Written and collected by Zia H Shah MD, Chief Editor of the Muslim Times

In Japanese mythology, the creation of the world and the Japanese archipelago is narrated through the stories of the deities Izanagi and Izanami. These myths are primarily documented in two ancient texts: the Kojiki (712 CE) and the Nihon Shoki (720 CE), which serve as foundational records of Japan’s mythological and historical origins.​Wikipedia+6Wikipedia+6Encyclopedia Britannica+6JAPAN THIS!+5Wikipedia+5Wikipedia+5

The Formation of Heaven and Earth

Initially, the universe was in a chaotic, formless state. Over time, the lighter elements rose to form Takamagahara (the High Plain of Heaven), while the denser elements settled to create the Earth. This separation set the stage for the emergence of the first generation of deities. ​Wikipedia+1Tokyo Weekender+1JAPAN THIS!+2Tokyo Weekender+2Wikipedia+2

The Birth of Izanagi and Izanami

Among the primordial deities, the brother-sister pair Izanagi and Izanami were tasked with bringing order to the shapeless world. Standing upon the Ame-no-ukihashi (Floating Bridge of Heaven), they used the jeweled spear Amenonuhoko to stir the ocean below. As they lifted the spear, droplets fell back into the water, solidifying to form Onogoroshima, the first island. ​Wikipedia+5Wikipedia+5JAPAN THIS!+5FSCJ Pressbooks+5Wikipedia+5Wikipedia+5

The Creation of the Japanese Islands

Descending to Onogoroshima, Izanagi and Izanami built a palace and performed a ritual around a sacred pillar to unite as husband and wife. Initially, their union resulted in malformed offspring due to a ritual misstep—Izaniami spoke first during their ceremonial meeting. After correcting this by ensuring Izanagi spoke first, their subsequent union was successful, leading to the birth of the Ōyashima—the eight great islands of Japan: Awaji, Iyo (Shikoku), Oki, Tsukushi (Kyushu), Iki, Tsushima, Sado, and Yamato (Honshu). ​Wikipedia+2Wikipedia+2Wikipedia+2Wikipedia+2Humanities LibreTexts+2Wikipedia+2

The Birth of Deities and the Underworld

Following the creation of the islands, Izanami gave birth to various deities associated with natural phenomena. Tragically, she died giving birth to Kagu-tsuchi, the fire god. Grief-stricken, Izanagi ventured into Yomi, the land of the dead, to retrieve her. However, upon witnessing her decayed form, he fled in horror, sealing the entrance to Yomi with a massive boulder, symbolizing the separation between life and death. ​Wikipedia+3Wikipedia+3Wikipedia+3canadianstudies.isp.msu.edu+6Wikipedia+6JAPAN THIS!+6

Izanagi’s Purification and the Birth of Prominent Deities

After his ordeal in Yomi, Izanagi performed a purification ritual. During this cleansing, several significant deities were born from his body:​Wikipedia

• Amaterasu, the sun goddess, emerged from his left eye.​Wikipedia
• Tsukuyomi, the moon god, from his right eye.​
• Susanoo, the storm god, from his nose.​Wikipedia+1Wikipedia+1

These deities play central roles in subsequent Japanese myths and are integral to the Shinto belief system. ​Wikipedia

The Japanese creation myth not only explains the origins of the land and deities but also imparts cultural values, emphasizing themes of order, ritual correctness, and the consequences of transgressing sacred norms.​

For a visual exploration of the Japanese creation myth, you might find the following video insightful: