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Yamata

Yamata is a term that can refer to several distinct topics in Japanese tradition and geography. The best-known uses are mythological and historical, but the name also appears in modern place names.

In Japanese mythology, Yamata no Orochi is a legendary dragon with eight heads and eight tails. The

In early Japanese history, Yamatai (often rendered Yamataikoku in some sources) denotes an ancient polity described

As a toponym, Yamata or Yamata-related names appear in various modern places in Japan, reflecting the term’s

tale,
told
in
the
early
chronicles
Kojiki
and
Nihon
Shoki,
describes
the
storm
god
Susanoo
defeating
the
creature
and
recovering
a
sword
from
its
tail.
That
sword,
Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi,
becomes
one
of
the
Imperial
Regalia
of
Japan
and
symbolizes
Susanoo’s
victory
and
subsequent
reconciliation
with
the
sun
goddess
Amaterasu.
in
Chinese
historical
records
such
as
the
Records
of
Wei.
It
is
associated
with
the
queen
Himiko
and
is
dated
to
the
3rd
century
CE.
The
exact
location
of
Yamatai
is
uncertain,
and
scholars
have
proposed
multiple
sites
across
different
regions
of
Japan,
particularly
in
the
Kinai
area
and
around
Kyushu.
The
identity,
extent,
and
geography
of
Yamatai
remain
subjects
of
debate
and
ongoing
research.
enduring
cultural
resonance.
Etymology
and
usage
of
the
name
vary
by
context,
which
can
complicate
disambiguation
in
historical
and
literary
sources.