- Feb 26
- 4 min read
Five Possible Mythical Beings in Assassin’s Creed Shadows
Written by Adam
Article first published February 20th, 2024
The long overdue instalment of Assassin's Creed in Feudal Japan silently clambers its way into this year.
With the release of Assassin's Creed: Codename Red tantalisingly on the horizon, it's time to start thinking about what we could expect from the game. In our last few articles, we explored the weapons and tools; now it's time to move on to the mythology.
The RPG Assassin's Creed games have not shied away from mythology, interpreting it in a blend of historical fiction and sci-fi, something unique to Assassin's Creed.
Japanese mythology and folklore are rather colourful, to say the least. Featuring a boy born from a giant peach to the princess of the moon found growing inside a bamboo stalk, there is no shortage of weird and wonderful stories that Ubisoft could adapt for Assassin's Creed Shadows
Izanami/Izanagi
"Izanami and Izanagi Creating the Japanese Islands" (天瓊を以て滄海を探るの図) by Eitaku Kobayashi. Izanami is to the left.
Hailing from the Japanese creation myth, Izanami and Izanagi are thought to have created the islands that would one day become Japan as we know it. They are said to have given birth to many deities, including the sun goddess Amaterasu, the moon deity Tsukuyomi and the god of storms, Susanoo. They would fit right at home within the Assassin's Creed universe as members of the Isu as the ones who created Japan.
Amaterasu
Amaterasu emerging from the cave, Ama-no-Iwato, to which she once retreated (detail of woodblock print by Kunisada)
Amaterasu Omikami, or Great Divinity Illuminating Heaven, is the sun goddess and the most important deity in the Shinto region, an offshoot of Buddhism and a religion native to Japan. The emperor of Japan was descended from the goddess, giving the emperor the right to exercise absolute authority.
As mentioned before, she is the daughter of Izanagi and Izanami. She was born out of Izanagi's left eye after he escaped from Yomi (the Land of the Dead.) Amaterasu is the ruler of Takama No Hara, known in English as the High Celestial Plain, the domain of kami (gods) and spirits.
If previous mythical outings are anything to go by in recent Assassin's Creed games, we should visit Takama No Hara at some point.
Susanoo
Susanoo defeats the Evil Spirits - 1868 - Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Susanoo, the younger brother of Amaterasu, is a god with many talents and contradictory traits. This is fitting, given that Susanoo is the god of storms, the sea and fields. He is famous for many things, slaying the Yamata no Orochi and saving the Kushinadahime from being devoured.
His contribution to Assassin's Creed Red will likely be in the form of his swords, Totsuka no tsurugi (ten-span sword) and Ame-no-Murakumo-no-tsurugi otherwise known as The Sword of the Gathering Clouds of Heaven, one of the Imperial Regalia of Japan.
Shinigami
"Shinigami"- Ehon Hyaku Monogatari - Shunsensai Takehara
Fans of Bleach and Death Note will no doubt recognise the Shinigami, beings similar to the Grim Reaper in Western culture. Their origins are a little hazy as Izanami is usually thought to have given humankind death after becoming trapped in Yomi after dying in childbirth. In this respect, she can be considered a Shinigami.
Generally, the term Shinigami was not used in classical Japanese literature until the Edo period where it can be seen in Chikamatsu Monzaemon's puppet theatre and classical literature. This is of particular note because the Edo period is one of two periods where Assassin's Creed Shadows is likely to be set, the other being the Sengoku period.
Hachiman
The Shinto deity Hachiman (Kamakura period 1326) at Tokyo National Museum (Lent by Akana Hachimangū), Important Cultural Property
Hachiman, the God of War and Archery, not to be confused with Bishamon, the God of War, is known to be the patron saint of sorts to the Samurai since the Kamakura period (1185-1333). He is a syncretic deity, meaning that he incorporates elements of both Shinto and Buddhism.
After Minamoto no Yoritomo became shōgun and established the Kamakura shogunate, Hachiman's popularity grew. Eventually, becoming the protector of the warrior class and his worship spread to the peasantry.
Hachiman has 2,500 shrines built in his name, second only to Inari, kami of foxes, fertility, rice, tea and sake, among other things. As one of the protagonists in Assassin's Creed Shadows is rumoured to be the Samurai, Yusuke, we could see the worship of Hachiman or possibly an armour set dedicated to him.
If you've made it to the end of the article, thank you. What subject on the topic of Assassin's Creed and Feudal Japan would you like to see us tackle next?
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