Japanese Creation Story By Austin Young, Patrick Vasquez, Panfilo Ramos, Taylor Sandman

Japanese Creation Story In the beginning of the world, everything was chaos. There was no heaven and no earth. Everything was never ending. One day three gods came. The first was Ame-no-Minaka- Nushi-no-Mikoto. Then, another god named Takami- Musubi-no-Mikoto was born. Finally, a third god named Kammi-Musubi-no-Mikoto came from the heavens. These three gods were known as the Three Creating Deities.

Japanese Creation Story While the heavens began to form something else was occurring. All the heavy things in the air came together to form the earth. This took a very long time. The earth resembled spilled oil on water. Eventually, two more gods were born. Their names were Umashi-Ashi-Kahibi- Hikoji-no-Mikoto and Ame- no-Tokotachi-no-Mikoto. Lots of other gods were born after them.

Japanese Creation Story Finally all the gods called the two divine ones, Izanagi and Izanami, (one was male and one was female) and asked them to go down to the earth and make it something other than an oil spill. Once they had done that, the gods gave them a beautiful spear and told them to rule the land. The two immortals, Izanagi and Izanami crossed the floating bridge from heaven to earth. The gods took the spear, touched the water that covered everything, and they created an island. Today this island is called Onokoro.

Japanese Creation Story They got so excited, that they made the island their home. On their island they built a great pillar, called the Heavenly August Pillar. Around it they built a palace called the Hall of Eight Fathoms. Next, the male turned to his left, and the female turned to her right and they went around the pillar in opposite directions. When they met again, Izanami, the female, and Izanagi fell in love and created a baby. The baby, however was ugly.

Japanese Creation Story The parents were disgusted so they abandoned their baby in a reed boat. They were so disappointed in their baby, that they asked the rest of the gods how it could have happened. They were told that it was because the woman had spoken to the man first. The next time the pair walked around the pillar, the man spoke first and all of their future children turned out okay.

Japanese Creation Story The two gods had several island children, Shikoku, Awaji, Oki, Kyushu, Tsushima and Honshu. There were several smaller islands born that formed around the larger ones.

Japanese Creation Story Izanagi and Izanami also were the parents of the first Japanese Gods and Goddesses. First to be born was the God of the Sea, whose name was Owatatsumi- no-Kami. Next, they had Kamihaya-akitsu-hiko, the god who controlled the land, and Haya-akitsu-hime, the goddess who controlled the sea. They also had the following children: Kami-Shinatsuhiko-no-Mikoto – Wind God; Kukunochi-no-Kami – God of the Trees; Oyamatsumi- no-Kami – God of the Mountains; and Kayanuhime-no-Kami – Goddess of the Plains.

Japanese Creation Story Things went well until the God of Fire was born. His name was Kagnutsuchi-no- Kami. When he was born Izanami his mother was so terribly burned that she died. Her husband Izanagi tried to bring her back to life and was successful but she refused to eat anything. Her husband prepared all kinds of delicious foods for her but she refused to try them. If she did try something she usually threw up right away.

Japanese Creation Story At one point when she threw up more children were born: Kanayama-biko and Kanayama-hime, the god and goddess of metals. From different parts of her body more children were born. They were Haniyasu- hiko and Haniyasu-hime, god and goddess of earth. The last child born to Izanami was a miracle. Mizuhame-no-Mikoto, the Goddess of Death.

Japanese Creation Story After his wife died Izanagi was alone. He completely joined all of the individual islands to form one large Island Empire of Japan. Then overcome with his sadness he began to cry. He was amazed when one of his teardrops fell and a beautiful goddess Nakisawame-no-Mikoto, was born. He looked at her with wonder but kept on crying.

Japanese Creation Story He was so angry with the Fire god for killing his wife that he went into a rage and cut the god’s head off. Izanagi was very surprised at what happened next. Eight new gods appeared made from the blood and the sword. The dead body of the Fire god continued to create new gods until there were 16 in all. Izanagi was speechless.

Japanese Creation Story Meanwhile his wife decided not to fight for her life anymore, and she went to “The Land Of Hades”.

Source est.org/06aug/0234 0/Japancreation.htm

The gods were created then the earth and heaven were created and then the two divine gods create and island and build their home on it. Then they create a pillar. They walk around the pillar in opposite directions and meet at the other side and create another island. The island was ugly so they asked the other gods what was wrong and after the other gods told them what was wrong all of the other islands turned out okay. The two divine gods were the parents to the first gods and goddesses. They had seven children that were great. Then the eighth child was the god of fire and when he was born his mother died. His father brought her back to life but she wouldn’t eat anything. The fire god’s dad was so sad he started crying and when his tear drops fell to the ground another god popped up. The fire god’s dad was still so mad he cut the god of fire’s head off. And in the blood of the fire god, 16 more gods arose. After this happened the fire god’s mother went to the “Land Of Hades”. Izanagi and Izanami. Izanagi was male and Izanami was female. They loved creating more islands and more gods. It shows that they love their home and like how it was created. The most unusual part of this myth was when the two divine gods walked around the pillar they built and created islands. The part when the two divine gods threw their first island baby away because it was ugly is similar to when Hera threw Hephaestus off of Mount Olympus because he was ugly. Question Answers