Izanagi-no-mikoto

Izanagi-no-mikoto

Izanagi-no-mikoto was born with Izanami-no-mikoto as the last of the Kamiyo-nanayo, during the formation of heaven and earth. As a brother, and at the same time, husband of Izanami-no-mikoto, the two gods gave birth to the islands that will be the soil of Japan, and also to the many gods presiding over nature, such as the gods of the river, wind and field. Izanagi-no-mikoto is also a parent god of Amaterasu-ōmikami and Susanō-no-mikoto.

Name (In the Kojiki)

Izanagi-no-kami (伊邪那岐神)

Izanagi-no-mikoto (伊邪那岐命)

Name (In the Nihon shoki)

Izanagi-no-mikoto (伊弉諾尊)

Gender

Male god

Mythology

Kojiki

Nihon Shoki

Tenchi-kaibyaku

When the world was uncompleted, the heavens and the earth was mixed up and was in a chaotic condition. But one day, the pure rose and formed the heavens, and the muddy heavy formed the earth. Then a god, Amenominakanushi-no-kami appeared in the heaven. And another two gods, Takamimusubi-no-kami and Kamumusubi-no-kami appeared too. Then Umashiashikabihikoji-no-kami and Amenotokotachi-no-kami were born. These 5 gods are considered special among the Amatsukami and called "Kotoamatsukami".

After the Kotoamatsukami, Kuninotokotachi-no-kami and Toyogumonu-nokami are born. The gods that appeared thus far were genderless, but after that, 5 pairs of male and female gods appeared, Uhijini-no-kami and Suhijini-no-kami, Tsunugui-no-kami and Ikugui-no-kami, Ōtonoji-no-kami and Ōtonobe-no-kami, Omodaru-no-kami and Ayakashikone-no-kami, and at the last Izanagi-no-kami and Izanami-no-kami. Kuninotokotachi-no-kami, Toyogumonu-nokami and the 5 pairs of gods are called "Kamiyo-nanayo".

Kuni-umi

Izanagi-no-mikoto and Izanami-no-mikoto was ordered by the Amatsukami to complete the forming of the earth, that is still like floating oil, using the Ame-no-nuboko. Izanagi-no-mikoto and Izanagi-no-mikoto stood on the Ame-no-ukihashi and stirred the chaotic earth. What dripped from the spear pilled up and formed an island, the Onogorojima.

The two descended to the island they formed, and built the Yahirodono and the Ama-no-mihashira. Then, Izanagi-no-mikoto went around the Ama-no-mihashira from the left and Izanami-no-mikoto from the right. When they met on the other side, Izanami-no-mikoto praised Izanagi-no-mikoto, and Izanagi-no-mikoto praised Izanami-no-mikoto. After that they slept together. But their first child, Mizuhiruko, was considered imperfect, so they set him adrift on a ashibune. Their second child, Awashima was also considered imperfect, so the troubled two visited the Amatsukami to asked why. As a result of fortune-telling, they were told that Izanagi-no-mikoto, the male god, should have spoken first. The two repeated the ritual, this time Izanagi-no-mikoto speaking first.

Izanagi-no-mikoto and Izanami-no-mikoto gave birth to eight islands that will be the soil of Japan. These islands are called "Ōyashima". Then the two gods gave birth to another 6 islands.

Kami-umi

After giving birth to the the islands, Izanagi-no-mikoto and Izanami-no-mikoto gave birth to a variety of gods, such as the six gods protecting homes, the gods of sea, river, water, wind, trees and fields. But when Izanami-no-mikoto gave birth to Hinokagutsuchi-no-kami, the god of fire, Izanami-no-mikoto was badly injured. Although Izanami-no-mikoto was still suffering, some other gods were born from her filth, but in the end she died.

Izanagi-no-mikoto cried, and a god was born from the tears. Izanagi-no-mikoto burried Izanami-no-mikoto in Hiba-yama, but in an act of grief and rage, Izanagi-no-mikoto killed Hinokagutsuchi-no-kami with his totsuka-no-tsurugi. More gods emerged from the blood that dripped from the sword and the remains of Hinokagutsuchi-no-kami.

A visit to Yomi

Izanagi-no-mikoto went to Yomi to bring back Izanami-no-mikoto. Izanagi-no-mikoto called Izanami-no-mikoto, in the palace of Yomi, from outside the doors. Izanami-no-mikoto said that she had ate the food of Yomi and that made her a resident of Yomi, so she cannot go back. But she also said that she would have a talk with Yomotsu-kami so he must not look at her.

However, Izanagi-no-mikoto lost his patience, lit a fire on a part of his comb and went after her. Inside, he saw the wrotten and ugly looks of Izanami-no-mikoto and ran away. In anger, Izanami-no-mikoto sent Yomotsu-shikome to chase after him. Izanagi-no-mikoto escaped the Yomotsu-shikome, that were obsessed with the grapes and bamboo shoots that grew from the hair ornament he threw. Izanami-no-mikoto then sent the 8 thunder gods clinging to her body and the 1500 warriors of Yomi. Izanagi-no-mikoto ran to the foot of Yomotsu-hirasaka, brandishing the Totsuka-no-tsurugi. He took some peaches from a tree nearby and threw them to his pursuers, making them retreat. The peach was named Ōkamuzumi-no-mikoto.

At the end, Izanami-no-mikoto came after him in person, but Izanagi-no-mikoto blocked the entrance of Yomi with a huge boulder. In anger, Izanami-no-mikoto said she would kill 1000 humans in a day, and Izanagi-no-mikoto answered that, in that case, he would make humans give birth to 1500 in a day, and divorced. Izanami-no-mikoto became the ruler of Yomi. It is said that this event is the origin of the 'life span' of humans.

Misogi and the Mihashira-no-uzu-no-miko

After escaping from Yomi, Izanagi-no-mikoto did a misogi at Awakihara to wash off the kegare of Yomi. 12 gods were born from the clothing he took off. When he bathed in the river, two gods of calamity emerged from the kegare, and also, three gods correcting calamity were born too. He then purified himself at the bottom, the middle and the surface of the river, and the three Wadatsumi gods and three Sumiyoshi gods were born.

At the last, when Izanagi-no-mikoto washed his left eye, Amaterasu-ōmikami was born, and Tsukuyomi-no-mikoto when he washed his right eye, Susanō-no-mikoto when he washed his nose, were born too. These three gods are called Mihashira-no-uzu-no-miko, meaning the three precious children. Izanagi-no-mikoto told Amaterasu-ōmikami to rule Takamagahara, Tsukuyomi-no-mikoto to rule Yoru-no-osukuni, and Susanō-no-mikoto was to rule the seas.

However, Susanō-no-mikoto refused to go rule the seas and cried out loud. This caused storms to rage, trees to die, and evil spirits to fill the world. Izanagi-no-mikoto questioned Susanō-no-mikoto, but since he answered that he wanted to go to Ne-no-katasukuni, where his mother Izanami-no-mikoto is, Izanagi-no-mikoto purged Susanō-no-mikoto.

Afterwards, Izanagi-no-mikoto is enshrined in Taga in Ōmi.

Related shrines

These are some shrines those enshrine Izanagi-no-mikoto.

Taga Taisha

Located in Taga town, Inukami district, Shiga prefecture.

Enshrines Izanagi-no-mikoto and Izanami-no-mikoto.

Izanagi Jingū

Located in Awaji city, Hyōgo prefecture.

Enshrines Izanagi-no-mikoto and Izanami-no-mikoto.

Isasumi shrine

Located in Aizu-misato town, Ōnuma district, Fukushima prefecture.

Enshrines Izanagi-no-mikoto, Izanami-no-mikoto, Ōhiko-no-mikoto and Takenunakawawake-no-mikoto.

Oyama shrine

Located in Tateyama town, Nakanīkawa district, Toyama prefecture.

Enshrines Izanagi-no-kami and Amenotajikarao-no-kami.

Hitachi-no-kuni Soshagū

Located in Ishioka city, Ibaraki prefecture.

Enshrines Izanagi-no-mikoto, Ōkuninushi-no-mikoto, Susanō-no-mikoto, Ninigi-no-mikoto, Ōmiyahime-no-mikoto and Furu-no-ōmikami.

Tsukubasan shrine

Located in Tsukuba city, Ibaraki prefecture.

Enshrines Tsukubao-no-kami and Tsukubame-no-kami.

Mitsumine shrine

Located in Chichibu city, Saitama prefecture.

Enshrines Izanagi-no-mikoto and Izanami-no-mikoto.

Onokorojima shrine

Located in Minami-awaji city, Hyōgo prefecture.

Enshrines Izanagi-no-mikoto and Izanami-no-mikoto.

Eda shrine

Located in Miyazaki city, Miyazaki prefecture.

Enshrines Izanagi-no-mikoto.

Related gods

Izanami-no-mikoto

Izanagi-no-mikoto's sister, and wife.

Amaterasu-ōmikami

One of the Mihashira-no-uzu-no-miko born in Izanagi-no-mikoto's misogi.

Susanō-no-mikoto

One of the Mihashira-no-uzu-no-miko born in Izanagi-no-mikoto's misogi.

Tsukuyomi-no-mikoto

One of the Mihashira-no-uzu-no-miko born in Izanagi-no-mikoto's misogi.