Mikado of Sintoos

To answer your questions accurately, we first need to clarify the terminology. Like "Ieo of China" or "Zoar of the Bonzes," the name "Mikado of the Sintoos" is not a specific mythological figure or a single ancient god.


 

This specific phrasing comes directly from Kersey Graves' 1875 book, The World's Sixteen Crucified Saviors.


 

  • "Mikado" is simply an archaic, Westernized term for the Emperor of Japan.


     

  • "Sintoos" is an archaic 19th-century spelling of Shintoists (followers of Shinto, the indigenous religion of Japan).


     

Therefore, Graves was not referring to a single mythological deity who died and resurrected, but rather to the hereditary Emperors of Japan. While the Emperors were historically revered as divine (as living descendants of the sun goddess Amaterasu), they were mortal men. Categorizing the Emperor as a "crucified savior" who died for the sins of humanity is entirely historically inaccurate and reflects a profound misunderstanding of Japanese religion by 19th-century Western writers.


 

Because "The Mikado" is a title held by 126 different men throughout Japanese history, here is how your theological questions apply to the concept of the Japanese Emperor in Shinto tradition:


 

Timeline & Locations

  • Active Period: The Imperial House of Japan is the oldest continuous hereditary monarchy in the world. According to legend, it was founded by Emperor Jimmu in 660 BCE. The current Emperor, Naruhito, is the 126th in the line.


     

  • Calendar Date of Birth: Varies for every Emperor. The current Emperor's birthday is celebrated as a national holiday in Japan (currently February 23).


     

  • Locations: Japan.


     

Appearance & Names

Because "The Mikado" refers to a lineage of human monarchs, their appearances vary. Historically, they wore traditional imperial robes (sokutai) for Shinto ceremonies.


 

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  • Different Names: Mikado (archaic), Tennō (the standard Japanese title, meaning "Heavenly Sovereign").


     

Life, Death, & Resurrection

  • When & How They Died: The 126 Emperors of Japan died in various ways—most from natural causes or old age, some in battle, and a few by assassination. None were crucified.


     

  • Did They Resurrect? No. When a Japanese Emperor dies, he stays dead. He is given a posthumous name and enshrined, while his successor immediately takes the throne.


     

  • Descend to Hell or Ascend to Heaven? In traditional Shinto, the spirits of great ancestors (including Emperors) remain as kami (spirits/gods) that can watch over the living or reside in shrines. They do not go to a Christian-style Heaven or Hell.


     

  • Crucified? No. Crucifixion was introduced to Japan much later (in the Sengoku period) and was used to execute criminals and, tragically, early Christian converts. No Japanese Emperor was ever crucified.


     

Actions & Theological Comparisons

  • Did They Die for the Salvation of Man? No. The concept of "original sin" and requiring a blood sacrifice for spiritual salvation does not exist in Shinto.


     

  • Born of a Virgin? No. Emperors are born through normal human reproduction. Their divine status comes from their bloodline, which Shinto tradition traces back to Amaterasu (the Sun Goddess), not from a virgin birth.


     

  • Called the Son of God? They were called the "Heavenly Sovereign" (Tennō) and were considered arahitogami (a living god or divine incarnation). However, this meant they were a physical manifestation of divine ancestral lineage, not the monotheistic "Son of God" sent to die for sins. (Note: Emperor Hirohito formally renounced this divine status in 1946 following World War II).


     

  • Part of the Trinity? No. Shinto is an animistic and polytheistic religion with millions of kami (gods/spirits). There is no Holy Trinity.


     

  • Will They Judge Man in Heaven? No. Emperors perform sacred rituals to ensure the prosperity of Japan and honor the ancestors. They do not act as apocalyptic judges of human souls in the afterlife.


     

Worship & Followers

  • How They Were Worshiped: Historically (especially during the era of State Shinto from 1868 to 1945), the Emperor was venerated as a living deity. Citizens would bow to his portrait, and his ancestors were worshipped at major imperial shrines, such as Ise Grand Shrine.


     

  • Who Worshipped Them? The people of Japan, particularly followers of Shinto. Today, the Emperor is deeply respected as the "symbol of the State and of the unity of the people," but he is no longer worshipped as a living god.