A integral part of the Sailor Moon Super Series is the search for the three talimans by both Sailor Neptune and Sailor Uranus as well as the enemy. According to legend, when the three talismans came together the Holy Grail would appear.

The Deep Aqua Mirror was found inside the crystal heart of Sailor Neptune. She became the possessor and user of the talisman. But where did the talismans come from and what qualities did they each hold?

The three talismans come from Japanese Mythology. The God of Storms, Susano frightened his sister, Amaterasu, the goddess of the sun, and in fear she ran into a cave and sealed the door behind her. In order to coax her out, Susano and the other God held a party outside the cave and placed a mirror and a gem outside the opening. When Amaterasu opened the cave door out of curiousity, the other gods pulled her out.

Upon explaining her story, the other god banished Susano to the land of Yoki where he met a farmer who's seven daughters had been eaten, one each year, by an eight-headed dragon. The man only had one daughter left, who was about to be the next meal for the dragon. Susano offered to kill the dragon if the farmer would give him her hand in marriage. The farmer obliged and Susano slaughtered the dragon, finding a sacred sword in its tail. Susano offered the sword to Amaterasu as a gift of reconsilition. Amaterasu later gave the three talismans to her grandson, Ninji, who's descendants were the emperors of Japan.

The talismans became sacred treasures to the Japanese people. They were lost in the 12th century and still remain lost today.

"The mirror reflects from its bright surface every object as it really is, irrespective of goodness or badness, beauty or the reverse. This is the very nature of the Mirror, which faithfully symbolizes truthfulness, one of the cardinal virtues. The jewel signifies soft-heartedness and obedience, so that it becomes a symbol of benevolence. The sword represents the virtue of strong decision, i.e. wisdom. Without the combined strengths of these three fundamental virtues, peace in the realm cannot be expected"

~ Ross, Floyd Hiatt. Shinto: The Way of Japan. Boston: Beacon Press, 1965.

Thus the Aqua Mirror held by Neptune reveals to her the truth behind appearances, allowing her to detect evil.

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