Izanami

Goddess of creation

The primitive gods gave rise to two divinities, a male divinity Izanagi and a female divinity Izanami to charge them with creating the first ground. To help them, they gave them a lance decorated with invaluable stones called, Amenonuhoko (celestial lance).

The two divinities placed themselves on the bridge between sky and ground, Amenoukihashi (the bridge floating of the sky) and brewed the sea with the lance. When salt water drops fell from the lance, they formed a Onogoro island (itself is formed). They went down from the celestial bridge and were established on this island.

Finally, they wished to form a couple, also have they builds a column called Amenomihashira and around a palate called Yahirodono (the part of the eight steps).

Izanagi and Izanami drew circles in directions opposed around the column and when they met, Izanami expressed the first the greetings. Izanagi thought that it was not the good thing to be made but they were linked however. They had two children, Hiruko (the child of water) and Awashima (the island of the bubbles) but they were malformés and were not regarded as gods.

They reflect them in a boat and on the sea then they gave up them asked the other gods why they had not had a success. They said to them that the male divinity was to make the greetings in first at the time of the ceremony of the marriage.

Also Izanagi and Izanami turned over around the column and this time, Izanagi spoke the first at the time of their meeting and their marriage was a success. From their union, were born the ohoyashima, or the eight large islands of the Japanese chain.

Awaji
Iyo (later Shikoku)
Oji
Tsukusi (later Kyūshū)
Iki
Tsushima
Sadogashima
Yamato (later Honshū)

It should be noted that Hokkaidō, Chishima, and Okinawa is not areas of Japan of formerly.

They gave rise to six other islands and of many divinities. Izanami died by giving birth to Kagutsuchi (incarnation of fire) or Ho-Masubi (reason of fire). It was buried with the Hiba mount, at the border of the old province of Izumo and Hoki, today close to Yasugi (Prefecture of Shimane).

With died of his wife, Izanagi was so furious that it killed the newborn causing the creation of dozen divinities.

Goddess of death

Izanagi deplored death Izanami and he undertook a voyage to Yomi (sinks it ground of dead). He sought Izanami and found quickly it. Izanagi could not see it because the shades hid it well. Nevertheless, he asked him to return with him. Izanami informed it that it was too late. She had already eaten the food of Yomi and now belonged to the ground of death. She could not return to the life.

Izanagi fur scandalized and refused to reach its wish to be left in the arms of dark Yomi. While Izanami slept, it took the comb which retained its hair and lit it like a torch. Under the sudden light, he saw the horrible form taken by his beautiful and gracious Izanami. Its body was nothing any more but damaged flesh where ran of the maggots and other feeling reluctant creatures.

Pushing a cry, Izanagi could not contain its fear and flees, thinking only of returning in the world of alive by giving up his dead wife. Izanami awoke while howling, made indignant, and was put to continue it. On its order, savages shikome (of the feeling reluctant women) took it in hunting to bring back it.

Izanagi left precipitately and quickly pushed a rock at the entry of the cave which was the entry of Yomi. Izanami pushed piercing cries behind this insuperable barrier and says to him that if it left it, it would destroy thousand living beings per day. He answered furious that he would give the life to thousand five hundreds.

The history has common points and differences with the Greek myth of Orphée and Eurydice and the Maya myth of Itzamna and Ix Chel.

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