- Magatama (勾玉) is also sometimes written as 曲玉.
- Magatama have been used since the early Kofun period (3rd century CE), but they suddenly disappeared in the later half of the 7th century following the introduction of Buddhism.
- In ancient times, Japanese people wore magatama jewels which resemble the shape of the sun and moon on necklaces when worshipping the vast universe to receive the blessings of the sun and moon’s energy. Moreover, they made a hole in magatama and strung them on a cord, believing that they would be connected to their ancestors and receive the blessings of their spiritual power and vitality.
- The ancient Japanese wore magatama stones as amulets that would invite good fortune. Because people of elevated status and those who performed rituals in particular wore them, magatama also came to be recognized as symbols of power and authority.
- There is no established theory as to the magatama’s shape. Besides the idea that they resemble the sun and moon, there are also theories that they are meant to symbolize a fish hook, fang, kidney, or unborn child.
- The fundamental color of magatama is green, as they are often made from jade (hisui) or green agate (menou). This mystical dark green color, like the sprouts of plant life in the Spring, was thought to produce and stimulate vitality in humans. Stones of this color and shape were considered to generate vibrations, and these vibrations resonate with those generated by humans and grow stronger, strengthening the wearer’s vitality, protecting their physical health, repelling disaster and misfortune that would attack their body, and bringing confidence and good fortune, as well as mental health.
- There are also white and red-colored magatama made from quartz crystals and red agate, as well as ones made from glass and clay. In terms of shape, there are also variations on the most common, fang-shaped magatama, such as round ones (marutama) and cylindrical ones (kudatama).
Translated by our volunteer Kaitlyn Ugoretz
勾玉（まがたま）豆知識
１．勾玉は、曲玉とも書きます。
２．勾玉は、古墳時代前期（３世紀）頃から使われ、仏教が伝来して間もなくの７世紀後半に突如として姿を消しました。
３．古代の日本人は、太陽と月が重なった形を表す勾玉を首飾りなどにして大いなる宇宙を崇拝し、太陽のエネルギーと月のエネルギーの恵みを受けようとしました。また、祖先とのつながり、祖先の霊力、生命力の恵みも享受しようと考え、勾玉に穴を開け、紐を通しました。
４．古代の日本人は勾玉を魔除け、幸福を呼ぶ石と考えて身につけていました。位の高い人や祭を営む人が特に身につけていましたので、権力を表すものとしても考えられています。
５．形についての定説はなく、「太陽・月」を表すという考え以外に、「釣り針」「牙」「腎臓」「胎児」という説もあります。
６．勾玉の基本の色は緑で、翡翠（ひすい）や青瑪瑙（めのう）が多く使われます。神秘的な深緑色は、春の草木の新芽のように、人間に生命力の発動・躍動をもたらすものと考え、その色を持つ石と石の形から波動が生じ、その波動が人間から生ずる波動と共鳴して、より強力な波動となり、身につける人の生命力に強さを与えて肉体的健康を守り、身に襲いかかる厄難や災いをはねのけ、自信と幸運をもたらして精神的な健康をも与えてくれると考えました。
７．白色や赤色も使われ、赤瑪瑙、水晶が用いられることもあります。また、ガラス製、土製のものもあります。形も、いわゆる牙のような形をした通常の勾玉とは異なった、丸いもの（丸玉）、管のような形のもの（管玉）もあります。
