Kuniumi & Kamiumi — The Creation Myth in Which Izanagi and Izanami Bore the Islands and the Gods
Kuniumi (the birth of the land) and Kamiumi (the birth of the gods) form the creation myth told at the very opening of Japanese mythology. The paired male and female deities Izanagi and Izanami churn the chaos with the heavenly spear to bring forth the islands, then give birth to many gods who govern the mountains, the seas, the winds, and more. But when Izanami bears the fire god Kagutsuchi, she is burned and dies, and the tale continues into the chapter of Yomi, the land of the dead.
Principal Sources
Kojiki and Nihon Shoki
Principal Deities
Izanagi-no-Mikoto (Izanagi) and Izanami-no-Mikoto (Izanami)
Principal Setting
Ame-no-Ukihashi (the Floating Bridge of Heaven) and Onogoro Island / Awaji Island and the Oyashima islands
What Was Born
The islands of Japan (Oyashima-no-Kuni) and many gods governing the mountains, seas, winds, fire, and more
Conclusion of the Tale
Izanami dies giving birth to the fire god Kagutsuchi (Kojiki)
Associated Sites
Sites of the Onogoro Island legend (around Awaji Island), Taga Taisha (Shiga), and others
The Heavenly Spear and the Birth of Onogoro Island
In the Kojiki, in the age when the land was not yet solid and drifted upon the water, the heavenly gods (the Kotoamatsukami) commanded the two deities Izanagi and Izanami to "complete and solidify this drifting land," granting them the heavenly spear, Ame-no-Nuboko. The two stood upon Ame-no-Ukihashi, the Floating Bridge of Heaven that joined heaven and earth, and lowered the spear to churn the sea. The brine that dripped from the spear's tip as they drew it up piled into an island. This was the island that congealed of its own accord, Onogoro Island. The two deities descended onto this island and made it the stage of creation.
The Marriage Rite and the First Failure
On Onogoro Island the two deities raised the Heavenly Pillar and built a vast hall (the Yahirodono). Circling the pillar in opposite directions, they met and entered into a marriage union. At this time, however, the goddess Izanami spoke first, saying, "What a fine man you are." The child born was the boneless, imperfect Hiruko (the leech-child), who was set adrift in a boat of reeds. When the two deities sought a divination from the gods of Takamagahara, they were told that the cause was the woman speaking first. This time the god Izanagi spoke first and they began anew, and the birth of the land proceeded smoothly. In the Nihon Shoki, the order and details differ between the main text and several variant accounts (the "one writing" passages).
The Birth of Oyashima-no-Kuni
After beginning anew, the two deities first bore Awaji Island (Awaji-no-Ho-no-Sawake-no-Shima), followed by Shikoku (Iyo-no-Futana-no-Shima), Oki, Kyushu (Tsukushi Island), Iki, Tsushima, Sado, and finally Honshu (Oyamato-Toyoakitsu-shima). From these eight islands the land of Japan came to be called Oyashima-no-Kuni, the Land of the Eight Great Islands. Six more small islands were then born, and the framework of the archipelago was set in place. The names and number of the islands differ in detail from one source to another.
Kamiumi — The Gods of the Mountains, Seas, and Winds
Having finished giving birth to the land, the two deities went on to bear many gods. This is called Kamiumi, the birth of the gods. Beginning with gods of dwellings, stone, and earth, there were born in succession Owatatsumi, the god who governs the sea; the gods of river mouths and water gates; Shinatsuhiko, the god who governs the wind; the god of trees; Oyamatsumi, the god who governs the mountains; Kayanohime, the goddess of the fields; Ogetsuhime, the goddess of food; and others — gods who deified the workings of the natural world, born one after another. The Kojiki systematically lists the gods born in this process, depicting how the world came to be filled with deities.
The Fire God Kagutsuchi and the Death of Izanami
At the very end of the birth of the gods, Izanami bears the fire god Kagutsuchi (Hi-no-Kagutsuchi-no-Kami). Because he was a fire god, the birth burned Izanami's loins, and after lying ill she lost her life. In the Kojiki, even amid her suffering, gods of metal, clay, and water are said to have been born from her vomit and excrement. Enraged at the loss of his wife, Izanagi struck off Kagutsuchi's head with the sword Ame-no-Ohabari, and from the blood and body of the fire god were born gods of thunder, swords, and mountains (such as Takemikazuchi). In the main text of the Nihon Shoki, however, Izanami does not die, and the two deities go on to bear the Three Noble Children together — a major difference between the traditions. From here the tale continues into the chapter in which Izanagi follows his dead wife to Yomi, the land of the dead.
They form the creation myth told at the opening of Japanese mythology. The term refers to the connected tale in which the two deities Izanagi and Izanami bring forth the islands with the heavenly spear (Kuniumi, the birth of the land) and then give birth to many gods who govern the mountains, seas, winds, fire, and more (Kamiumi, the birth of the gods).
Q. What kind of island is Onogoro Island?
It is the first island, formed when Izanagi and Izanami churned the sea with the heavenly spear and the brine dripping from the spear's tip congealed. Its name means "the island that congealed of its own accord," and it becomes the stage where the two deities descend and begin creation. Sites of its legend are found around Awaji Island.
Q. Why did Izanami die?
In the Kojiki, she is said to have suffered burns when giving birth to the fire god Kagutsuchi, and to have died as a result. In the main text of the Nihon Shoki, however, Izanami does not die, and the treatment of this scene differs from source to source.
Q. Why was the first child (Hiruko) set adrift?
Because the goddess Izanami spoke first during the marriage rite, an imperfect child (Hiruko) is said to have been born. When the two began anew with the god Izanagi speaking first, the birth of the land proceeded smoothly.
OyamatsumiThe god who governs the mountains, born in the birth of the gods. Oyamatsumi-no-Kami. He symbolizes the bounty of the mountains and connects to later divine genealogies.
WatatsumiThe god who governs the sea, born in the birth of the gods. Owatatsumi-no-Kami. He is regarded as the ancestor of the sea gods.
ShinatsuhikoThe god of the wind, born in the birth of the gods. Shinatsuhiko-no-Kami. He is said to have arisen from the breath exhaled by Izanagi and Izanami.
AmaterasuBorn from Izanagi's purification after his return from Yomi, following the birth of the land and the gods. One of the Three Noble Children, positioned in the sequel to this tale.
SusanooBorn, together with Amaterasu and Tsukuyomi, from Izanagi's purification carried out after this tale. One of the Three Noble Children.