八咫(zhi)有大或美的(de)意思。八咫(zhi)鏡(jing)(jing)(jing)起源(yuan)于中國的(de)水(shui)(shui)鏡(jing)(jing)(jing),又稱“鑒(jian)”。就是在一個金屬盆中放(fang)上(shang)水(shui)(shui),用以照面(mian)。后來逐漸發展成銅鏡(jing)(jing)(jing),背面(mian)繪刻有松竹梅(mei)、龜鶴等(deng)吉祥圖案(an)。
當時(shi)日(ri)本(ben)(ben)人(ren)視(shi)鏡(jing)(jing)子(zi)(zi)(zi)為(wei)(wei)神(shen)圣物品(pin),掛于胸前作為(wei)(wei)避邪用具(ju)。之后鏡(jing)(jing)子(zi)(zi)(zi)種類增多,其中(zhong)(zhong)的(de)八咫鏡(jing)(jing)作為(wei)(wei)天(tian)照大(da)神(shen)的(de)御靈,祭在日(ri)本(ben)(ben)神(shen)社之祖(zu)伊勢(shi)神(shen)宮內。鏡(jing)(jing)子(zi)(zi)(zi)在日(ri)本(ben)(ben)民俗中(zhong)(zhong)占有(you)(you)相當高的(de)地位。日(ri)本(ben)(ben)人(ren)認為(wei)(wei)鏡(jing)(jing)子(zi)(zi)(zi)能照物照人(ren),本(ben)(ben)身(shen)就說(shuo)明它具(ju)有(you)(you)神(shen)秘性和魔(mo)(mo)力,所以有(you)(you)關(guan)鏡(jing)(jing)子(zi)(zi)(zi)的(de)信仰(yang)和傳說(shuo)很多。說(shuo)它可引來(lai)吉(ji)祥,映照出人(ren)心,可暴露(lu)惡魔(mo)(mo)的(de)本(ben)(ben)質,預見生死吉(ji)兇。由此,日(ri)本(ben)(ben)至今有(you)(you)人(ren)認為(wei)(wei)鏡(jing)(jing)子(zi)(zi)(zi)破碎是不(bu)祥之兆(zhao),不(bu)能跨越鏡(jing)(jing)子(zi)(zi)(zi),非吉(ji)慶場合要(yao)把(ba)鏡(jing)(jing)子(zi)(zi)(zi)遮蓋起來(lai)等(deng)等(deng)。
日本(ben)傳(chuan)說中有(you)“三神器”,分別是草薙(ti)劍(jian)、八尺(chi)瓊勾玉、八咫鏡(jing)。
八(ba)咫鏡(jing)又叫真經津之(zhi)鏡(jing),日本傳說(shuo)三神(shen)(shen)器(qi)之(zhi)一,現在(zai)(zai)(zai)供奉(feng)在(zai)(zai)(zai)伊(yi)勢神(shen)(shen)宮(gong)。由于天(tian)(tian)(tian)照大(da)(da)神(shen)(shen)的(de)(de)(de)弟弟須(xu)佐之(zhi)男(nan)大(da)(da)鬧高(gao)天(tian)(tian)(tian)原(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)闖了(le)(le)(le)(le)禍(huo),天(tian)(tian)(tian)照大(da)(da)神(shen)(shen)十分惶恐,躲在(zai)(zai)(zai)天(tian)(tian)(tian)之(zhi)巖戶不出(chu)(chu)來(lai)(lai)了(le)(le)(le)(le)。她(ta)(ta)可是(shi)高(gao)天(tian)(tian)(tian)原(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)的(de)(de)(de)老大(da)(da),沒她(ta)(ta),高(gao)天(tian)(tian)(tian)原(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)和(he)葦(wei)原(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)中(zhong)國都(dou)變(bian)得(de)一片漆黑(hei),于是(shi)有人(ren)出(chu)(chu)主(zhu)意,用(yong)天(tian)(tian)(tian)安河(he)上的(de)(de)(de)天(tian)(tian)(tian)堅(jian)石和(he)天(tian)(tian)(tian)金山的(de)(de)(de)鐵造(zao)出(chu)(chu)八(ba)咫鏡(jing),掛(gua)在(zai)(zai)(zai)真賢(xian)樹上,八(ba)百(bai)萬眾神(shen)(shen)一起(qi)(qi)在(zai)(zai)(zai)外面(mian)(mian)唱歌跳(tiao)舞(wu),弄得(de)高(gao)天(tian)(tian)(tian)原(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)雞犬不寧。天(tian)(tian)(tian)照很奇怪,就在(zai)(zai)(zai)里面(mian)(mian)問:“我(wo)隱(yin)(yin)居在(zai)(zai)(zai)這(zhe)(zhe)(zhe)里,高(gao)天(tian)(tian)(tian)原(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)黑(hei)暗了(le)(le)(le)(le),葦(wei)原(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)中(zhong)國也(ye)(ye)都(dou)黑(hei)暗了(le)(le)(le)(le),為什么(me)天(tian)(tian)(tian)宇受賣命(ming)(ming)還(huan)在(zai)(zai)(zai)歌舞(wu),而(er)八(ba)百(bai)萬眾神(shen)(shen)也(ye)(ye)都(dou)在(zai)(zai)(zai)高(gao)聲歡笑呢?”天(tian)(tian)(tian)宇受賣命(ming)(ming)回(hui)答(da)說(shuo):“有比你更尊貴的(de)(de)(de)神(shen)(shen)來(lai)(lai)了(le)(le)(le)(le),所以我(wo)們在(zai)(zai)(zai)歡樂歌舞(wu)。”說(shuo)話(hua)之(zhi)間(jian),天(tian)(tian)(tian)兒屋命(ming)(ming)和(he)天(tian)(tian)(tian)布刀玉命(ming)(ming)舉起(qi)(qi)掛(gua)在(zai)(zai)(zai)真賢(xian)樹枝(zhi)上的(de)(de)(de)八(ba)咫鏡(jing),讓(rang)天(tian)(tian)(tian)照大(da)(da)御(yu)神(shen)(shen)照著(zhu)鏡(jing)子看(kan)。天(tian)(tian)(tian)照大(da)(da)御(yu)神(shen)(shen)說(shuo):“這(zhe)(zhe)(zhe)家伙是(shi)誰(shui),難道比我(wo)還(huan)尊貴嗎(ma)?”天(tian)(tian)(tian)照光顧著(zhu)看(kan)鏡(jing)子,沒留神(shen)(shen)從門(men)里出(chu)(chu)來(lai)(lai)了(le)(le)(le)(le),這(zhe)(zhe)(zhe)時隱(yin)(yin)藏(zang)在(zai)(zai)(zai)門(men)旁的(de)(de)(de)天(tian)(tian)(tian)手(shou)力男(nan)神(shen)(shen),便(bian)抓住她(ta)(ta)的(de)(de)(de)手(shou),把(ba)她(ta)(ta)拉出(chu)(chu)來(lai)(lai)。天(tian)(tian)(tian)布刀玉命(ming)(ming)趕(gan)忙把(ba)注連繩掛(gua)在(zai)(zai)(zai)她(ta)(ta)的(de)(de)(de)后(hou)面(mian)(mian),說(shuo)道:“不許再回(hui)到里邊(bian)去了(le)(le)(le)(le)!”天(tian)(tian)(tian)照大(da)(da)御(yu)神(shen)(shen)一出(chu)(chu)來(lai)(lai),高(gao)天(tian)(tian)(tian)原(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)和(he)葦(wei)原(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)中(zhong)國立即天(tian)(tian)(tian)光大(da)(da)亮。后(hou)來(lai)(lai),天(tian)(tian)(tian)照把(ba)這(zhe)(zhe)(zhe)面(mian)(mian)鏡(jing)子也(ye)(ye)作為神(shen)(shen)器(qi)給了(le)(le)(le)(le)天(tian)(tian)(tian)孫(sun),并且(qie)說(shuo):“要永遠把(ba)這(zhe)(zhe)(zhe)面(mian)(mian)鏡(jing)子當作我(wo)的(de)(de)(de)化(hua)身(shen)來(lai)(lai)莊嚴的(de)(de)(de)祭祀”。