Izanagi, the divine duo responsible for the creation of Japan. Every married couple has their ups and downs, but Izanagi and his wife Izanami (who is also his sister) are in a whole different league. Izanagi, or “the one who invites,” is one half of the divine duo responsible for the creation of Japan. The story of him and his wife is central to the mythology of Japan’s creation and everything that happens in the stories that follow.
Representation
One of the creators of Japan is usually depicted as a human man with no obvious divine or supernatural features. He is almost always shown with his partner Izanami. Izanagi has an ethnically Japanese appearance and wears traditional clothing. Like the gods of Olympus and other Hindu mythologies, who have their main gods and creators.
Main myths of Izanagi
Izanagi is mainly known for his role in the creation of everything in Japan, both natural and supernatural. He was a very busy guy, that’s for sure.
As the creator of Japan
Izanagi and Izanami were a pair of deities in Shinto mythology. They were not the first or only gods at the time of their birth, but were preceded by the first five gods, starting with Amenominakanushi. These gods were followed by seven other generations. Izanagi and Izanami are therefore the seventh generation of these gods in the Japanese creation myth.
The other gods gave the couple a purpose, to create the first lands, and also a heavenly spear with which to accomplish this task. At that time, the Earth existed only as a formless primordial ocean, with no land. Standing on a floating heavenly bridge, Izanagi and Izanami dipped the jewel of the spear into the swirling waters.
When they lifted the spear, the drops that fell from its tip formed the first solid land. It was to this land that they both descended to continue the work given to them by the gods in heaven: to create the earth and the gods (or kami) who would live there.
Izanagi visits the underworld
Izanagi did not take his wife’s death well. He went to the underworld with the idea of bringing her back. When he met her in the shadows, she let him know that she could never leave the underworld because she had already eaten the food. Izanami asked him not to look at her, but he refused, creating a light to see her clearly.
What he saw was a monstrous sight: Izanami was rotting and looked like a corpse. His shame and embarrassment at being seen soon turned to anger, and he sent witch spirits, thunder gods, and an army of warriors from the underworld to pursue Izanagi.
After being chased, he fled for his life, nearly being captured several times. When he escaped from the underworld, he blocked the entrance to the world permanently. Izanami spoke to him through the barrier, and they finally decided to divorce.
However, it was not a friendly separation. Izanami threatened Izanagi with the death of 1,000 people every day. Izanagi responded that he would create 1,500 new people every day. This marked the beginning of the cycle of life and death.
The birth of Amaterasu
His journey to the underworld and being so close to the dead had made Izanagi feel more than a little dirty, so the first thing he had to do was purify himself in water. In what must have been a surprise to him, he gave birth to three gods while washing his left eye, right eye, and nose.
These gods were Amaterasu, Tsukiyomi, and Susano-o: the sun god, moon god, and sea god, respectively. Although all three of these gods are very important in Shintoism, it is Amaterasu, the sun god, who holds a special place, as sun gods do in many different cultures.
Literature
Stories about Izanagi are found in two primary texts. One of these is the Kojiki, which is the oldest Japanese chronicle still in existence. It dates back to approximately 711 AD and contains much of Japan’s founding mythology. The other is the Nihon Shoki, the second oldest book, dating back to 720 AD. This second book contains many more details about Japanese myths than the Kojiki.
In modern culture
Izanagi and the stories he presents are still told today. The various gods of Shinto are also often mentioned or referenced in television shows, video games, and movies. For example, Izanagi is one of the main characters in the popular video game Persona 4.
The myths of Kojiki and Nihon Shoki are depicted in traditional theater performances and are popular attractions. Traditional works of art depicting Izanagi and the creation of Japan are available and are much loved.
Shintoism remains the dominant religion in Japan, followed by Buddhism, so the stories of Izanami, his wife, and their many, many children remain relevant to the daily lives of Japanese people to this day. There are many rituals and festivals in Japan that keep gods such as Izanagi alive in the minds of the Japanese people.
