Worship == thumb Futodama is believed to be enshrined at Awa shrine, where there is a festival to the kami every year on August 10.<ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last1=Frédéric |first1=Louis |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=p2QnPijAEmEC&dq=Awa+shrine&pg=PA61 |title=Japan Encyclopedia |date=2002 |publisher=Harvard University Press |isbn=978-0-674-01753-5 |pages=61 |language=en |translator-last=Roth |translator-first=Käthe}}</ref> He is also enshrined at Amatsu Shrine alongside Ninigi and Ame-no-Koyane.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Kotodamaya - Amatsu Jinja|url=http://www.kotodamaya.com/amatsu-jinja/|access-date=2021-08-17|website=www.kotodamaya.com| date=21 January 2009 |language=ja}}</ref> The ''Engi Shiki'' lists several shrines to Futodama in Izumi Province.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Yasumaro |first=Ō |title=The Kojiki – An Account of Ancient Matters |date=9 September 2014 |publisher=Columbia University Press |isbn=9780231163897 |pages=235 |language=en |translator-last=Heldt |translator-first=Gustav}}</ref>
== Popular culture == Futodama appears as a demon in the Japanese role playing game ''Shin Megami Tensei IV''.<ref>{{Cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BJHiCgAAQBAJ&q=Futotama | isbn=9781631027192 | title=Shin Megami Tensei IV - Strategy Guide | date=7 November 2015 | publisher=Gamer Guides }}</ref>
== References == <references />
{{Inbe Faith}}
Category:Shinto Category:Japanese gods Category:Inbe clan Category:Amatsukami