Why Does Yamata no Orochi Have Eight Heads？

When you hear the name Yamata no Orochi, what kind of creature do you imagine?

Eight heads.
Eight tails.
And a huge body like that of a giant serpent.

But this raises one question:

Why eight?

Why eight, rather than four or ten?

In Japan, the number eight is written with the kanji character “八.” Because the bottom of the character opens outward, eight has traditionally been considered an auspicious number. But the number eight was already regarded as a sacred number in Japan, even before Chinese characters were introduced.

The number eight appears many times in Japanese mythology, not only in the name Yamata no Orochi (八岐大蛇).

For example, Japan has long had the expression “Yaoyorozu no Kami,” often translated as “the eight million gods.”

This does not literally mean that there are eight million gods. Rather, it expresses the idea of an immense number of deities—so many that they cannot be counted.

So, does the “eight” in Yamata no Orochi’s eight heads and eight tails also have a special meaning?

There are several interpretations.

In Japanese, the word “happō” (八方) is used to describe all directions—north, south, east, west, and everything in between.

Perhaps the eight heads and eight tails suggest something so enormous that it could surround and block every direction, leaving nowhere to escape.

Or perhaps the number eight was simply used to emphasize how incredibly huge and terrifying the serpent was.

Some people also interpret Yamata no Orochi by connecting it with the natural landscape, such as mountains and rivers.

In particular, the story of Yamata no Orochi has a strong connection with rivers and water.

The land of Izumo, where the story is traditionally set, is home to the Hii River.

The Hii River flows through present-day Unnan City, Shimane Prefecture.

Perhaps the number eight was also a meaningful way for ancient people to express the world they saw around them and pass their understanding of that world down to future generations.

Of course, we do not know what the “eight” in Yamata no Orochi really meant.

But when you live near the Hii River in Unnan, it is easy to imagine that ancient people may have seen the powerful river and connected it in some way with Yamata no Orochi.

I find it fascinating that even Yamata no Orochi, often portrayed as a monster or villain, has the number “eight” in its name, a number considered lucky in Japan, and the word “snake,” which also has positive meanings in Japanese culture. To me, this reflects the fascinating complexity of Japan.

It is truly mysterious. When you visit the places in Unnan where the Yamata no Orochi myth has been passed down, and experience the culture that has taken root in this land, you can still feel the presence of the characters from the myth in people’s everyday lives.

The myth is not something that exists only in a book.

Stand on the land where the story has been passed down. Look at the mountains and the river.

You may begin to see the strange image of an “eight-headed serpent” in a completely different way.

Why eight?

Perhaps the best way to search for the answer is to walk through the land where the myth has lived for generations.

Why not come and discover Japan’s oldest stories—and see Japan with new eyes?