Japanese creation myth known as "The Age of the Gods"

It Begins in a Lifeless, Silent Cosmos…

 The Kojiki, the earliest historical document ever recorded in Japan in 712 AD, and the Nihon Shoki, which was written in 720, both provide comprehensive accounts of Japanese mythology. These tales were transmitted orally for centuries before they were ever written down, as was customary before the invention of writing, among other oral traditions being the Teiki and Kuji. The Kojiki and Nihon Shoki, which describe the origin of the heavens and the earth, the islands of Japan, the gods, and the creation of humanity, together make up the Japanese and Shinto religion's creation mythology.



Seven Generations of the Age of the Gods

The description of the kami, or gods, known as the Seven Generations of the Age of the Gods is given in the following stage. There are 12 deities in total that are covered at this time. The 14 Japanese islands are claimed to have been formed by the final kami generations, Izanagi and Izanami. They were responsible with creating, uniting, and "birthing this wandering continent," according to folklore. They plunged their jewelled spear—which they had been given by the gods before them—into the sea as they watched the earth from a golden bridge in heaven, and the island of Onogo was created (original names of some of the islands included Lovely-Princess, Prince-Good-Boiled-Rice, Brave-Good-Youth, Luxuriant-Sun-Youth, and Great-Lamato, the Luxuriant-Island-of-the-Dragonfly).They arrived to the island and settled there. The August Pillar, a large pillar, was situated on this island. They split off and circled the pillar to reproduce, Izanami coming from one way and Izanagi from the other. Izanami said, "Oh, what a comely young guy," to which Izanagi responded, "How beautifully, I have met a gorgeous lady." They then began courting one another. Izanami was the first to speak, but the gods disapproved because she was a woman, so they cursed the children of the marriage.


Starting Over…



Their first child, Hiroku, was allegedly horrible and expelled, and the following kids were likewise corrupted. Izanagi and Izanami then made another round around the pillar after the gods gave them an explanation of the curse, with Izanagi speaking first this time. The couple had a large family when the curse was lifted. The Land of Eight Great Islands, also known as Oyashimakuni, was the first to be born, followed by the six smaller islands. The couple finished this work and then produced a large number of kami ( spirits or divine beings worshipped in Shinto).

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