The Japanese culture and mythology reflects back to ancient times and just like the Christian creation story, they too have their own creation story. They believe that the world did not just appear and become what it is today as we see it. Instead, they believe that there were powerful sources that are responsible for the creation of heavens, the earth and oceans. Interestingly, Japan has a unique myth about the creation of each of her islands. Although its history has gone through a lot of dynamism and change, including various cultural aspects, the islands have maintained their religious theme and touch, reflecting to one common story as noted in the Kojiki. The many islands have specific gods that are attributed to their birth and creations, which makes it a unique aspect in the Japanese religion. The Kojiki, which is a record of ancient matter has the various stories about the mythological origin of japan. A detailed analysis on Izanami and Izanagi, who are Japanese deities gives a chronological picture of Japan’s history, revealing the relationship between gods, human beings and Japanese culture.
Izanami and Izanagi play a significant role not only in the Kojiki but in the entire Japanese culture to facilitate the understanding of the existence of the land of Japan and its people. History plays an invaluable role towards the acceptance of a community and definition of norms and customs, which add up to its culture. It is through the understanding of their origin and existence that the Japanese embrace themselves and identify themselves as belonging to a particular culture, religion or existence. Izanami and Izanagi were deities that came into existence as single deities. Izanagi came about as a god that invites God and Izanami was his spouse, who too had the responsibility of inviting God (The Kojiki: Records of Ancient Matters: Birth of the Land, P. 24). In as much as they were gods, they were answerable to God, who created heaven and earth and were given the responsibility to represent the other initial five invisible deities.
In the process of taking the mandate given to them as visible gods on the land, Izanami an Izanagi are responsible for the many islands that Japan has today. They contributed to the creation of Japan, which was initially a single island. Izanami an Izanagi are also identified as the gods who created the many subgroups that exist in the Japanese community. It is through Izanami and Izanagi that different islands were born. Although the first two islands were in foam form, they went to the senior gods and after consulting, they were given instructions that it was Izanagi who was to speak first so that their fruits of birth could be viable and form islands. Izanami and Izanagi are also identified as senior gods in the Japanese religion and as recorded by the Kojiki, Izanami and Izanagi were specifically sent to earth to solidify the land and make it a living place that was conducive for human beings (The Kojiki: Records of Ancient Matters: Birth of the Land, P. 25).
Izanami and Izanagi have a great importance and are considered of great significance towards the birth of Japan’s great populace and the Japanese creation myth in the Kojiki. The first importance is that Izanami and Izanagi have helped shape religion among the Japanese. To this day, the Japanese people who believe in this creation mythology in the Kojiki attribute their existence to these two creatures. These gods have played the role of making the Japanese identify their existence and history as well as objectively referring themselves as a race that has a founded existence. Additionally, Izanami and Izanagi have shaped the cultural perceptions that have contributed to defining some of the Japanese religious practices. Many of the Japanese people are Buddhists and as a religion, they believe in the existence of gods. Therefore, Izanami and Izanagi, who are similarly gods have shaped religious perspectives to the present day in japan.
In terms of relationships, between the gods themselves and human beings, just like the creation story they also gone through dynamism. At first, the relationship between Izanami and Izanagi was good and they celebrated together, engaged in conjugal intercourse to reproduce the islands and even solidified the earth through the spears that they used in stirring the huge liquid mass that covered the earth. However, their relationship when Izanami died after her genitals died and went to the land of Yomi. Out of love and affection, Izanagi went to fetch her but grew impatient, tearing into the world of the dead. From this point, Izanami sent hags to go after Izanagi because he had disrespected him (The Kojiki: Records of Ancient Matters: Birth of the Land, p. 26). It is from this point that the two engaged in a fierce chase and run battle. However, it is because of their sprouting relationship that the Japanese islands were born and exist. Even to their point if disagreement, in a strained relationship, Amaterasu, Tsukuyomi and Susana-o came into existence.
Izanami and Izanagi have shaped the way human beings relate to themselves and to the gods. According to the Japanese Buddhist culture, a lot of significance is given to the gods despite their histories. The Kojiki in its records acts as a yardstick in guiding human behavior. Izanami and Izanagi act role models in indicating the nature of human relationships and understanding how dynamic this relationship is. It is through Izanami and Izanagi that the Japanese appreciate the fact that in a relationship, whether friendly, marital, disagreements are bound to happen and the road is not always smooth. Disappoints may come along the way but people should handle them together. This is demonstrated when Izanami and Izanagi went to the senior gods to inquire why they gave birth to foam instead of real objects.
Human beings also acquire lesson on tolerance and patience, particularly from Izanagi’s behavior. Had he been patient with Izanami, the level of resentment that befell the two could not have been experienced. Therefore, Izanami and Izanagi give moral lessons, that are not only important to the Japanese religion but also the social set up that makes the populace. Additionally, it is through Izanami and Izanagi that the Japanese islands have the names they bear currently. Each island that makes up this nation has a unique story of its existence, courtesy of Izanami and Izanagi. Therefore, although other gods helped shape history and culture of the Japanese people, Izanami and Izanagi are held responsible greatly towards its existence.
In conclusion, a detailed analysis on Izanami and Izanagi, who are Japanese deities gives a chronological picture of Japan’s history, revealing the relationship between gods, human beings and Japanese culture. As a unique form of culture, the Japanese culture embodies different aspects of religion, beliefs, customs and norms that are all attributed to supernatural beings that brought the country to existence. A direct relationship is created between the gods themselves, the gods and human beings as well as the Japanese culture. The Kojiki has elaborated the mythical origin of Japan through stories of different gods including Izanami and Izanagi.
Works Cited
Chamberlain, Basil Hall. The Kojiki: Records of Ancient Matters: Birth of the Land. Tokyo: Tuttle Publishing, 2012. Print.
