SHINTO MYTHOLOGY Japanese Sect. I Z A N A M I Izanami-no-Mikoto is the Shinto goddess of creation and death, trapped in the underworld Yomi by her brother-husband.

SHINTO MYTHOLOGY Japanese Sect

I Z A N A M IIzanami-no-Mikoto is the Shinto goddess of creation and death, trapped in the underworld Yomi by her brother-husband Izanagi. in her wrath, she claims 1,000 lives for every 1,500 Izanagi

creates.

K O N O H A N A S A K U Y A – H I M EKonohanasakuya-hime is the blossom-princess and symbol of delicate earthly life. She is the daughter of the mountain god Ohoyamatsumi. She is often considered an avatar of Japanese

life, especially since her symbol is the sakura or cherry blossom. Kono-hana is also the goddess of Mount Fugi and all

volcanoes.Kono-hana is the wife of the god Ninigi. She met him on the seashore and they fell in love; Ninigi asked Oho-Yama, the father of Kono-hana for her hand in marriage. Oho-Yama

proposed his older daughter, Iwa-Naga, instead, but Ninigi had his heart set on Kono-hana. Oho-Yama reluctantly agreed and Ninigi and Ko-no-hana married. Because Ninigi refused Iwa-

Naga, the rock-princess, human lives are said to be short and fleeting, like the sakura blossoms, instead of enduring and long

lasting, like stones.Kono-hana became pregnant in just one night, causing

suspicion in Ninigi. He wondered if this was the child of another kami. Kono-hana was enraged at Ninigi’s accusation and

entered a doorless hut, which she then set fire to, declaring that the child would not be hurt if it were truly the offspring of

Ninigi. Inside the hut, Ko-no-hana had three sons, Hoderi, Hosuseri and Hoori

A M A T E R A S U - O K A M IAmaterasu is a part of the Japanese myth cycle

and also a major deity of the Shinto religion. She is the goddess of the sun, but also of the universe. The name Amaterasu derived from Amateru meaning “shining in heaven.” The meaning of her whole name, Amaterasu-

ōmikami, is “the great august kami (Gama or God) who shines in the heaven”. The Emperor of Japan is said to be a direct descendant of

Amaterasu

T O Y O T A M A - H I M E or O T O H I M E

Toyotama-hime is the Japanese Goddess of dragons and the sea. She is the daughter of the sea King Ryujin. She lived under the sea until a young hunter named Hikohohodemi-no-Mikoto came to the bottom of the sea, looking for a fishing hook that belonged to his brother. He usually hunted in the mountains, and his brother Honosusori-no-Mikoto fished, but they had decided to exchange equipment for a day. Hikohohodemi-no-Mikoto lost his brother’s best fishing hook and went under the sea to find it. Toyotama-hime saw him and asked her father to help him in his quest. He found the hook, and also found love with Toyotama-hime and they were married.After a few years, Hikohohodemi-no-Mikoto began to long for the world above the sea. He convinced Toyotama-hime to go with him. She was pregnant with his child and consented, so long as he would promise not to watch when she gave birth. He agreed and they returned to the surface. Hikohohodemi-no-Mikoto built a house for them to live in, and it was not long until the time of the birth came. At first, he waited patiently outside, but his curiosity got the better of him, and he peeked inside. He saw a huge black dragon holding a tiny baby. Toyotama-hime, who had changed into her alternate form of the dragon to give birth, was ashamed that her husband had seen her in that form, and she left him and the baby and returned to the sea. She sent her younger sister, Tamayori, to help raise the child. The baby, Hikonagisa-Takeugaya-Fukiaezu-no-Mikoto, grew up to marry his aunt Tamayori, and their son, Kamuyamato-lwarebiko-no-Mikoto, eventually became known as Jimmu-Tenno, the first emperor of Japan

 T S U K U Y O M I & A M A T E R A S U The goddess of the sun once sent her husband, the

god of the moon, to represent her at a feast hosted by the goddess Uke Mochi. while the food looked exquisite, Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto found its preparation so vile that he killed Uke Mochi for

daring to serve it to him. upon discovering what her husband had done in her name, Amaterasu-Omikami was furious. She moved evermore to

another part of the sky, never again to look upon his face. in such a way was the cycle of night and

day begun.

K I T S U N E One group of Kitsune, known as zenko, are

benevolent servants of Inari Ōkami, the god of agriculture, fertility, rice, sake, and tea. The other

group, yako, on the other hand, range from mischievous to outright malicious.

All Kitsune are said to have the ability to shapeshift, which the yako use to their advantage. Their

favorite guise is as a beautiful woman, though they can choose any form they wish. Another common folk belief is that rain during sunny weather is a

sign of a wedding of two Kitsune.