Magatama
Magatama ( Japanese 勾 玉 , German "crooked gemstone" and 曲 玉 , German "curved gemstone") are comma-shaped pearls in Japan .
Magatama have already been found in Japan at a large number of prehistoric sites of the Jōmon period , Yayoi period and the Kofun period and go back almost 3000 years.
Magatama are mostly made of jadeite or jade , which only comes from the area of the Itoi River ( Itoigawa ) in north-central Japan (and from Myanmar ). Magatama were also made from other materials such as crystals, glass and nephrite .
They were often used in barrows ( kofun ) as grave goods. They were also found in places of festivals and rituals. They were popular with the ruling upper class throughout the Kofun period and were often misinterpreted as symbols of the Yamato dynasty in Japan.
Some consider them an imperial insignia, although the finds show that their possessions were spread across all tribal areas of the Kofun period in Japan. It is believed that the Magatama had a spiritual meaning, but were also worn as jewelry. In the spiritual meaning they were supplanted by the Buddhist prayer beads in the Nara period .
In modern Japan, the shape of the magatama is still the common symbol of the human mind. Wearing a magatama is said to provide protection from the kami . Their shape corresponds to one half of the Daoist symbol Yin and Yang .
Although some see the Magatama originating in mainland Asia and assume spread via Korea (where they are known as Kokkok ) to Japan, no Magatama production facility has been found on the mainland (China, Manchuria, Siberia). The Korean kokkok are indistinguishable from the contemporary Japanese pieces, a fact that suggests that they were exported from Japan to Korea.
In modern usage the term Magatama stands for small, oval pearls with off-center holes ( teardrop pearls ). Both these and the ancient Magatama are known as gogok in Korea .
Yasakani no Magatama
The most important Magatama Yasakani no Magatama ( 八尺 瓊 曲 玉 ) is part of the throne insignia of Japan and was added to these around the Heian period . The Yasakani no Magatama stands for “benevolence” and is one of the three items used in the coronation ceremony.
According to Japanese mythology , these gemstones, along with a mirror , were hung from a tree in front of the cave where Amaterasu was hiding in order to lure them out. Yasakani no Magatama is believed to be a necklace made of jade magatama rather than a single gemstone as depicted in popular culture. It is also assumed that it is now in the Kōkyo , the imperial palace.