The Creation of the Land of the Rising Sun
According to the chronicles of “Kojiki” (Records of Ancient Matters) and “Nihongi” (Chronicles of Japan), two ancient books written in the Eighth Century, in the Japanese mythology, there existed seven generations of Kamis (Deities) called Kamiyo-Nanayo (the Seven Divine Generations). After the spontaneous creation of Takama-no-Hara (Heaven), the first generation, the zōka sanshin, formed by three Kamis appeared; one of them was Kamimusuhi-no-Mioya-no-Kami, the Goddess of Birth. Then, a second generation followed, formed by two more Kamis. The first five Kamis were known as hitorigami (individual deities), as they did not have a partner. The five generations that followed came into being as male-female pairs: male deities and sisters that were at the same time married couples. Izanagi-no-Mikoto (His Augustness the Male-Who-Invites) and Izanami-no-Mikoto (Her Augustness the Female-Who-Invites) belonged to the seventh and last generation; as such, they were appointed by their ancestors and superiors of Takama-no-Hara the incumbents of the Creation of the new world. For this purpose, they should also procreate and start a new dynasty on Ashihara-no-Nakatsukuni (Earth). To assist them on their mission, the jewel decorated magic spear – Ame-no-Nuboko – was bestowed on them. The spear had powers to raise the matter from the crusts of the seabed, once it touched the water and create islands on the ocean.
Amanohashidate, also known as "The Bridge to Heaven" is located in northern Kyoto
Ame no Uki Hashi (the Floating Bridge of Heaven) was the bridge the Deities used to descend to Ashihara no Nakatsukuni from Takama no Hara. It is believed that the bridge fell from the sky to Earth during the Creation of the land, therefore its name was changed to Ama-no-Hashidate (the Standing Bridge to Heaven). Ama-no-Hashidate is a landmark located in Miyazu Bay, which faces the Sea of Japan. It is a 3.6-kilometre sand bridge formed over thousands of years by the movements of the tides and wind and it is designated one of the Three Most Beautiful spots of Japan. It houses about 8,000 pine trees, planted over white sand along the sandbar. If one bends over and tries to look at the view through one’s legs, it is said that Ama-no-Hashidate will appear like a bridge to Heaven.
The first landmass created by the Deities was called Onogoro Jima (the Self-Condensed Island). It was later extended north and renamed Awaji-Shima (the Way of Foam Island, meaning ‘what the way of foam has led to’). With an area of the size of Singapore, Awaji-Shima is about 593km2 and the largest island within the complex of Seto Naikai (the Seto Inland Sea). There exists today a hummock called Onogoro, which soil contains a significant proportion of salt, which indicates that it was formerly surrounded by the sea. A small pile of stones placed in the southern area of the hummock is deemed the exact place where the two Deities first set foot on Earth. The palace the Deities built in Awaji Shima was called Yahirodono (the Palace of Eight Hiros). Hiro is an ancient unit of measure of Japan, corresponding to about 1.8 metres. Roughly, it is the length from the tip of the middle finger of one hand to the tip of the middle finger of the other hand, if an average adult male stands, extending both arms open. In the main room – Moya – which was placed in the core of the building, the Deities raised the Ame-no-Mihashira (the Pillar of Heaven), which served them as a sort of ladder to reach Heaven, should they need to pay a visit to their former home.
Awaji Shima, located in Seto Naikai
The Akashi Kaikyo Ō-Hashi (Akashi Strait Great Bridge)
The Akashi Kaikyō Ō-Hashi (the Akashi Strait Great Bridge) that links Awaji-Shima to the mainland Honshu at the north is the world’s longest suspension bridge. Extending almost four kilometres, it is hanged by two cable-braced towers spaced about two kilometres apart. Its construction was finalised in 1998. On the southern side, under the Naruto Ō-Hashi (the Naruto Great Bridge) that links the island to Shikoku is the strait where the Seto Naikai meets the Pacific Ocean. This collision produces dynamic whirlpools caused by big drops in the tide when the water sweeps into the Seto Naikai from the ocean and out again.
Seto Naikai or Seto Inland Sea is the body of water separating Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu, three of the four main islands of Japan. It serves as a waterway, connecting the Pacific Ocean to the Sea of Japan. Its calm waters stretch over 400 kilometres from Osaka to the south of Kyushu and includes some 3000 islands, many of which are inhabited. The Seto Inland Sea region is known for its moderate climate, with a stable year-round temperature and relatively low rainfall levels.
Seto Naikai, the Seto Inland Sea
O-Ya-Shima-Kuni - The Land of the Eight Great Islands
Izanagi and Izanami created first eight islands: Iyo, Tsu, Iki, Sado, Yamato, Tsukushi, Oki, and Awaji, which they named collectively as Oyashima-Kuni – the Land of the Great Eight Islands. The Iyo Island was later renamed Shikoku – meaning four lands, in testament to its original conception. The Islets of Ama, Mukafu, and Chibury got known collectively as the Mitsugo (triplets) of Oki Islands. The Tsukushi Island was renamed Kyushu – meaning nine provinces, as in the ancient times, it was divided into nine parts of lands; and the Island of Yamato was renamed Honshu – meaning the Main Island. The islands of Hokkaido and Ryukyu (mainly Okinawa) were not part of Japan in ancient times, they were conquered later. Therefore, their existence is not mentioned in the ancient stories as islands created by the Deities.
The Goshiki-Hama (the Beach of Five Colours), was the place where Izanagi collected multi-coloured stones and made a necklace for Izanami. She wore it for their wedding ceremony. The origin of these stones is explained by the erosion caused by the waves of the beach on the west coast, which created along the years colourful pebbles scattered along the beach, mainly of amber, blue, pink, green, and white colours; hence the name. These gravels shine like gems when washed in water and their shades are further highlighted when the sky changes colour at dusk. The four-kilometre road extending along the beach is called Sunset Line because at the twilight one can see the sun setting at the horizon anywhere on this road.
Goshiki-Hama - the Beach of Five Colours is located in Awaji-Shima
The iconic Mount Fuji
The Mount Fuji or Fuji-san, which was also created by the Deities, is the most iconic landmark of Japan. Frequently depicted in art and photographs, it has been the inspiration of poets and musicians throughout the centuries. Located in the Main Island of Honshu, it stands on the border between Yamanashi and Shizuoka Prefectures and can be seen from Tokyo and Yokohama on clear sky days. Rising to 3,776m above the sea level, it is the highest mountain of the country. The volcano is currently classified as active with a low risk of eruption. Scientists have identified four distinct phases of volcanic activity in the formation of what is perceived today as an almost perfect conic shape. The last recorded eruption was called Hōei. It started on December 16, 1707 and ended about January 1, 1708.
After the Deities created the land, a phase that was called Kuni Umi (the Creation of the Land), they gave birth to the gods – Kami Umi (the Birth of the Gods); they were: the Deity of Wind (Shinatsuhiko-no-Mikoto), Agriculture (Inari-no-Mikoto), Oceans (Owatatsumi-no-Mikoto), Mountains (Oyamatsumi-no-Mikoto), Fields (Kayanohime-no-Mikoto), Forests (Kukunochi-no-Mikoto), Meadows (Nozuchi-no-Mikoto), Sun (Amaterasu Ō-Mikami), Moon (Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto) and Storms (Susanowo-no-Mikoto). This legend is the origin of Japan’s indigenous religion – Shintō. It is believed that there are as many as eighty myriads kamis in the Shintō religion.
The Angel Road, located in Shodo-Shima
Izanami dies giving birth to the Deity of Fire – Hi no Kagu Tsuchi. Destitute Izanagi rows to the Main Island in order to bury her in Hiba Yama. He stops at Shōdo-Shima to rest and get fresh water. Shōdo-Shima is the first of the six Islands the Deities created after completing the Ō-Ya-Shima-Kuni. Measuring 153km2, located in the Seto Naikai, it is second in size to Awaji-Shima. Twined with the Milos Island of Greece, it enjoys mild weather similar to the Mediterranean climate, which explains why it was the area of Japan where olives were first successfully cultivated. The word ‘Shōdo’, meaning small beans in its name was intended initially to the ‘azuki’ – a red coloured bean of the Fabaceae family. However, they are today more associated to the olives and the soy beans that produces one of the finest soy sauce of the country. Shōdo-Shima has also a pilgrimage route that visits 88 Buddhist temples along its way. It is believed that Kūkai, known posthumously as Kōbō-Daishi (the Grand Master Who Propagated the Buddhist Teaching), was the first to complete this pilgrimage.
Kibi-no-Kuni is Izanagi’s first stop on the Main Island. Kibi used to cover most of what is today Okayama Prefecture, located in the western area of Honshu. Archaeological researches of many temples and shrine ruins, as well as burial mounds, suggest that this ancient kingdom was as developed and powerful as the Yamato administration that controlled Japan in the eighth century. Kibi no Kuni also acted as a cultural bridge between the Yamato state and the various kingdoms of the Korean peninsula, as it was located on the inland seaway between Korea and Yamato. In the 7th century, it was divided into Bizen, Bitchu and Bingo Provinces, names formed by taking the kanji (bi) from Kibi, and adding zen, chū, and go (meaning near, middle, and far) depending on their distance from the capital region. Situated in the strategic point between the Tsukushi tribes of the south and the Kinki tribes of the east, Kibi had great influence in local matters in the Yayoi period, controlling all flows of vital supplies in the area.
The Ki-Castle, located in Okayama Prefecture
Hibayama-Kume Jinja, located in Yasugi City
Hibayama (Mt. Hiba) is located in the area known today as the Hakuta of Yasugi City, located between the eastern Shimane and the western Tottori prefectures. It is a mountain with an altitude of 331 m and at 280 m, there is a shrine called Hiba-Yama-Kume-Jinja, nestled at the foot of the mount, where one believes, Goddess Izanami is buried. The word ‘hiba’ can be written in two different ways by using a different set of kanji. One of them (火場) takes the meaning of ‘fire field’ and because that region developed a unique kind of steel smelting called Tatara, it is believed that it was this fact that gave origin to its name. Tatara has been used to forge Japanese swords since ancient times and the quality and robustness of its end product was much appreciated by the warlords during the medieval times. The second writing (比婆) combines two kanjis, the first (hi) meaning ‘to compare’ and the second (ba) meaning an ‘old woman’. Literally, it has no meaning and its origin could not be established.
Grieving Izanagi cannot accept the death of his beloved wife Izanami. He follows her to Yomotsu no Kuni (the Underworld) to bring her back to life. Though, Yomotsu no Kuni is a very polluted and evil place. Its inhabitants decide that they want to keep Izanagi in their realm; but his biggest astonishment is when he finds out that Izanami had become its governor.
An imaginary depiction of the Yomotsu-no-Kuni - the Underworld
The boulder of Yomotsu Hirasaka, which separates the Underworld from the living world
After scaring off his evil pursuers with peaches, Izanagi rolls a large boulder to block the entrance of the Underworld, Yomotsu Hirasaka; it will separate forever the land of the dead from the living world. A battle of words ensues between the Deities, who are standing in the opposite sides of the boulder. Izanami swears to bring daily to the Underworld a thousand people, whilst Izanagi retaliates, promising to give birth to 1,500. These words sealed the circle of life and death in humans. Yomotsu Hirasaka, is located in the Iya area of the modern-day Matsue City, in Shimane Prefecture. The boulder was named Chibiki-no-Iwa. The area is a quiet and secluded place with a gloomy atmosphere. The Japanese believed that peaches had bad spirit-banishing qualities and demon-destroying ability. This idea was originated in China, where an old tale recounts the story of a Queen Mother of the West, who grew peaches that extended the life of anyone lucky enough to eat one by 3,000 years. In the antiquity, peaches and objects decorated with peach motifs were considered prized gifts. Travellers along caravan routes carried peach seeds to Persia, from which they were exported to Greece around 400 BC. Ancient Egyptians also used them as offerings to the God of Tranquillity.
The heavenly couple is worshiped in the shrine of Meoto Iwa, on the coast of Futami, Mie Prefecture. Also called the ‘husband and wife rocks’ or ‘wedded rocks’, Meoto Iwa is a pair of small rocky stacks in the sea placed right in front of the Futami Okitama Shrine. The larger rock, named Izanagi, is the husband and stands 9-metres tall with a girth of about 40-meters. Izanagi has a small Shintō torii gate on its peak. To his right is the 3.6-meter high ‘wife’, Izanami, which is about 9-meter round. They are joined by the distinctive sacred ropes particular to Shintō shrines and holy places, made of braided rice stalks called Shimenawa. The ropes binding the two rocks weigh almost a ton and are replaced in a special ceremony held three times a year, in May, September, and December.
Izanagi and Izanami never meet again. This was the first love story that unfolded on the soil of this country, known later as Japan, the Land of the Rising Sun.