The Land of the Rising Sun

Transforming itself from a nation of feudal warlords to a modern, industrialised nation in less than fifty years, Japan is something of miracle. Now Japan is one of the world's foremost powers, headed by the oldest monarchy in the world. The sole remaining nation on Earth with an Emperor as its Head of State, Japan has been ruled by the Imperial House for at least 2,600 years. The further back you go, the more shrouded in the mists of mythology the story becomes. So how did the story of Japan, the story of the Land of the Rising Sun, begin?

Izanagi and Izanami create
the Islands of Japan
Painting by Kobayashi Eitaku

In the oldest times, the cosmos was as a chaotic mass of matter, swirling and churning in a space between spaces. Soon, within this maelstrom, the purer elements rose softly from the anarchy and formed the ethereal and united array of the Heavens, known as Takamagahara. The storm raged again, and this time, the heavier elements fell to slowly form the Earth. In the soaring matter between Takamagahara and Earth, three beings were cast into existence. Just then, a great reed burst forth from the Earth, and two more spirits were born. These five kami, or gods, were known as the Kotoamatsukami. These first gods were strangely formed, neither god nor goddess, but Heavenly beings. This first generation simply faded away, never to be seen or heard from again. Time passed, and two more gods were born, a little different, yet still lacking true form. At last, five male gods, and five female goddesses were born. These Kamiyonanayo, or 'Seven Divine Generations' were elemental beings of formidable power, sentient and strong. Particularly so were the final pair - the god Izanagi and the goddess Izanami. The other Kamiyonananyo saw their talent, and charged them with the creation of a new land. Izananagi and Izanami accepted this challenge, and set about the burden of creation. Standing at the heart of the bridge which joined Heaven and Earth, the young deities took up a naginata and stirred the raging torrents of the Ocean far below. Lifting the blade high from the whirlpool it had now created, Izanagi looked on as one drop of brine fell from its sharp and tapered point. Where the droplet struck the surf below, a new land was formed, the Island of Onogoro, the first land. Overjoyed at their success, Izanagi and Izanami came down to their newly created island home, with growing affection for each other.

The Islands of Japan
Image taken by the NASA Visible Earth Program

Resolving to create new beings, the two approached each other. Izanami spoke first, greeting Izanagi, and from their union two new gods were born, but something was wrong. Both infants were horribly misshapen and deformed, far from the image of their parents. Izanagi and Izanami, dismayed for their children, sent them far away over the sea, and consulted the other kami. Their council was unanimous - it was improper for a woman to speak before a man, for a man ought to greet a lady first. The two young kami united once more, though this time, Izanagi was careful to extend his manners first. From this union, the eight great Islands of Japan, the Ōyashima, were born; Honshū, Kyūshū, Shikoku, Awaji, Oki, Iki, Tsushima and Sado. Overjoyed, Izanagi and Izanami gave birth to a plethora of deities. However, one day a terrible new kami was born, Kagatsuchi, the god of fire. Such was the intensity of his blaze that Izanami was burned to death as she gave birth to him. Devastated by a towering grief, Izanagi wept bitterly for his wife, and as the tears flowed down his cheeks, more gods were born. His grief turning to fury, Izanagi lashed out with his sword and severed Kagatsuchi's head. From the droplets of the fire god's blood, yet more kami were born. In his fury, Izanagi refused to bow to Death, and chased after the soul of Izanami, determined to win her back.

Entering the shadowly land of Yomi, the dark land of the Dead, Izanagi was overcome with an immediate sense of not belonging. The cold swept over him as a wave of ice cold water, and the darkness closed in on all sides. Shaken, but unbroken, he continued into the blackness. Calling Izanami's name, before long Izanagi heard her voice, though her body was veiled in darkness. "The lands that I and thou made are not yet finished making; so come back!" Izanagi frantically cried. "Lamentable indeed that thou earnest not sooner!", Izanami mournfully replied, sorrowfully explaining that she had already eaten of the food of this land, and thus was forbidden to leave. Desperate to leave with Izanagi she remained, however, and she resolved to speak with the god of the realm to ask permission to leave, warning Izanagi not to look upon her until she returned.

Susanoo
Painting by Utagawa Kuniteru

Time passed, and she did not return. Izanagi waited long, but after a time, his patience snapped. Seizing a lock of his own hair and a comb, he created a spark and crafted a torch and set off in pursuit. Angrily bursting through the door, nothing could have prepared Izanagi for the horror he now saw. For in his determination, he had forgotten both Izanami's warning and the terrible power of Death. It was not the beautiful Izanami he remembered standing before him, but a rotting cadaver, swarming with maggots and the hellish visage of Death. Jolted with terror, with an earth shattering scream Izanagi turned and ran. He did not stop even when he left Yomi, clutching his head, willing the tormenting image of what he had seen to leave, but unable to banish it from his mind. Coming to the ocean shore, he filled his hands with the icy water and splashed it over his face, still shaking with fear. When the freezing water touched his face however, he was afforded some small respite. Something strange happened though. From the droplets which fell from his face, new gods were born. Drip. From his left eye sprang Amaterasu, the goddess of the Sun. Drip. From his right eye sprang Tsukuyomi, the god of the Moon. Drip. From his nose sprang Susanoo, the headstrong god of storms and the sea. As they grew to maturity, Izanagi divided the cosmos between them, granting Heaven and the Day to Amterasu, the Night to Tsukuyomi, and the Sea to Susanoo. Susanoo, however, impatient, arrogant and impetuous, quarrelled with his father ever more violently. One day, Susanoo went too far, and Izanagi cast him out of Heaven, commanding him to go to Yomi.

Grudgingly, Susanoo turned to leave Heaven, but decided to visit mayhem upon Amaterasu one last time. As he made such a noise, Amaterasu heard his approach. Knowing the devious nature of her brother, Amaterasu was highly suspicious when he arrived. When Susanoo spoke that he intended only to bid her farewell, she declared a contest by which he could prove his good faith. Whichever of the two could produce the fairest gods would be the victor. This seemed reasonable to Susanoo, and both kami faced each other. In a flash, Amaterasu seized Susanoo's sword and shattered the blade into three shards. Clasping her hands together, she crushed them into fine dust. As the silvery cloud fell from her fingers, three young maidens were formed. Susanoo, in turn, seized the jewels from Ameterasu's arm and crushed them in his fists, before gently blowing the dust into the wind, from which five males were born. So were created the first ancestors of the people of Japan. Amaterasu claimed victory, for out of the sincerity of her actions she had created fair ladies, and Susanoo, with his malicious intent, had created coarse men.

Amaterasu emerges as the Rising Sun
Woodblock print by Utagawa Kunisada

Susanoo, however, also claimed victory. When Amaterasu persisted, Susanoo flew into a rage. He wrecked the crops and desecrated her holy shrine. His anger building, the storm god seized a piebald horse sacred to Amaterasu and tore the flesh from its body, before hurling its bloodied corpse into his sister's weaving chamber, to the terror of her maids. In fear, Amaterasu fled her Heavenly halls, seeking desperate shelter in a cave on the Earth. As the lady of the Sun, however, the moment the boulder rolled across the entrance, sealing her inside, the sky grew dark as the light vanished - the world saw its first solar eclipse. The light failed, and the Earthly realm grew dank as Yomi, and the gods grew worried. The kami ruled out seizing her by force, thinking that she would only hide again. Many tried to reason with Amaterasu, but none prevailed, for each god's plea fell upon deaf ears. After many fruitless attempts, only that of Ama-no-Uzume, the kami of merriment, remained. A simple Sakaki tree grew before the mouth of the cave, and Uzume decorated its boughs richly, with ribbons, jewels and mirrors. Careful to ensure the mirrors were aligned, the kami then overturned a wash basin and began to dance for the gathered gods. She danced a glorious dance, and soon all the gods were transfixed by her. Indeed, so vigorous did she move her body, the flowers and leaves which clad her form were cast off, leaving her modesty completely exposed. The other gods, stunned, burst into raucous laughter that rang around the cosmos. Curious, Amaterasu rolled the boulder aside to see what was causing the noise. Immediately her eyes met the splendid panoply adorning the Sakaki tree. As her gaze touched the polished surface of the mirrors, she was amazed at the sight she saw - a bright goddess wreathed in flame, sparkling and emitting all colours. She approached, struck by the image before her, unaware that it was her own reflection. For from the moment she had peered out of the cave, the light had rushed back to the world, bringing its first Dawn. Promptly, one of the gods soared down and rolled the boulder back. Amaterasu realised with a start their ploy, but surrounded by their jubilation, forgot her fear and paranoia, and took her glorious place once more. She would shine forth over the Earth forever more, and give birth to an exalted progeny of gods and men. Indeed, her great great great grandson would one day become Japan's first Emperor. But for now, she rose, in the Land of the newly Rising Sun...

United Kingdom

The Kojiki:
The Kojiki: Japanese Records of Ancient Matters (Forgotten Books)
(The oldest chronicle of Japan, highly readable, and the cornerstone of a culture!)

The Nihongi:
The Nihongi: Part I, II, III & IV (Forgotten Books)
(Also called the Nihon Shoki, the second oldest chronicle is more poetic)

United States

The Kojiki:
The Kojiki: Japanese Records of Ancient Matters (Forgotten Books)
(The oldest chronicle of Japan, highly readable, and the cornerstone of a culture!)

The Nihongi:
The Nihongi: Part I, II, III & IV (Forgotten Books)
(Also called the Nihon Shoki, the second oldest chronicle is more poetic)