The Story of Izanagi and Izanami

The main literary source of the the story of creation are Kojiki and Nihon Shoki, two eighth century compendium of Japanese (Shinto) mythological stories and folk tales. Shinto is the indigenous religion of Japan. There are eight million Kamis (god or spirit) as per the Shinto religion. 

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The Universe was in a state of silent chaos at the beginning. Then the movement of particles began and a shapeless cloud was formed. Three primal gods were born spontaneously at the time of creation of the Universe and they were known as Zokasanshin or creator gods. They were Ame-no-minakanushi, Takamimusubi and Kamimusubi. Later, two other gods were born, they were Umashiashikabihikoji and Ame-no-tokotachi. All of these five gods emerged on their own and they were altogether known as Kotomatsukami. 

Slowly the cloud began to take a proper shape. Light moved to the top of the universe. The clear and lighter part of the cloud formed the next layer, named as Takamagahara or high celestial plain of heaven. The heavy muddy chaotic sea formed the bottom layer. At one point of time, the heaven separated from the earth. During this phase, seven generations of gods came into existance. They were known as Kamiyonanayo. 

The first two generations were two single gender-less (hitorigami) gods like their predecessors. But the next 5 generations of gods appeared in pairs as male and female. They were brothers and sisters. The youngest of these gods were Izanagi-no-Mikoto (he who invites) and his sister Izanami-no-Mikoto (she who invites). The elder gods gave them the task of proper creation of earth. 

At that time the land mass had no shape and there was a chaotic sea. The elder gods gave the duo a jewelled spear, Ame-no-nuboko. Izanagi and Izanami had no idea of how to do their task. They started to churn the sea with the spear, standing on the Ame-no-Ukihashi (the floating bridge which used to connect the heaven with the earth). When they pulled the spear from water, a drop of sand and mud fall from the tip of the spear and created an island, Onogoro-jima or Onogoroshima. The name Onogoro came from the imitative sound "koworo koworo" which was being heard during the churning process. 

Izanaki and Izanami decided to make the island their home. They built a palace there with a hall measuring eight fathoms, supported by a central pillar (Ame-no-mi hashira). 

Thereafter they decided to marry and propagate. As a ritual, they started to walk around the central pillar in opposite directions. When they met each other, Izanami first uttered the words of appreciation and acceptance to Izanagi. Izanagi also replied back to Izanami. Then they started to live like husband and wife. 

Soon Izanami gave birth to a child who had no limbs and bone. He was named as Hiruko (leech child). He was abandoned by his disheartened parents. They put him on a reed basket and cast away in the sea. Then they had another child who was also not appropriate. 

So, the couple went to the heaven and asked the primal gods to know the reason and came to know that the marriage ritual was not correct. Then they again walked around the pillar in opposite directions and this time, Izanagi approached his wife first. 

Then Izanami gave birth to many children. First she gave birth to the eight deities (Kami), who were the gods of eight islands of Japan. These eight islands (Oyashima) are now known as Awaji, Shikoku, Oki, Kyushu, Iki, Tsu-shima, Sado and Honshu. Hence, there was creation of the islands of Japan (Kuni umi). Izanami then gave birth to another six kami who were gods of six other islands. Then there was Kami umi or creation of many Shinto deities like the kami of trees, mountains etc. who shaped the islands.

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But Izanami burnt to death during the birth of the fire god Kagutsuchi. In sorrow and anger, Izanagi cut his son with a sword. The blood of the fire god also created some kamis. 

Spending a few days in grief, Izanagi decided to bring his wife back from the land of dead (Yomi). After travelling a long distance, he reached a big palace which was heavily guarded by the demons. Izanagi managed to enter the palace through a back door and finally found his wife. Both were extremely happy to see each other. But Izanami refused to return with her husband as she already ate food at Yomi. Izanagi ultimately managed to persuade her and also got approval from the elder gods. 

The process of release from Yomi was lengthy. Izanami told Izanagi not to enter the palace and not to see her till her release. Izanagi waited for a long time. At last, becoming impatient, he entered the dark palace. There he saw the decomposed body of his wife, covered with maggots. In disgust and fear, Izanagi stated to run away from the place. 

Izanami became extremely displeased at her husband as he had broken the promise and saw her rotten body. So she chased Izanagi along with thunder kami, hags of Yomi and a horde of warriors. Izanagi managed to escape somehow and closed the entrance with a large rock. Disheartened, Izanami cried from the other side that each day she would take life of thousand people from the islands of Japan. Izanagi replied that he would procure one thousand and five hundred people each day to replenish the loss. Since then Izanami became the goddess of death and Izanagi became the god of life.

After his escape from Yomi, Izanagi decided to cleanse himself. He washed his face at Tachibana river. Amaterasu (the goddess of rising sun) was born when he cleansed his left eye. Tsukuyomi (the moon god) was born when he cleansed his right eye. Susano-wo (the thunder god) was born when he cleansed his nose. 

Izanagi was very pleased to see his children. He made Amaterasu, the brightest of his sons and daughters, to be the ruler of the Takamagahara (heaven) as she proved her commitment to establish law and order. The Imperial family of Japan had descended from Amaterasu-o-mikami.