How Has Mythology Shaped Society?

From the dawn of time, people from all countries have invented their own deities and myths. These legends were often handed down from one generation to the next, until the invention of the written word. Once the written word was invented, it was far easier for people to keep record of their deities and the many heroes that went on quests, and mythology involved into something far more interesting and personal for all societies. Gods gained their own personalities and agendas, heroes went off on epic quests, and from the mind of the authors, entire worlds were invented. Myth and legend had been tied in to life back in the days of yore, and to this day, it still plays a very important role in society.

The days of the week are in fact named after the Norse gods, each of whom had a day dedicated to them, even though there are not many people today who are aware of it. The creatures that modern society has come to love, such as dragons, werewolves, faeries and even vampires all originated from multiple legends and myths. Mythology has also played a role in politics and even some of the spoken phrases that we use. Many video games and movies owe their back stories to creatures or figures that have come straight out of ancient texts.

Religion even sprang forth from legends. People needed to believe that there was someone, some omnipotent beings, that created the world and everything within it. Therefore, the gods were born. Our modern religions all have very close similarities to the deities invented by ancient cultures. Though it has evolved in the same manner that all thoughts and dreams do, our religions all contain somewhat modern twists on ancient mythology.

We have even named our vehicles, some of our cities, planets, plants, animals and a few bodies of water after mythological creatures or deities. Pets are commonly named after mythological gods, and that trend has also began to affect how we name our children. Even some of our more commonly used words such as "satire" are simply re-spellings of words taken out of mythological texts. Some musicians include mythological references in their song lyrics or titles, and we still teach ancient religion in school. Though most people probably do not realize it, society is actually very heavily influenced by ancient society and the legends that were created and passed down for thousands of years.

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Japanese Mythology - The Legend of Issun Boshi

One of the most famous myths of Ancient Japan is that of Issun Boshi, or "Little One Inch," as his name translates to.

Boshi's parents had been married several years without being able to conceive, and after many years of frustration they prayed at a local shrine for divine assistance. They would be happy with any child, they claimed in their prayer, even if the child was only as big as a finger. The gods were pleased with their humility, and decided to grant their wish.

Though Boshi is the subject of several legends, he is most associated with a story that took place when he was fifteen years old. Wanting to visit Kyoto, the capital of Japan, he set out with his sword (in reality a needle), a bowl of rice, and a set of chopsticks. These items soon came in handy- upon encountering a river, he sat down in his rice bowl, and using his chopsticks as a pair of oars, promptly waded across the river.

Upon reaching the city, Boshi was lucky to find employment in the house of a wealthy family. He was a dedicated guard and servant, and became a favorite to the family. One day, accompanying the daughter to a prayer shrine, two oni (ogres) attacked the pair. Despite his size, Boshi bravely jumped in front of the daughter to protect her, and one of the oni swallowed him whole. From inside the monster's stomach, Boshi took out his needle and stabbed away at the ogre's gut. The monster spit him out in disgust, and Boshi climbed into the face of the other oni. Boshi stabbed away at the beast's eye, and the two oni ran away in a panic, leaving behind a magic mallet that they had stolen from an earlier victim.

The daughter picked up the mallet and struck it on the ground. Instantly, the God of Luck appeared, willing to grant her one wish. Still impressed by the bravery of her defender, she wished for Boshi to be restored to full size. Pleased with the selflessness of her wish, the God of Luck clapped his hands and vanished into the air.

Boshi, now full-sized, brought the daughter home, and they were soon married, with the blessing of her parents. He enlisted as a soldier, and because of his bravery and cunning, became a famous samurai. Though he would be the subject of many more legends, he is most famously known as the one-inch-man who drove off two oni with only a needle!

Charles E. Bush is a college fundraiser. He writes fiction and non-fiction in his spare time. His interests include librarianship, data mining, science fiction, history, and mythology.

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