topics: |  japan | history

opens with a beautifully narrated myth of Japan origin;
[After Izanagi and Izanami separate:]
Upon his return to the islands of Japan, Izagagi purified himself by bathing
in a river.  As he cast off his jewels and articles of clothing they were
transformed into deities -- the Sun goddess, the Moon goddess, the God of
storm, and others.  From the Sun goddess [Amaterasu] was descended the first
emperor of
Japan.  He was called Jimmu, or Divine Valor, and his mission was to unify
the islands and all the peoples of Japan.
   As symbols of his divine descent, the sacred mirror, chaplet and sword,
gifts from the Sun goddess to Jimmu's forefather, have remained in the
keeping of all the emperors of Japan who followed him.

in a different version:
http://www.mythencyclopedia.com/Iz-Le/Izanagi-and-Izanami.html:

In Japanese mythology the two deities Izanagi (The Male Who Invites) and
Izanami (The Female Who Invites) are the creators of Japan and its gods. In
one important myth, they descend to Yomitsu Kuni, the underworld and land of
darkness. Stories about Izanagi and Izanami are told in two works from the
A.D. 700S, the Kojiki (Records of Ancient Matters) and the Nihongi
(Chronicles of Japan).

According to legend, after their birth Izanagi and Izanami stood on the
floating bridge of heaven and stirred the primeval ocean with a jeweled
spear. When they lifted the spear, the drops that fell back into the water
formed the first solid land, an island called Onogoro. Izanagi and Izanami
descended to the island and became husband and wife. Their first child was
deformed, and the other gods said it was because Izanami spoke before her
husband at their marriage ceremony.

The couple performed another wedding ceremony, this time correctly. Izanami
soon gave birth to eight lovely children, who became the islands of
Japan. Izanagi and Izanami then created many gods and goddesses to represent
the mountains, valleys, waterfalls, streams, winds, and other natural
features of Japan. However, during the birth of Kagutsuchi, the fire god,
Izanami was badly burned. As she lay dying, she continued to create gods and
goddesses, and still other deities emerged from the tears of the
grief-stricken Izanagi.

When Izanami died, she went to Yomi-tsu Kuni. Izanagi decided to go there and
bring his beloved back from the land of darkness and death. Izanami greeted
Izanagi from the shadows as he approached the entrance to Yomi. She warned
him not to look at her and said that she would try to arrange for her release
from the gods of Yomi. Full of desire for his wife, Izanagi lit a torch and
looked into Yomi. Horrified to see that Izanami was a rotting corpse, Izanagi
fled.

Angry that Izanagi had not respected her wishes, Izanami sent hideous female
spirits, eight thunder gods, and an army of fierce warriors to chase
him. Izanagi managed to escape and blocked the pass between Yomi and the land
of the living with a huge boulder. Izanami met him there, and they broke off
their marriage.
Nishiki bay: where Izanagi and Izanami descended from the heavens and first
had sexual relations.