八咫鏡 · やたのかがみ · objects

Yata-no-Kagami

A sacred mirror symbolizing wisdom.

Definition

The Yata-no-Kagami is one of the three Imperial Regalia of Japan, believed to reflect the divine spirit of the kami. Traditionally housed in Ise Jingu, the mirror symbolizes purity, truth, and the legitimacy of imperial lineage. It plays a critical role in Shinto rites, representing the kami's presence and serving as a medium for communication between deities and worshippers.

Etymology

The term combines 'Yata' (八咫), meaning 'eight spans' (referring to the mirror's size), and 'kagami' (鏡), meaning 'mirror'.