Izanagi and Izanami, the divine couple who shaped the islands of Japan, brought forth a host of kami — Amaterasu, Tsukuyomi, and Susanoo among the greatest, alongside Kagutsuchi whose birth killed Izanami, the mountain lord Ōyamatsumi, Shinatsuhiko, Kukunochi, Ōgetsu-hime, Ebisu, and Awashima.
⚠ The Kojiki and Nihon Shoki disagree on whether Amaterasu, Tsukuyomi, and Susanoo were born to both Izanagi and Izanami or emerged from Izanagi's purification alone.
Izanagi's misogi purification at Tachibana in Hyūga birthed kami from every layer of water and light — the Watatsumi sea gods from the ocean depths, and from Izanagi's own face the Three Noble Children: Amaterasu from his left eye, Tsukuyomi from his right eye, and Susanoo from his nose.
⚠ The Nihon Shoki main text attributes the three noble children to both Izanagi and Izanami, while the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki alternate accounts describe them emerging from Izanagi's purification alone.
Nakisawame was born from Izanagi's tears as he wept over the death of Izanami at the foot of the trees on Mount Kagu.
When Izanagi plunged into the sea to wash away the pollution of Yomi, Sumiyoshi Myojin emerged from the waters — Sokotsutsu-no-o from the deep, Nakatsutsu-no-o from the middle currents, Uwatsutsu-no-o from the surface — born of the purification itself.
After Izanagi fled Yomi and sealed the entrance with a boulder, Izanami vowed to kill one thousand people each day. Izanagi countered that he would cause one thousand five hundred to be born, establishing the cycle of death and birth.
Izanagi slew his son Kagutsuchi with the sword Totsuka-no-Tsurugi in grief and rage after the fire god's birth killed Izanami.
Izanagi and Izanami created Ashihara no Nakatsukuni, the middle land between heaven and the underworld, through kuniumi.
Izanagi and Izanami created Onogoro, the first island, by stirring the primordial sea with the jeweled spear Ame-no-Nuhoko.
Izanagi and Izanami thrust the jeweled spear Ama-no-Nuboko into the primordial ocean from the Floating Bridge of Heaven and stirred. The brine that dripped from its tip coalesced into Onogoro, the first island of the world.
After the misogi purification, Izanagi appointed Amaterasu to rule Takamagahara, Tsukuyomi to govern the realms of night, and Susanoo to rule the sea plains.
When Izanagi fled Yomi after witnessing Izanami's decay, she sent the Yomotsu-shikome to pursue him up the dark slope. He escaped through Yomotsu Hirasaka and sealed the passage with the great boulder Chibiki-no-Iwa.
Izanagi and Izanami descended from Takamagahara and stood upon Ama-no-Ukihashi, the Floating Bridge of Heaven, to begin their creation of the Japanese islands as recorded in the Kojiki.
Izanagi and Izanami erected Ame-no-Mihashira on Onogoro Island and walked around it in opposite directions to perform the first marriage ritual in the Kojiki.
Izanagi sealed the entrance to Yomi with Chibiki-no-Iwa after fleeing from Izanami's decayed form. Across this boulder, the estranged couple exchanged their final vows of death and birth in the Kojiki.
At Yomotsu Hirasaka, Izanagi sealed the passage with the boulder Chibiki-no-Iwa and faced Izanami one final time — she vowed to strangle one thousand of his people each day, and he answered that fifteen hundred would be born, establishing the cycle of human death and birth.
Takamimusubi commanded Izanagi and Izanami to descend from heaven and consolidate the drifting lands below, initiating the kuniumi creation of the Japanese islands.
Izanagi drew the ten-span blade Totsuka-no-Tsurugi and slew his own son Kagutsuchi in grief and fury after the fire god's birth killed Izanami. From the blood streaming down the sword and from Kagutsuchi's sundered body, new deities were born.
Susanoo wept ceaselessly and refused to rule the seas as Izanagi commanded. His grief withered mountains and dried rivers, prompting Izanagi to banish him from heaven.
Izanagi bestowed the Yasakani no Magatama, his sacred necklace of jewels, upon Amaterasu when he appointed her to rule the High Plain of Heaven.
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