1. Japanese Mythology
Jason Juntunen, Becky Amundson, Dan Bender, Ryan Drew
PowerPoint by Jason Juntunen

2. Japanese Major Gods’ Family Tree

3. Creation The Japanese story of creation began with nothing
The first thing formed was the Plain of High Heaven
In it, the 3 creating deities (Ame-no-Minaka-Nushi-no-Mikoto, Takami-Musubi-no-Mikoto, and Kammi-Musubi-no-Mikoto) were formed.

4. Creation 2 The world slowly turned into solid ground from nothing
Suddenly 2 deities were created, Umashi-Ashi-Kahibi-Hikoji-no-Mikoto and Ame-no-Tokotachi-no-Mikoto.

5. Creation 3 Many more gods were created
The world was still a chaotic mass of nothing
Izanagi & Izanami took a sacred spear, Ama-no-Nuboko, and stirred the mass with it to create land

6. Creation 4
Izanagi & Izanami created a pillar, the Heavenly August Pillar, and walked around it
Izanami gave birth to children, but they were weak & boneless

7. Creation 5
The gods decided that the children were bad because Izanami spoke before Izanagi, so they walked around again with Izanagi speaking first
Izanami gave birth to 8 great islands & many smaller ones

8. They started to make other gods to rule over things
They started to make other gods to rule over things. First there was the sea-god, Owatatsumi-no-Kami. Then Kamihaya-akitsu-hiko for land and Haya-akitsu-hime for the sea
Kamihaya-akitsu-hiko and Haya-akitsu-hime were the parents of more deities
Creation 6

9. Creation 7
Then there was Kami-Shinatsuhiko-no-Mikoto for wind, who blew away all the clouds at his birth, Kukunochi-no-Kami for trees, Oyamatsumi-no-Kami for mountains, and Kayanuhime-no-Kami for plains

10. Creation 8
Izanmi gave birth to Kagutsuchi-no-Kami, the god of fire, and was burned so badly that when she finally became conscious she couldn’t eat

11. Creation 9
Before she died, many gods & goddesses came out of her body parts
Kanayama-biko and Kanayama-hime (god & goddess of metals) came from her mouth

12. Creation 10
Haniyasu-hiko and Haniyasu-hime (god & goddess of earth) came from other parts
Mizuhame-no-Mikoto was her last child

13. Creation 11 Nakisawame-no- Mikoto was born out of Izanagi’s tears
Izanagi attacked Kagutsuchi-no-Kami but only made more children from his blood & body parts

14. The End
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