Orochi: Difference between revisions

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The Yamata no '''Orochi''' is a eight-headed and eight-tailed serpentine monster in [[Japanese Mythology]], similar in appearance to the [[Classical Mythology|Lernaean Hydra]] but with one less (or alternately, one ''more'') head. According to Shinto legend, the Orochi was defeated by the storm god Susano-o, who answered a request for aid by two earthly deities who were forced by the Orochi to hand over one of their daughters every year to be devoured by the beast, and were now down to their eighth and last one, Princess Kushinada. Just to distinguish the tale from Western dragon slaying myths, Susano-o first [[Attractive Bent Gender|lured]] the Orochi out by [[Wholesome Crossdresser|disguising himself as Kushinada]], and then killed it by setting out a bowl of strong sake for each head, letting it drink itself into a stupor, ''then'' lopping them off. Inside Orochi's body Susano-o found the sword [[Named Weapons|''Ame-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi'']] ([[wikipedia:Kusanagi|"Sword of the Gathering Clouds of Heaven"]]) that was later re-named "Kusanagi" ("Grass Cutter"), and is one of Japan's Three Sacred Treasures.