八咫有(you)大或美的意思。八咫鏡起源(yuan)于中(zhong)國的水鏡,又稱“鑒(jian)”。就是在一(yi)個金屬盆中(zhong)放上水,用(yong)以照面。后來逐漸發展(zhan)成銅鏡,背面繪(hui)刻有(you)松竹梅、龜(gui)鶴等吉(ji)祥圖案。
當(dang)時日(ri)(ri)本(ben)(ben)人(ren)視鏡(jing)(jing)子(zi)(zi)(zi)為神(shen)圣物品,掛于胸前作為避邪用具。之(zhi)后鏡(jing)(jing)子(zi)(zi)(zi)種(zhong)類(lei)增多,其(qi)中的(de)(de)(de)八(ba)咫鏡(jing)(jing)作為天照(zhao)大神(shen)的(de)(de)(de)御靈(ling),祭在(zai)日(ri)(ri)本(ben)(ben)神(shen)社之(zhi)祖伊勢神(shen)宮內。鏡(jing)(jing)子(zi)(zi)(zi)在(zai)日(ri)(ri)本(ben)(ben)民俗中占有相當(dang)高(gao)的(de)(de)(de)地(di)位。日(ri)(ri)本(ben)(ben)人(ren)認為鏡(jing)(jing)子(zi)(zi)(zi)能(neng)照(zhao)物照(zhao)人(ren),本(ben)(ben)身就說明它具有神(shen)秘性(xing)和魔力,所以有關鏡(jing)(jing)子(zi)(zi)(zi)的(de)(de)(de)信仰和傳說很多。說它可引來(lai)吉祥,映(ying)照(zhao)出人(ren)心,可暴露(lu)惡魔的(de)(de)(de)本(ben)(ben)質,預見生(sheng)死(si)吉兇。由此,日(ri)(ri)本(ben)(ben)至今有人(ren)認為鏡(jing)(jing)子(zi)(zi)(zi)破碎(sui)是(shi)不祥之(zhi)兆(zhao),不能(neng)跨越(yue)鏡(jing)(jing)子(zi)(zi)(zi),非吉慶場合(he)要把(ba)鏡(jing)(jing)子(zi)(zi)(zi)遮蓋(gai)起來(lai)等等。
日本傳(chuan)說中有“三神器”,分別是草(cao)薙(ti)劍(jian)、八(ba)尺瓊勾玉、八(ba)咫鏡。
八(ba)(ba)咫(zhi)鏡(jing)又(you)叫真經津之(zhi)鏡(jing),日本傳說三神(shen)(shen)(shen)(shen)器之(zhi)一(yi)(yi),現(xian)在(zai)(zai)(zai)(zai)供奉在(zai)(zai)(zai)(zai)伊勢神(shen)(shen)(shen)(shen)宮。由于天(tian)(tian)照大(da)(da)神(shen)(shen)(shen)(shen)的弟(di)(di)弟(di)(di)須佐之(zhi)男(nan)大(da)(da)鬧高(gao)天(tian)(tian)原(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)闖了(le)(le)(le)(le)禍,天(tian)(tian)照大(da)(da)神(shen)(shen)(shen)(shen)十分惶恐,躲在(zai)(zai)(zai)(zai)天(tian)(tian)之(zhi)巖(yan)戶(hu)不(bu)(bu)出(chu)(chu)來(lai)了(le)(le)(le)(le)。她可是高(gao)天(tian)(tian)原(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)的老大(da)(da),沒她,高(gao)天(tian)(tian)原(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)和(he)葦(wei)原(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)中(zhong)國(guo)都(dou)(dou)變得(de)(de)一(yi)(yi)片(pian)漆黑,于是有人出(chu)(chu)主意(yi),用天(tian)(tian)安河上的天(tian)(tian)堅石和(he)天(tian)(tian)金(jin)山的鐵(tie)造出(chu)(chu)八(ba)(ba)咫(zhi)鏡(jing),掛(gua)在(zai)(zai)(zai)(zai)真賢樹(shu)上,八(ba)(ba)百萬(wan)(wan)眾(zhong)神(shen)(shen)(shen)(shen)一(yi)(yi)起在(zai)(zai)(zai)(zai)外面(mian)(mian)唱歌跳舞(wu)(wu),弄得(de)(de)高(gao)天(tian)(tian)原(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)雞(ji)犬不(bu)(bu)寧。天(tian)(tian)照很(hen)奇怪,就在(zai)(zai)(zai)(zai)里面(mian)(mian)問:“我(wo)隱居在(zai)(zai)(zai)(zai)這(zhe)(zhe)(zhe)里,高(gao)天(tian)(tian)原(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)黑暗(an)了(le)(le)(le)(le),葦(wei)原(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)中(zhong)國(guo)也(ye)都(dou)(dou)黑暗(an)了(le)(le)(le)(le),為什么天(tian)(tian)宇受賣命(ming)還在(zai)(zai)(zai)(zai)歌舞(wu)(wu),而(er)八(ba)(ba)百萬(wan)(wan)眾(zhong)神(shen)(shen)(shen)(shen)也(ye)都(dou)(dou)在(zai)(zai)(zai)(zai)高(gao)聲歡笑呢(ni)?”天(tian)(tian)宇受賣命(ming)回答說:“有比你(ni)更尊(zun)貴的神(shen)(shen)(shen)(shen)來(lai)了(le)(le)(le)(le),所以我(wo)們在(zai)(zai)(zai)(zai)歡樂歌舞(wu)(wu)。”說話之(zhi)間,天(tian)(tian)兒屋命(ming)和(he)天(tian)(tian)布刀玉命(ming)舉起掛(gua)在(zai)(zai)(zai)(zai)真賢樹(shu)枝上的八(ba)(ba)咫(zhi)鏡(jing),讓天(tian)(tian)照大(da)(da)御(yu)神(shen)(shen)(shen)(shen)照著鏡(jing)子(zi)(zi)看。天(tian)(tian)照大(da)(da)御(yu)神(shen)(shen)(shen)(shen)說:“這(zhe)(zhe)(zhe)家伙(huo)是誰,難(nan)道(dao)(dao)比我(wo)還尊(zun)貴嗎?”天(tian)(tian)照光顧著看鏡(jing)子(zi)(zi),沒留神(shen)(shen)(shen)(shen)從門里出(chu)(chu)來(lai)了(le)(le)(le)(le),這(zhe)(zhe)(zhe)時隱藏在(zai)(zai)(zai)(zai)門旁的天(tian)(tian)手(shou)力(li)男(nan)神(shen)(shen)(shen)(shen),便抓(zhua)住她的手(shou),把她拉出(chu)(chu)來(lai)。天(tian)(tian)布刀玉命(ming)趕(gan)忙把注連繩掛(gua)在(zai)(zai)(zai)(zai)她的后面(mian)(mian),說道(dao)(dao):“不(bu)(bu)許再回到里邊去了(le)(le)(le)(le)!”天(tian)(tian)照大(da)(da)御(yu)神(shen)(shen)(shen)(shen)一(yi)(yi)出(chu)(chu)來(lai),高(gao)天(tian)(tian)原(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)和(he)葦(wei)原(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)中(zhong)國(guo)立即天(tian)(tian)光大(da)(da)亮。后來(lai),天(tian)(tian)照把這(zhe)(zhe)(zhe)面(mian)(mian)鏡(jing)子(zi)(zi)也(ye)作(zuo)為神(shen)(shen)(shen)(shen)器給了(le)(le)(le)(le)天(tian)(tian)孫,并且說:“要永遠把這(zhe)(zhe)(zhe)面(mian)(mian)鏡(jing)子(zi)(zi)當作(zuo)我(wo)的化身(shen)來(lai)莊嚴的祭祀(si)”。