Japanese creation myth
From Conservapedia
The Japanese Myth of Creation bears some striking resemblances to both the ancient Greek myth, where the demigod Orpheus descends into Hades, in search of his wife, Euridice, as well as the older Sumerian myth of the descent of Innana to the underworld. As the latter two myths pre-date the Japanese version by some 1500 years, it is likely that a version of the stories reached Japan via China and Korea.
The myth, as set out below is summarised from Isobe Yaichiro's translation of the Kojiki, Japan's oldest chronicle, which was compiled in 712AD by O No Yasumaro.
In the Beginning
Before the heavens and the earth existed, all was chaos - immensely vast and lacking any definite shape or form. Eons passed, then out of the shapeless, boundless mass rose something light and transparent, which formed the Plain of High Heaven. Here, a deity called Ame no Minaka Nushi no Mikoto (Divine Lord of the Middle Heavens) materialised. Next the heavens gave birth to a deity named Takami Musubi no Mikoto (the High August Producing Wondrous Deity), soon followed by a third called Kami Musubi no Mikoto (the Divine Producing Wondrous Deity). These three divine beings are referred to as the Three Creating Deities.
Meanwhile, within the void, what as heavy and opaque had gradually settled to became the earth, although it took many millions of years before it condensed sufficiently to form solid ground. Before this, the earth was be said to resemble oil floating on the face of the waters. On this ground, a new pair of immortals were born; the deity Umashi Ashi Kahibi Hikoji no Mikoto (the Pleasant Reed Shoot Prince Elder Deity) and the deity Ame no Tokotachi no Mikoto (The Heavenly Eternally Standing Deity).
The deities realised that as long as the world remained in its chaotic state, there would be nothing for them to do. Upon realising this, all the Heavenly deities summoned the two divine beings, Izanagi (伊耶那岐 The Male Who Invites) and his sister/wife Izanami (伊耶那美 The Female Who Invites), and ordered them to assist each other in converting the nebulous earth into solid ground. The deities bestowed on Izanagi and Izanami a bejewelled spear, called "Ama no Nuboko," with which to rule the land they were to create.
Leaving the presence of the deities, the two proceeded to the Floating Bridge of Heaven, which lay between the heaven and the earth, where they stood awhile, gazing down on that which lay below. They saw a world not yet solidified, but resembling a sea of filmy fog, drifting to and fro in the air, whilst emitting an inexpressibly fragrant odour. At first, they were unsure how to begin the task assigned to them, but after a while Izanagi suggested to his companion that they should try the effect of using their spear to stir up the brine. With this, he pushed down the jewelled shaft until it touched something solid. When he withdrew the shaft, he observed that the great drops which fell from it almost immediately coagulated and formed an island, which is known to this day as the Island of Onokoro.
Delighted by this result, the two deities immediately descended from the Floating Bridge to the miraculously created island. It was here where they subsequently lived. Then, wishing to marry, they erected in the centre of the island a pillar called the Heavenly August Pillar, and built around it a great palace called the Hall of Eight Fathoms. They then walked around the pillar, Izanagi from the left side and Izanami from the right.
When they met up on the far side, Izanami, the female Deity, spoke first, exclaiming, "How delightful it is to meet so handsome a youth!" To which Izanagi, the male Deity, replied: "How delighted I am to have fallen in with such a lovely maiden!"
However, after this exchange, Izanagi said that it was not right that the woman should anticipate the man in a greeting. Regardless, they entered a conjugal relationship, having been instructed to do so by two wagtails, which flew to the spot. Presently the Goddess bore her divine consort a son, but the baby was weak and boneless as a leech. Disgusted with it, they abandoned it on the waters, putting it in a boat made of reeds. Their second offspring was as disappointing as the first.
The two Deities, now very disappointed at their failures and full of misgivings, ascended back to Heaven to inquire of the Heavenly Deities as to the cause of their misfortunes. The latter performed the ceremony of divining and answered, "It is the woman's fault. As you both walk around the Pillar, it is not right and proper that the female Deity should speak before the male. That is the reason."
The two Deities saw the truth of this divine proclamation, and determined to rectify the error. So they returned to the earth again, and once again circled the Heavenly Pillar. This time Izanagi spoke first saying: "How delighted l am to meet so beautiful a maiden!" "How happy I am," replied Izanami, "that I should meet such a handsome youth!" As this process was more appropriate and in accordance with the laws of nature, all the resulting children born to them after this, left nothing to be desired.
First, the island of Awaji was born, next, Shikoku, then, the island of Oki, followed by Kyushu. After that, the island Tsushima came into being, and finally, Honshu, the main island of Japan. The name of Oyashi-ma-kuni (the Country of the Eight Great Islands) was given to these eight islands. After this, the two Deities became the parents of numerous smaller islands destined to surround the larger ones.
The Birth of the Gods
Having created a country from what had formerly a floating, shapeless mass, the two Deities, Izanagi and Izanami, set about begetting the deities who would be destined to preside over the land, sea, mountains, rivers, trees, and herbs.
Their first-born proved to be the sea-god, Owatatsumi-no-Kami. Next they gave birth to the patron gods of harbours, the male deity Kamihaya-akitsu-hiko, who controlled the land and the goddess Haya-akitsu-hime, who controlled the sea. These two latter deities subsequently gave birth to eight other gods.
Next Izanagi and Izanami gave birth to the wind-god, Kami-Shinatsuhiko-no-Mikoto. At the moment of his birth, his breath was so strong that the clouds and mists, which had hung over the earth from the beginning of time, were immediately dispersed, filling every corner of the world with brightness as a consequence .
Kukunochi-no-Kami, the god of trees, was the next to be born, followed by Oyamatsumi-no-Kami, the god of mountains, and Kayanuhime-no-Kami, the goddess of the plains.
Although the birth of the gods had proceeded smoothly thus far, the birth of Kagutsuchi-no-Kami, the god of fire, resulted in grave misfortune befalling his divine mother, Izanami. During the course of her confinement, the goddess was so severely burned by the flaming child that she passed out. Her divine husband, deeply alarmed, did all in his power to resuscitate her, and although he succeeded in restoring her to consciousness, her appetite had completely gone. Despite, Izanagi preparing exquisite dishes for her, with the utmost loving care, whatever she swallowed was almost immediately rejected. Whilst in this condition, before Izanami departed the mortal world, she gave birth to the final groups of gods. From her mouth sprang Kanayama-biko and Kanayama-hime, the god and goddess of metals respectively, whilst from other parts of her body issued forth Haniyasu-hiko and Haniyasu-hime, respectively the god and goddess of earth. The goddess, Mizuhame-no-Mikoto was her last born and signified Izanami’s divine retirement and the end of her earthly career.
Her demise marked the first intrusion of death into the newly created world. Likewise, the corruption of her body and the grief occasioned by her death were each the first of their kind.
Her faithful spouse, Izanagi, was now quite alone in the world. Together and in accordance with the instructions of the Heavenly Gods, they had created and consolidated the Island Empire of Japan. In the fulfilment of their divine mission, he and his heavenly spouse had lived an ideal life of mutual love and cooperation. It is only natural, therefore, that her death should have dealt him a truly mortal blow.
He threw himself on her body, crying, "Oh, my dearest wife, why art thou gone, to leave me thus alone? How could I ever exchange thee for even one child? Come back for the sake of the world, in which there still remains so much for both us twain to do." In a fit of uncontrollable grief, he stood sobbing at the head of her bier. His tears fell like hailstones, and suddenly from out of the tear drops was born a beautiful child, the goddess Nakisawame-no-Mikoto. Astonished, his tears dried up, as he gazed in wonder at the new-born child, but his tears soon returned, only to fall faster than before.
Filled with bitter wrath, his eyes fell upon the infant god of fire, whose birth had proved so fatal to his mother. He drew his sword, Totsuka-no-tsurugi, and crying out in anger, "Thou hateful matricide," decapitated his fiery offspring. Up shot a crimson spout of blood, out of which, together with the sword, arose another eight strong and gallant deities. "What! More children?" cried Izanagi, astounded not only by their sudden appearance, but also by the birth of eight more deities from the lifeless body of the infant firegod! They came out from the various parts of the body – the head, breast, stomach, hands, feet, and navel, and all of them were glaring fiercely at him. Altogether stupefied he surveyed the new arrivals one after another.
Meanwhile Izanami, for whom her divine husband pined so bitterly, had left this world for good and gone to Naraku (奈落 Hades).
Izanagi's Visit to Naraku
Despite being a widower, the presence of so many children should have been a solace for the deity Izanagi, yet when he remembered how faithful his departed spouse had been to him, he would yearn for her again, his heart swollen with sorrow and his eyes filled with tears. In this melancholy state, he would sit up alone at midnight, calling her name out loud over and over again, regardless of the fact that three could be no response, except his own pitiful cries which echoed back from the walls of his chamber.
Unable to bear his grief any longer, Izanagi resolved to go descend to Naraku (the Nether Regions or Hades) in order to find Izanami and bring her back to the world. He started on his long and perilous journey, covering the many millions of miles that separated the earth from Naraku, all the way negotiating the countless steep and dangerous places. Izanagi's indomitable determination to recover his wife enabled him to overcome all these difficulties, and he succeeded in arriving at his destination. Far ahead of him, he saw a large castle. "That, no doubt," he mused in delight, "may be where she resides."
Summoning up all his courage, he approached the main entrance of the castle. Upon drawing closer, he saw, to his horror, a number of gigantic demons, some red some black, guarding the main gates with watchful eyes. He retraced his steps in alarm, and stole round to a gate at the rear of the castle. He found, to his great joy, that it was apparently unguarded.
He crept warily through the gate and peered into the interior of the castle, almost immediately seeing his wife standing at the gate of an inner court. Delighted, he called out her name. "Why! There is some one calling me," sighed Izanami-no-Mikoto, as she looked around her. She was amazed to see her beloved husband standing by the gate, gazing at her intently! As much as she had been in his thoughts, he too, had constantly been in hers.
Her heart leaping with joy, she approached him. He grasped her hands tenderly and murmured earnestly, "My darling, I have come to take thee back to the world. Come back, I pray thee, and let us complete our work of creation in accordance with the will of the Heavenly Gods,--our work which was left only half accomplished by thy departure. How can I do this work without thee? Thy loss means to me the loss of all."
This appeal came from the very depths of his heart. Izanami sympathized with him deeply, but her answer was tender and filled with grief. "Alas! Thou hast come too late. I have already eaten of the furnace of Hades. Having once eaten the things of this land, it is impossible for me to come back to the world." Having said this, she lowered her head in deep despair.
"Nay, I must entreat thee to come back. Canst not thou find some means by which this can be accomplished?" cried her husband, drawing closer to her. After some reflection, she replied, "Thou hast come a very, very long way for my sake. How much I appreciate thy devotion! I wish, with all my heart, to go back with thee, but before I can do so, I must first obtain the permission of the deities of Hades. Wait here till my return, but remember that thou must not on any account look inside the castle in the meantime.”
“I swear I will do as thou biddest," replied Izanagi, " but tarry not in thy quest." With confidence in her husband's pledge, the goddess disappeared into the castle.
Izanagi remained where he stood, obeying her instruction and waited impatiently for his wife's return. It is likely that to his impatient mind, a single heart-beat may have felt like an eternity. He waited and waited, but the was no sign of his wife. The day gradually wore on and as darkness was about to fall, and a strange unearthly wind began blow. Brave as he was, he was seized with an uncanny sense of apprehension. Forgetting his vow, he snapped off one of the teeth of the comb which he was wearing in his hair and having lit it, he quietly crept in and looked around him.
To his horror, he found Izanagi lying dead in a room; her once dazzling beauty now reduced to a rotting corpse, in an advanced stage of decomposition. Even more horrible, the Fire Thunder dwelt in her, head, the Black Thunder in her belly, the Rending-Thunder in her abdomen, the Young Thunder in her left hand, the Earth-Thunder in her right hand, the Rumbling-Thunder in her left foot, and the Couchant Thunder in her right foot. A total of eight Thunder Deities had been born and were dwelling there, attached to her remains and spewing flames from their mouths.
Izanagi-no-Mikoto was so thoroughly alarmed at the sight, that he dropped the light and fled. The sound of his flight woke Izanami from her death-like slumber. “For sooth!" she cried, "he must have seen me in this revolting state. He has put me to shame and has broken his solemn vow. Unfaithful wretch! I'll make him suffer, for his perfidy."
Then turning to the Hags of Naraku, who attended her, she commanded them to give chase to him. At her word, an army of female demons ran after the Izanagi.
Terrified, Izanagi ran away and blocked the entrance to the underworld with a huge rock so that his wife and her minions could not follow him. To this day, that rock continues to block the entrance, thus separating the living from the dead.
