Reading Notes: Japanese Mythology
Source: Romance of Old Japan, Part I: Mythology and Legend by E.W. and F. Champney.
Izanagi and Izanami: Before the beginning, there was nothing but chaos. Out of that chaos there became space, which like a flower bloomed, giving rise to the Sun and Moon. From this as well there spawned a plethora of gods. In a poem at the beginning of this reading, it tells that the lovemaking of The God Izanagi and his wife, the Goddess Izanami, gave rise to the other gods, men, mammals, the sea, the earth, and countless other things. In the actual reading it is this mercurial blooming of the space born from chaos that divines these things. Izanagi and Izanami lived on the isle of Onogoro and eventually became surrounded by the eight islands called Yamato, Tsukushi, Iyo, Tsushima, Ahaji, Shikoku, Oki, and Lado. They then gave birth to a son and daughter, Susa-no-wo-no-mikoto and the Amaterasu-omikami (who is really well represented by a white dog with a paint brush in a game called Okami that in my opinion everyone who plays video-games or appreciates good interactive art should find the time to experience). Izanagi appoints Amaterasu to be the ruler of the high heavens and appoints Susa-no-wo to rule the Moon and the salt waters of the earth. While Amaterasu was happy in her new role, Susa-no-wo was not and his domain suffered for it. Izanami blessed the lords of the Isles of the Dragon-fly, giving them the powers of wisdom, valor, craft, justice, mercy, and love. She gave each of the gods tasks befitting their names. She gave birth to Kagu-tsuchi, a fire god, as well as a god of water. Izanagi attempted to follow her soul into Yomi, the land of the dead. He went through Ifuya-zaka and found a portal to Yomi, begging a reflection of Izanami to come back with him to their realm of creation. Unable to, Izanami shrunk back to the underworld, further pursued by Izanagi. Finally next to her, she becomes mist, dissipating into the air. Izanagi rose beyond Yomi back to the isle of Ahaji, forever scarred and depressed by the experience.
Izanagi and Izanami: Before the beginning, there was nothing but chaos. Out of that chaos there became space, which like a flower bloomed, giving rise to the Sun and Moon. From this as well there spawned a plethora of gods. In a poem at the beginning of this reading, it tells that the lovemaking of The God Izanagi and his wife, the Goddess Izanami, gave rise to the other gods, men, mammals, the sea, the earth, and countless other things. In the actual reading it is this mercurial blooming of the space born from chaos that divines these things. Izanagi and Izanami lived on the isle of Onogoro and eventually became surrounded by the eight islands called Yamato, Tsukushi, Iyo, Tsushima, Ahaji, Shikoku, Oki, and Lado. They then gave birth to a son and daughter, Susa-no-wo-no-mikoto and the Amaterasu-omikami (who is really well represented by a white dog with a paint brush in a game called Okami that in my opinion everyone who plays video-games or appreciates good interactive art should find the time to experience). Izanagi appoints Amaterasu to be the ruler of the high heavens and appoints Susa-no-wo to rule the Moon and the salt waters of the earth. While Amaterasu was happy in her new role, Susa-no-wo was not and his domain suffered for it. Izanami blessed the lords of the Isles of the Dragon-fly, giving them the powers of wisdom, valor, craft, justice, mercy, and love. She gave each of the gods tasks befitting their names. She gave birth to Kagu-tsuchi, a fire god, as well as a god of water. Izanagi attempted to follow her soul into Yomi, the land of the dead. He went through Ifuya-zaka and found a portal to Yomi, begging a reflection of Izanami to come back with him to their realm of creation. Unable to, Izanami shrunk back to the underworld, further pursued by Izanagi. Finally next to her, she becomes mist, dissipating into the air. Izanagi rose beyond Yomi back to the isle of Ahaji, forever scarred and depressed by the experience.
Searching the Seas with the Tenkei, by Kobayashi Eitaku.
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