Izanami-no-mikoto

Izanami-no-mikoto

Izanami-no-mikoto are two gods born as the last of the Kamiyo-nanayo, during the formation of heaven and earth. The two gods gave birth to the islands that will be the soil of Japan, and the many gods such as the gods of the river, wind and field. The two gods are also parents of Amaterasu-ōmikami and Susanō-no-mikoto.

Izanami-no-mikoto was born with Izanagi-no-mikoto as the last of the Kamiyo-nanayo, during the formation of heaven and earth. As a sister, and at the same time, wife of Izanagi-no-mikoto, the two gods gave birth to the islands that will be the soil of Japan, and the many gods such as the gods of the river, wind and field. Izanami-no-mikoto died after giving birth to a god of fire, and became the presiding god of Yomi, the land of the dead.

Name (In the Kojiki)

Izanami-no-kami (伊邪那美神)

Izanami-no-mikoto (伊邪那美命)

Yomotsu-ōmikami (黄泉津大神)

Michishiki-no-kami (道敷大神)

Name (In the Nihon shoki)

Izanami-no-mikoto (伊弉冉尊)

Other names

Izanami-no-mikoto (伊弉册尊)

Gender

Female 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 the Totsuka-no-tsurugi. More gods emerged from the blood that dripped from the sword and the remains of Hinokagutsuchi-no-kami.

In 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.

Related shrines

These are some shrines those enshrine Izanami-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.

Naminouegū

Located in Naha city, Okinawa prefecture.

Enshrines Izanagi-no-mikoto, Hayatamao-no-mikoto and Kotosakao-no-mikoto.

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.

Related gods

Izanagi-no-mikoto

Izanami-no-mikoto's brother, and husband.

Amaterasu-ōmikami

In Nihon shoki, Izanami-no-mikoto's child.

Susanō-no-mikoto

In Nihon shoki, Izanami-no-mikoto's child.

Tsukuyomi-no-mikoto

In Nihon shoki, Izanami-no-mikoto's child.