八咫(zhi)有大或(huo)美的(de)意(yi)思。八咫(zhi)鏡起源于中(zhong)國的(de)水鏡,又稱“鑒”。就是在(zai)一個金屬盆中(zhong)放(fang)上水,用(yong)以照(zhao)面。后來逐(zhu)漸(jian)發展成銅鏡,背面繪刻有松(song)竹梅、龜(gui)鶴等吉(ji)祥圖案。
當時(shi)日本人(ren)(ren)視鏡(jing)子(zi)為(wei)神(shen)(shen)圣物(wu)(wu)品,掛于胸(xiong)前作(zuo)(zuo)為(wei)避邪(xie)用具(ju)。之后(hou)鏡(jing)子(zi)種類增多,其(qi)中(zhong)的(de)八咫鏡(jing)作(zuo)(zuo)為(wei)天照大神(shen)(shen)的(de)御靈,祭(ji)在日本神(shen)(shen)社之祖(zu)伊勢神(shen)(shen)宮內(nei)。鏡(jing)子(zi)在日本民(min)俗中(zhong)占(zhan)有(you)相(xiang)當高的(de)地位。日本人(ren)(ren)認為(wei)鏡(jing)子(zi)能(neng)照物(wu)(wu)照人(ren)(ren),本身(shen)就(jiu)說(shuo)(shuo)明它(ta)具(ju)有(you)神(shen)(shen)秘性和魔(mo)力,所以(yi)有(you)關鏡(jing)子(zi)的(de)信仰和傳說(shuo)(shuo)很多。說(shuo)(shuo)它(ta)可(ke)引來吉(ji)祥,映照出人(ren)(ren)心,可(ke)暴(bao)露惡魔(mo)的(de)本質,預見(jian)生死(si)吉(ji)兇。由此(ci),日本至今有(you)人(ren)(ren)認為(wei)鏡(jing)子(zi)破碎(sui)是不(bu)祥之兆(zhao),不(bu)能(neng)跨(kua)越鏡(jing)子(zi),非吉(ji)慶場合要把鏡(jing)子(zi)遮蓋(gai)起來等(deng)等(deng)。
日本傳說(shuo)中有(you)“三神器(qi)”,分別是草薙劍、八尺瓊勾玉、八咫鏡。
八咫鏡(jing)又(you)叫真(zhen)經津之(zhi)鏡(jing),日本(ben)傳說(shuo)(shuo)三神器之(zhi)一(yi),現在(zai)(zai)(zai)供(gong)奉在(zai)(zai)(zai)伊(yi)勢(shi)神宮。由(you)于(yu)(yu)天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)照(zhao)(zhao)(zhao)(zhao)大(da)(da)(da)神的(de)(de)(de)(de)弟弟須(xu)佐之(zhi)男大(da)(da)(da)鬧高(gao)天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)原(yuan)闖(chuang)了(le)禍,天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)照(zhao)(zhao)(zhao)(zhao)大(da)(da)(da)神十分惶恐,躲在(zai)(zai)(zai)天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)之(zhi)巖戶不出(chu)(chu)來(lai)了(le)。她(ta)(ta)(ta)可(ke)是高(gao)天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)原(yuan)的(de)(de)(de)(de)老大(da)(da)(da),沒她(ta)(ta)(ta),高(gao)天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)原(yuan)和(he)葦(wei)原(yuan)中(zhong)國(guo)都變得(de)一(yi)片(pian)漆黑(hei),于(yu)(yu)是有(you)人出(chu)(chu)主意,用天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)安(an)河上的(de)(de)(de)(de)天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)堅石和(he)天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)金(jin)山的(de)(de)(de)(de)鐵造出(chu)(chu)八咫鏡(jing),掛(gua)(gua)在(zai)(zai)(zai)真(zhen)賢樹上,八百萬眾神一(yi)起在(zai)(zai)(zai)外(wai)面(mian)(mian)唱歌(ge)(ge)跳舞(wu)(wu),弄得(de)高(gao)天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)原(yuan)雞(ji)犬不寧。天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)照(zhao)(zhao)(zhao)(zhao)很奇怪,就在(zai)(zai)(zai)里面(mian)(mian)問:“我(wo)隱居在(zai)(zai)(zai)這(zhe)里,高(gao)天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)原(yuan)黑(hei)暗了(le),葦(wei)原(yuan)中(zhong)國(guo)也都黑(hei)暗了(le),為什么天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)宇(yu)受(shou)賣命(ming)還在(zai)(zai)(zai)歌(ge)(ge)舞(wu)(wu),而八百萬眾神也都在(zai)(zai)(zai)高(gao)聲歡笑呢?”天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)宇(yu)受(shou)賣命(ming)回(hui)答說(shuo)(shuo):“有(you)比你更尊(zun)貴的(de)(de)(de)(de)神來(lai)了(le),所(suo)以我(wo)們(men)在(zai)(zai)(zai)歡樂(le)歌(ge)(ge)舞(wu)(wu)。”說(shuo)(shuo)話之(zhi)間,天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)兒屋命(ming)和(he)天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)布(bu)(bu)刀(dao)玉命(ming)舉起掛(gua)(gua)在(zai)(zai)(zai)真(zhen)賢樹枝上的(de)(de)(de)(de)八咫鏡(jing),讓天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)照(zhao)(zhao)(zhao)(zhao)大(da)(da)(da)御神照(zhao)(zhao)(zhao)(zhao)著鏡(jing)子看。天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)照(zhao)(zhao)(zhao)(zhao)大(da)(da)(da)御神說(shuo)(shuo):“這(zhe)家(jia)伙是誰,難道(dao)比我(wo)還尊(zun)貴嗎(ma)?”天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)照(zhao)(zhao)(zhao)(zhao)光顧著看鏡(jing)子,沒留神從門里出(chu)(chu)來(lai)了(le),這(zhe)時隱藏在(zai)(zai)(zai)門旁的(de)(de)(de)(de)天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)手力(li)男神,便抓住(zhu)她(ta)(ta)(ta)的(de)(de)(de)(de)手,把(ba)她(ta)(ta)(ta)拉(la)出(chu)(chu)來(lai)。天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)布(bu)(bu)刀(dao)玉命(ming)趕(gan)忙把(ba)注連繩掛(gua)(gua)在(zai)(zai)(zai)她(ta)(ta)(ta)的(de)(de)(de)(de)后面(mian)(mian),說(shuo)(shuo)道(dao):“不許(xu)再(zai)回(hui)到(dao)里邊去了(le)!”天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)照(zhao)(zhao)(zhao)(zhao)大(da)(da)(da)御神一(yi)出(chu)(chu)來(lai),高(gao)天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)原(yuan)和(he)葦(wei)原(yuan)中(zhong)國(guo)立即天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)光大(da)(da)(da)亮。后來(lai),天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)照(zhao)(zhao)(zhao)(zhao)把(ba)這(zhe)面(mian)(mian)鏡(jing)子也作為神器給(gei)了(le)天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)孫,并(bing)且說(shuo)(shuo):“要(yao)永遠把(ba)這(zhe)面(mian)(mian)鏡(jing)子當作我(wo)的(de)(de)(de)(de)化身來(lai)莊嚴(yan)的(de)(de)(de)(de)祭祀(si)”。