Talk:Izanagi

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[edit] Alleged parallel with Mayan Gods

A common mistake made by those unfamiliar with the ways that linguists show how languages are related (see historical linguistics for an intro) is to assume that similar-sounding words are related. While this is sometimes true, it is not relevant for determining whether or not two languages are related. Rather, what counts is regular sound correspondence between languages. For example, English heart and Greek kardia (which shows up as cardio- in English) don't have a lot in common, but the h:k and t:d correspondences show up in hundreds and hundreds of words. This sort of data, not words that are similar (like Japanese Izanagi and Itzamna for Mayan) are what linguists use.

Furthermore, based on time alone, the proposition that there is a connection between Japanese and Mayan cultures seems almost impossible to demonstrate. The Japanese came into Japan as early as 500 BCE, and no later than 250 BCE, while the Mayan culture flourished from about 1000 CE—a difference of over 1200 years. (Those who lived in Japan before 500 BCE, the Jomon people, are not the cultural or primary genetic ancestors to the modern Japanese people.)Godfrey Daniel 02:08, 28 February 2006 (UTC)

The ancestors of the Yamato must have come from Siberia - same as the ancestors of the Maya. Since Izanami is a female and Itzamna a male, the names must have been transmitted (if they were transmitted) from one culture to another, which would account for the gender confusion. Such confusion does happen when one culture borrows from another. Das Baz 15:46, 12 October 2006 (UTC)