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Japanese mythology Japanese mythology is a collection of traditional stories, folktales, and beliefs that emerged in the islands of the Japanese archipelago. Shinto traditions are the cornerstones of Japanese mythology. The history of thousands of years of contac ...
, the story of the occurs after the creation of Japan ('' Kuniumi''). It concerns the birth of the divine (''
kami are the Deity, deities, Divinity, divinities, Spirit (supernatural entity), spirits, mythological, spiritual, or natural phenomena that are venerated in the traditional Shinto religion of Japan. ''Kami'' can be elements of the landscape, forc ...
'') descendants of
Izanagi Izanagi (イザナギ/伊邪那岐/伊弉諾) or Izanaki (イザナキ), formally referred to with a divine honorific as , is the creator deity (''kami'') of both creation and life in Japanese mythology. He and his sister-wife Izanami are the ...
and
Izanami , formally referred to with the honorific , is the creator deity of both creation and death in Japanese mythology, as well as the Shinto mother goddess. She and her brother-husband Izanagi are the last of the seven generations of primordial ...
.


Story

According to the
Kojiki The , also sometimes read as or , is an early Japanese chronicle of myths, legends, hymns, genealogies, oral traditions, and semi-historical accounts down to 641 concerning the origin of the Japanese archipelago, the , and the Japanese imperia ...
, various gods were born from the relationship between Izanagi and Izanami until the fire deity, Kagu-tsuchi, at birth burned Izanami's genitals and wounded her fatally. Izanagi, witnessing the death of his beloved wife, in rage took the ten-graspA "grasp" is the breadth of four fingers when the hand is clenched. sabre and crushed his child, Kagutsuchi. A number of gods were born from the blood and remains of Kagutsuchi. Subsequently, Izanagi went to the land of
Yomi is the Japanese language, Japanese word for the underworld, land of the dead (World of Darkness). According to Shinto mythology as related in ''Kojiki'', this is where the dead go in the afterlife. Once one has eaten at the hearth of Yomi it is ...
(the world of the dead) to find Izanami, however when he found her, she had become a rotting corpse and from her parts other gods had arisen, causing the flight of Izanagi to the world of the living. Then Izanagi performed the
misogi is a Japanese Shinto practice of ritual purification by washing the entire body. Misogi is related to another Shinto purification ritual, ''harae''. Thus, both are collectively referred to as . Background Every year, many people take pilgrimag ...
ritual purification Ritual purification is a ritual prescribed by a religion through which a person is considered to be freed of ''uncleanliness'', especially prior to the worship of a deity, and ritual purity is a state of ritual cleanliness. Ritual purification ...
through which more gods are born. The last of these are the three most important gods of
Shinto , also called Shintoism, is a religion originating in Japan. Classified as an East Asian religions, East Asian religion by Religious studies, scholars of religion, it is often regarded by its practitioners as Japan's indigenous religion and as ...
:
Amaterasu , often called Amaterasu () for short, also known as and , is the goddess of the sun in Japanese mythology. Often considered the chief deity (''kami'') of the Shinto pantheon, she is also portrayed in Japan's earliest literary texts, the () ...
, goddess of the sun;
Tsukuyomi , or simply or , is the moon kami in Japanese mythology and the Shinto religion. The name "Tsukuyomi" is a compound of the Old Japanese words and . The ''Nihon Shoki'' mentions this name spelled as , but this ''yumi'' is likely a variation ...
, deity of the moon; and Susano'o, god of the storms.


Birth of the gods

After having created the Eight Large Islands ('' Ōyashima'') and other islands during the creation of Japan, Izanagi and Izanami decided to give birth to other gods, among them household deities,Despite the existence of the Japanese article, usually refers to Chinese deities and extending the term to Japanese gods has no long history or has any appreciably wide acceptance. deities of the wind, trees and meadows, all born spontaneously: # Chamberlain: Ohokotooshio = Ōgoto-oshi'o, male deity # ,Chamberlain: Ihatsuchibiko male deity # , female deity # , genderless deity and spirit # , male deity # , male deity # , male deity # , genderless deity and spirit # , male deity # , female deity #: From the relationship between Haya'akitsuhiko and Haya'akitsuhime the following gods were born: ## = Awa-nagi, male deity ## = Awa-nami, female deity ## , male deity ## , female deity ## , genderless deity and spirit ## , genderless deity and spirit ## , genderless deity and spirit ## , genderless deity and spirit # , male deity # , genderless deity and spirit # Ohoyama-tsumi/ Ōyama-tsumi (大山津見神, Ohoyama-tsumi/ Ōyama-tsumi -no-kami), male deity - Susano'o, please refer to or his genealogy with Susano'o, please refer to Ōyamatsumi">Ōyamatsumi">or his genealogy with Susano'o, please refer to Ōyamatsumi'' # , also known as , female deity #: From the relationship between Ohoyamatsumi and Kaya-no-hime the following gods were born: ##, genderless deity and spirit ## , genderless deity and spirit ## , genderless deity and spirit ## , genderless deity and spirit ## , genderless deity and spirit ## , genderless deity and spirit ## , male deity ## , female deity # ,Chamberlain: Tori-no-ihakusubune also known as Probably also a boat; ridden by Takemikazuchi - genderless deity and spirit # ,Chamberlain: Ohogetsuhime female deity, Goddess of food. # = ''Kagu-tsuchi'', also known as and , male deity, Kami of fire and the hearth. During ''Kagutsuchi'''s birth, Izanami's genitals were burned and she was mortally wounded. In her agony, from her vomit, urine and feces more gods were born. # , male deity born from the
vomit Vomiting (also known as emesis, puking and throwing up) is the forceful expulsion of the contents of one's stomach through the mouth and sometimes the nose. Vomiting can be the result of ailments like food poisoning, gastroenteritis, pregna ...
and
feces Feces (also known as faeces American and British English spelling differences#ae and oe, or fæces; : faex) are the solid or semi-solid remains of food that was not digested in the small intestine, and has been broken down by bacteria in the ...
of Izanami # , female deity born from the vomit and feces of Izanami # , male deity born from the feces of Izanami # , female deity born from the feces of Izanami # = Mizuhanome (Kami of water), female deity born from the
urine Urine is a liquid by-product of metabolism in humans and many other animals. In placental mammals, urine flows from the Kidney (vertebrates), kidneys through the ureters to the urinary bladder and exits the urethra through the penile meatus (mal ...
of Izanami # ,Chamberlain:Wakumusuhi = Tori-no-wakumusubi (Kami of agriculture), male deity born from the urine of Izanami : Wakumusuhi had a daughter: :1. = Toyoukebime (goddess of agriculture) female deity;


Death of Kagutsuchi

After the agony, Izanami dies. At the time Izanagi crept moaning about the body and mourned her death. From his tears, the female deity was born. Subsequently Izanagi buried Izanami on Mount Hiba. His sadness turned into anger and he decided to kill Kagutsuchi with a ten-grasp sword called Ame-no-ohabari/ (archaic name) Ame-no-wohabari . From the blood of Kagutsuchi the following gods emerged: # Chamberlain: Ihasaku # - Minor Star God. # #: The gods above were born from the blood that fell from the tip of the sword in the rocks. # # # , also known as or #: The gods above were born from the blood that fell from the blade of the sword. # # #: The gods above were born from the blood that fell from the handle of the sword. Also, from the body of Kagutsuchi the following gods were born: # , emerged from Kagutsuchi's head; # , from the chest; # , from the abdomen; # Kurayama-tsumi (
Kojiki The , also sometimes read as or , is an early Japanese chronicle of myths, legends, hymns, genealogies, oral traditions, and semi-historical accounts down to 641 concerning the origin of the Japanese archipelago, the , and the Japanese imperia ...
: 闇山津見神) or ( Nihon Shiki: 闇山祇), from the genitals; # , from the left arm; # , from the right arm; # , from the left foot; # Toyama-tsumi (
Kojiki The , also sometimes read as or , is an early Japanese chronicle of myths, legends, hymns, genealogies, oral traditions, and semi-historical accounts down to 641 concerning the origin of the Japanese archipelago, the , and the Japanese imperia ...
: 戸山津見神) or ( Nihon Shiki: 戸山祇), from the right foot.


Land of Yomi

Izanagi then decided to bring back Izanami and goes to Yomi-no-kuni, the underworld. Crossing the gates to that world, he met Izanami and says to her: Izanami replied: On saying this, Izanami entered the palace of these gods. However, time passed and she did not return and Izanagi began to despair. So he broke one of the tines of his ornamental comb mizura that he wore in the left bun of his hair, lit it in order to light the place and decided to enter the world of dead. He manages to find Izanami but is surprised to see that she lost her beauty and had become a rotting corpse, covered with maggots. Of her body were born the eight Gods of thunder, which were: # , from the head of Izanami; # , from her chest; # , from her abdomen; # , from her genitals; # , from her left arm; # , from her right arm; # , from her left foot; # , from her right foot. Izanagi, shocked, decided to return home, but Izanami was embarrassed by his appearance and commanded the to chase Izanagi. In his flight, he took the head-dress from his head, and threw it to the ground where it turned into a
bunch of grapes In viticulture, the grape cluster (also bunch of grapes) is a fertilized inflorescence of the grapevine, the primary part of this plant used for food (grape leaves are also used in some culinary traditions). The size of the grape bunch greatly va ...
. The Yomotsushikome started to eat them but kept chasing the fleeing Izanagi. So he broke the tine of the comb that he wore in his right bun, and as he threw it to the ground it became bamboo shoots, prompting the Yomotsushikome to eat them and enabling Izanagi to flee. However, Izanami decided to release the eight gods of thunder and 1,500 warriors from Yomi to continue the pursuit. Izanagi drew and brandished his Totsuka-no-Tsurugi sword to continue his flight. As they pursued him, Izanagi reached the , the slope that descends from the land of the living to Yomi. He took three peaches from a tree that had grown in that place and threw them at his pursuers so that they fled. Izanagi commented: These peaches were called . Finally, Izanami persecuted Izanagi, but he lifted a rock that a thousand men could not move and blocked the slope with it. At that moment, their eyes met for the last time. Izanami said: Izanagi replied: These words justified the circle of life and death in humans. For the same reason, Izanami is also called or and the boulder that covers the entrance to the world of the dead is known as or ō and is today known as in
Izumo Izumo (出雲) may refer to: Locations * Izumo Province, an old province of Japan * Izumo, Shimane, a city located in Shimane Prefecture ** Izumo Airport * Izumo-taisha, one of Japan's most ancient and important Shinto shrines Ships * ''Izumo ...
,
Shimane Prefecture is a Prefectures of Japan, prefecture of Japan located in the Chūgoku region of Honshu. Shimane Prefecture is the List of Japanese prefectures by population, second-least populous prefecture of Japan at 665,205 (February 1, 2021) and has a ge ...
.


Purification of Izanagi

Leaving Yomi, Izanagi decided to remove all uncleanness in his body through a purification ceremony (''
misogi is a Japanese Shinto practice of ritual purification by washing the entire body. Misogi is related to another Shinto purification ritual, ''harae''. Thus, both are collectively referred to as . Background Every year, many people take pilgrimag ...
'') consisting of a bath in the river at Ahakihara in Tachibana no Ono in Tsukushi. As he stripped his clothes and accessories on the floor the following twelve gods are born: # Tsukitatsu funato (衝立船戸神 – Post at the Road Bend) = Chimata no Kami, emerges from the staff. # Michi no nagachiha (道之長乳歯神 – Long Winding Way Stones), from the obi. # Tokihakashi (時量師神 – Time Keeper Loosed), from the handbag. # Wazurai no ushi (和豆良比能宇斯能神 – Master Miasma),Chamberlain: Wazurahinoushi from cloths. # Michi mata (道俣神 – Road Fork), from the
hakama are a type of traditional Japanese clothing. Originally stemming from Ku (), the trousers worn by members of the Chinese imperial court in the Sui and Tang dynasties, this style was adopted by the Japanese in the form of in the 6th c ...
. # Akigui no ushi (飽咋之宇斯能神 – Master Filled Full), from the crown
corona Corona (from the Latin for 'crown') most commonly refers to: * Stellar corona, the outer atmosphere of the Sun or another star * Corona (beer), a Mexican beer * Corona, informal term for the coronavirus or disease responsible for the COVID-19 ...
. # Oki zakaru (奥疎神 – Beyond Offshore), from the armband of the left hand. # Okitsu nagisa biko (奥津那芸佐毘古神 – Offshore Surf Lad), from the armband of the left hand. # Okitsu kaibera (奥津甲斐弁羅神 – Offshore Tide Lad),Chamberlain: Okitsukahibera from the armband of the left hand. # He zakaru (辺疎神 – Beyond Shoreside), from the armband of the right hand. # Hetsu nagisa biko (辺津那芸佐毘古神 – Shoreside Surf Lad), from the armband of the right hand. # Hetsu kaibera (辺津甲斐弁羅神 – Shoreside Tide Lad), from the armband of the right hand. Subsequently Izanagi is stripped of impurities from the land of Yomi. In this moment two gods were born: # , male deity # , male deity Then, shaking off the curse, three gods were born: # , male deity # , male deity # , female deity Then, when washing with water the lower parts of his body, two gods were born; # , genderless deity and spirit # , male deity When washing the middle of his body, two more gods were born: # , genderless deity and spirit # , male deity Finally, washing the upper part of his body, two more gods were born: # ,Chamberlain: Uhatsuwatatsumi genderless deity and spirit # , male deity The trio of Sokotsu-watatsumi, Nakatsu-watatsumi and Uwatsu-watatsumi make up the group of deities called Sanjin Watatsumi, or the gods of water. The trio of Sokotsutsuno'o, Nakatsutsuno'o and Uhatsutsuno'o make up the Sumiyoshi Sanjin group of deities, gods of fishing and sea, to whom tribute is paid at
Sumiyoshi Taisha , also known as Sumiyoshi Grand Shrine, is a Shinto shrine in Sumiyoshi-ku, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture, Japan. It is the main shrine of all the Sumiyoshi shrines. It gives its name to a style of shrine architecture known as '' Sumiyoshi-zukuri''. ...
. In the last step of the purification ceremony, Izanagi washed his left eye from which the female deity was born; washed his right eye from which the genderless deity and spirit was born; and when washing his nose from which the male deity = commonly known as Susano'o was born. With these three gods called , Izanagi ordered their investiture. Amaterasu received the mandate to govern
Takamagahara In Japanese mythology, , also read as Takaamanohara, Takamanohara, Takaamagahara, or Takaamahara, is the abode of the heavenly gods (''amatsukami''). Often depicted as located up in the sky, it is believed to be connected to the Earth by the bridge ...
and a necklace of jewels called from Izanagi. Tsukuyomi is mandated to govern over the Dominion of the Night, and Takehaya-susano'o (建速須佐之男命) = Susano'o is to rule the seas.


Notes


References


Bibliography

* * {{Jmyth navbox long Japanese mythology Creation myths Kojiki