THE CREATION
The Beginning of the World
A page from the Kojiki
According to the Kojiki, the oldest collection of poems and songs of Japan's history, the beginning of the world was a time of chaos, where everything existed as a limitless and shapeless mass of disorder. One day however, heaven was born from the light particles rising up into the sky, and with it came the existence of the "Three Creating Deities". This heaven was called the Takama-ga-hara, which roughly translates to "Plain of the High Heaven". The rest of the matter then condensed into a dark mass, thereby forming the earth. With the earth's creation came the birth of two more gods, brought forth from a reed-shoot. Altogether, these five gods were known as the Kotoamatsukami.
Kuniumi - The Birth of the Land
Izanami and Izanagi
After the initial creation of the world, the creation of the Earth as we know it can be broken down into two parts. The first part in this creation is the story of the birth of Japan and is referred to as the Kuniumi.
From thereon, millions of years passed and the earth continued to remain a floating nebulous substance, until suddenly, a succession of gods came forth. They increased more and more in number, but for as long as the earth remained in a chaotic state, there was nothing for them to do in this undefined universe. Finally, the Heavenly deities took charge and summoned two divine beings, Izanagi and Izanami.
Given a magical spear called the Ama-no-Nuboko and charged with the task of making the earth a habitable place, the pair of gods consolidated the earth to form what is now known today as the eight islands of Japan. It was said that when Izanagi and Izanami were taking a walk, Izanagi thrust the spear in the water, pulled it out, and caused clumps of mud to fall back into the sea. These clumps of mud then hardened and grew until they became islands.
Afterwards, the two gods separated and began exploring Japan, forming plants, vegetation, and wildlife. When they reunited together, at the base of a pillar called Ame-no-mihashira, the two fell deeply in love with one another, mated, and started to procreate and give birth to other gods.
From thereon, millions of years passed and the earth continued to remain a floating nebulous substance, until suddenly, a succession of gods came forth. They increased more and more in number, but for as long as the earth remained in a chaotic state, there was nothing for them to do in this undefined universe. Finally, the Heavenly deities took charge and summoned two divine beings, Izanagi and Izanami.
Given a magical spear called the Ama-no-Nuboko and charged with the task of making the earth a habitable place, the pair of gods consolidated the earth to form what is now known today as the eight islands of Japan. It was said that when Izanagi and Izanami were taking a walk, Izanagi thrust the spear in the water, pulled it out, and caused clumps of mud to fall back into the sea. These clumps of mud then hardened and grew until they became islands.
Afterwards, the two gods separated and began exploring Japan, forming plants, vegetation, and wildlife. When they reunited together, at the base of a pillar called Ame-no-mihashira, the two fell deeply in love with one another, mated, and started to procreate and give birth to other gods.
Kamiumi - The Birth of the Deities
Raijin and Fujin
The second part of the creation story is called the Kamiumi and describes the birth of the original Japanese deities.
Izanagi and Izanami had many children, estimated to be more than twenty. Of these gods and goddesses, here are a few of the more important ones:
Izanagi and Izanami had many children, estimated to be more than twenty. Of these gods and goddesses, here are a few of the more important ones:
- Shina-tsu-hiki, commonly known as Fujin, is the god of the wind. At the moment of his birth, it was said that his breath was so powerful that all the clouds and mists in the world were immediately dispersed and world was full of brightness. Fujin is often portrayed as a demon carrying a bag of winds over his shoulder.
- Yakusa no ikazuchi, or Raijin, is the god of lightning, thunder, and storms. Raijin is characterized as a demon beating drums to create thunder and usually depicted together with Fujin.
Ryujin
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The couple continued to reproduce various offspring until the god of fire, Kagutsuchi burned and killed Izanami as she was giving birth to him. Desolate with anger, Izanagi retaliated by decapitating Kagutsuchi and cutting his son into eight pieces. These eight pieces of flesh became the eight major volcanoes of Japan and from the blood that dripped from Izanagi's sword, arose eight deities, of which include Kuraokami (Okami), the goddess of the rain and snow. From Izanami's body, eight more deities were born and from Izanagi's tears of sadness came Nakisawame, the goddess of wells.
Izanagi's Visit to the Underworld
Modern day entrance to Yomi
Still distraught with grief, Izanagi decided to visit Yomi, which literally translates to 'the shadowy land of the dead'. There, he searched for his wife, but upon finding her hidden in the shadows, discovered that she had already eaten food of the underworld and could not longer escape. Izanagi however, refused to give up and after much persuasion, Izanami said she would go speak with the deities of the dead living inside the castle. Before leaving, Izanami made her husband swear to stay where he was and not go looking for her. Izanagi agreed and so he waited.
But after waiting for hours, Izanagi finally gave into his impatience at nightfall and broke his vow to his wife. Taking the comb that bound his hair, he ignited it and used it as a torch. To his horror, as he entered the castle, he found Izanami lying dead in bed. Where she was once beautiful, was now a rotting corpse. So alarmed at the sight, Izanagi dropped his torch and began to fled. This commotion woke up Izanami, who in her anger at his betrayal, chased after him. Instructing the shikome (foul women) to join the hunt for her husband, Izanami pursued her husband all the way to the boundaries of the Yomi world.
At last, Izanagi managed to cross through the entrance into the world of the living and then used a boulder to block the entrance way. From behind, Izanami screamed and told him that if he left her, she would destroy 1,000 living people every day, to which he replied that he would give life to 1,500. And so, the existence of death was brought on by the hands of the vengeful and proud Izanami, who was abandoned by her husband.
But after waiting for hours, Izanagi finally gave into his impatience at nightfall and broke his vow to his wife. Taking the comb that bound his hair, he ignited it and used it as a torch. To his horror, as he entered the castle, he found Izanami lying dead in bed. Where she was once beautiful, was now a rotting corpse. So alarmed at the sight, Izanagi dropped his torch and began to fled. This commotion woke up Izanami, who in her anger at his betrayal, chased after him. Instructing the shikome (foul women) to join the hunt for her husband, Izanami pursued her husband all the way to the boundaries of the Yomi world.
At last, Izanagi managed to cross through the entrance into the world of the living and then used a boulder to block the entrance way. From behind, Izanami screamed and told him that if he left her, she would destroy 1,000 living people every day, to which he replied that he would give life to 1,500. And so, the existence of death was brought on by the hands of the vengeful and proud Izanami, who was abandoned by her husband.
