Izanami and Izanagi Create a Great Country

In the beginning, the universe was a swirling mass of matter. Gradually, the lighter matter rose up and became the heavens. The heavier matter sank down and became the oceans. A void existed between the two, in which a being formed – it looked like a reed shoot when it sprouts out of mud. This being was the first god. The god floated in the void as a cloud floats over the sea. Over time, other gods also began to form. The two youngest were a male called Izanagi No Mikoto and a female called Izanami No Mikoto.

Izanagi and Izanami looked down on the watery wastes beneath them. “I wonder if there is something down there for us to stand upon,” pondered Izanami.

Izanagi plunged his spear into the ocean to see if it hit anything solid. He moved the spear this way and that way in the depths, testing the waters. When he withdrew the spear, droplets of salty water fell from its tip and formed an island.

“Now we have land to rest on,” he exclaimed eagerly. “We can go and live down there among the waters.”

Izanagi and Izanami descended to earth on the bridge from the heavens—a rainbow. First, they made their island beautiful with trees and flowers.

Then, they thrust Izanagi's spear into the centre of the island and built an enormous palace around it.

One day, they caught sight of two wagtails flying through the trees together, chirping happily. Izanagi and Izanami realized the secret of making new life. They hoped to create many children of their own – more islands – which would join together to form a great country.

Izanagi and Izanami held a marriage ceremony. They performed a sacred ritual in which they each other travelled around the island in opposite directions until they met and greeted each other politely.

“Good day, handsome young man,” said Izanami.

“Good day, beautiful young woman,” replied Izanagi.

In due course, Izanami gave birth to their first child. However, it was misshapen, ugly, and infertile instead of being a beautiful island. Izanagi and Izanami were horrified. This was not what they had in mind at all.

Disappointed, they set the island adrift in the ocean and decided to start again.

The two gods hurried up to heaven to seek advice from the older wiser gods. “Why did we have an abnormal child?” they asked. “Is there anything we can do to stop us having more?”

The gods shook their heads and pointed sternly at Izanami. “She gave birth to a useless offspring because she does not know her proper place,” they scolded. “Women should allow men to speak first,” they warned, “or else there will be bad luck.”

Izanagi and Izanami glided back down to their island to try again. They performed the sacred ritual once more, travelling around the island in opposite directions until they met and greeted each other politely. This time, Izanagi spoke first.

“Good day, beautiful young woman,” he said.

”Good day, handsome young woman,” Izanami replied.

In due course, Izanami gave birth to eight children. They were all beautiful islands. Together, they formed the country of Japan.

At first, Izanagi and Izanami were thrilled. After a while, the gods began to grumble because the islands were covered with mists. “What is the point in creating a wonderful country if no one can see it?”

Izanagi drew up all his breath and then blew out as hard as he could. Another child flew from him – the god of the wind. The god of the wind blew away the mists from the islands.

Delighted, Izanagi and Izanami set about creating other gods to make the islands perfect. They created the gods of the seas to ensure that blue waters lapped the shores, the gods of the mountains to raise lofty peaks towards the heavens, the gods of the rivers to bring life-giving waterfalls and springs, and the gods of the trees, plants and flowers to form shady forests, fruit-filled orchards and fragrant meadows.

The next child born to Izanagi and Izanami was the god of fire. However, when he was being born, he burned Izanami so severely that she died. Her spirit fled into Yomi, the underworld.

Izanagi was grief-stricken. In his agony, he struck off the baby's head, causing several gods to spring forth.

Then he set off down the long path that led to the dark realm of the dead. He was determined to find Izanami and bring her back to the land of the living.

Izanagi searched the cold, dark underworld for his beloved wife. However, by the time he discovered Izanami, her body had begun to rot, as she had eaten Yomi's food and belonged to the underworld forever. Izanagi was horrified.

Izanami was humiliated that her husband had seen her in a terrible state. “My husband, you must accept my death,” she roared, surrounded by howling demons. “We have loved each other and created a beautiful country with many gods. Now we must agree to part forever more.”

Realizing that Izanami was right, Izanagi returned to Japan and performed rituals to wash away the taint of death. First, Izanagi bathed in a river on the island of Kyushu. This created many evil demons, but Izanagi created gods to fight and control them. Then Izanagi washed in the sea. Bathing his left eye, he created Amaterasu, the brilliant goddess of the sun. Bathing his right eye, he created Tsukiyomi, the shining god of the moon.

Amaterasu and Tsukiyomi lived in the heavens, lighting up the entire world. When Izanagi bathed his nose, he created Susano, the god of storms. Susano was troublesome, wreaking havoc and destruction, so Izanagi banished him to live in the underworld with his mother. Before Susano left, he visited his sister Amaterasu in the heavens. Susano gave Amaterasu his sword, which she chewed and then breathed forth three goddesses. Amaterasu gave Susano her five-strand necklace, which he chewed and then breathed forth five gods. From these eight gods, the children of the sun, descended a great race of nobles. They became the emperors of Japan.