Topic Archive

Myths about japanese mythology

Explore myths connected by the recurring theme of japanese mythology across cultures, characters, and sacred places.

37 myths currently featured for japanese mythology.

Susanoo Chasing Okuninushi but Ultimately Blessing His Union with Suserihime

⛩️ Japanese MythologyYomotsu Hirasaka, Shimane, JapanOnamuchi (Okuninushi) • Suserihime • Susanoo-no-Mikoto

This myth tells of the young god Onamuchi, later known as Okuninushi, who flees to the underworld to escape his murderous brothers. There, he falls in love with Suserihime, the daughter of the storm god Susanoo, who subjects Onamuchi to a series of deadly trials. After escaping with Suserihime and Susanoo's sacred treasures, Onamuchi is chased to the gates of the underworld, where Susanoo...

Okuninushi Tying Susanoo's Hair to the Rafters and Escaping with His Treasures

⛩️ Japanese MythologyIzumo Taisha, Shimane, JapanOkuninushi • Susanoo • Suseri-hime

To escape his eighty jealous brothers, the young god Onamuji travels to the underworld, where he falls in love with the storm god Susanoo's daughter, Suseri-hime. Susanoo subjects him to a series of deadly trials, but with the help of Suseri-hime and a helpful field mouse, Onamuji survives them all. Finally, Onamuji outwits the storm god by tying Susanoo's hair to the palace rafters while he...

Suserihime Giving Okuninushi a Magical Scarf to Ward Off the Aggressive Snakes

⛩️ Japanese MythologyIzumo Taisha, Shimane, JapanOkuninushi • Suserihime • Susanoo

To survive the deadly trials imposed by her father Susanoo, the young deity Okuninushi must rely on the quick wit and magical artifacts of Suserihime. In the first and most terrifying trial, Suserihime secretly gifts him a mystical, venom-repelling scarf. By waving the sacred garment three times, Okuninushi tames a chamber overflowing with aggressive, poisonous snakes, cementing their love...

Susanoo Testing Okuninushi by Locking Him in a Chamber Full of Venomous Snakes

⛩️ Japanese MythologyIzumo Region, Shimane, JapanSusanoo-no-Mikoto • Okuninushi • Suseri-hime

Seeking the hand of Princess Suseri-hime, the earthly god Okuninushi travels to Ne-no-Kuni, the underworld realm of her father, the storm god Susanoo. Susanoo subjects Okuninushi to a series of deadly trials, beginning by locking him in a chamber filled entirely with venomous snakes. With the help of Suseri-hime's magical scarf, Okuninushi survives this and subsequent trials to eventually...

Princess Suserihime Falling in Love with Okuninushi When He Flees to Ne-no-kuni

⛩️ Japanese MythologySuga Shrine, Shimane, JapanOkuninushi • Suserihime • Susanoo

This myth recounts how the young deity Okuninushi fled the murderous plots of his eighty jealous brothers and sought refuge in Ne-no-kuni, the dark netherworld ruled by Susanoo. Upon his arrival, Okuninushi met Susanoo's daughter, Princess Suserihime, and the two immediately fell in love. Despite the grueling and lethal trials Susanoo forced upon his daughter's suitor, Suserihime's devotion...

Okuninushi's Brothers Trapping Him with a Red-Hot Boulder Painted Like a Boar

⛩️ Japanese MythologyMount Tema, Tottori, JapanOnamuji • Yasogami • Sashikuni-wakahi-hime

Driven by intense jealousy, the eighty brothers of Onamuji plot to murder him on Mount Tema. They trick him into catching a red-hot boulder under the pretense that it is a giant red boar running down the mountain. Onamuji catches the scorching stone and is instantly killed, but he is subsequently resurrected by his mother and two celestial clam goddesses.

The Princess Yakami-hime Choosing Okuninushi Over His Eighty Jealous Brothers

⛩️ Japanese MythologyHakuto Shrine, Tottori, JapanOnamuchi-no-Kami • Yakami-hime • The White Hare of Inaba

This myth tells the story of the gentle god Okuninushi, then known as Onamuchi, who traveled to the land of Inaba alongside his eighty jealous brothers. Along the way, he showed compassion to the flayed White Hare of Inaba, who prophesied that Onamuchi would win the hand of the beautiful Princess Yakami-hime. Despite his brothers' cruelty and attempts on his life, the princess rejected the...

Okuninushi Advising the White Hare to Bathe in Fresh Water and Pollen to Heal

⛩️ Japanese MythologyHakuto Shrine, Tottori, JapanŌkuninushi • White Hare of Inaba • Eighty Gods (Yasogami)

During a journey to win the hand of Princess Yakami, the compassionate deity Ōkuninushi encountered the White Hare of Inaba, who had been flayed by sea beasts and further tormented by Ōkuninushi's cruel brothers. Ōkuninushi kindly advised the suffering hare to wash in a freshwater river and roll in the healing pollen of cattails. Once restored, the grateful hare prophesied that Ōkuninushi...

Okuninushi Meeting the Flayed White Hare of Inaba Weeping on the Beach

⛩️ Japanese MythologyHakuto Coast, Tottori, JapanOkuninushi • White Hare of Inaba • Eighty Brothers

While traveling to woo Princess Yakami of Inaba, the eighty brothers of Okuninushi trick a flayed hare into bathing in saltwater, causing it agonizing pain. Okuninushi, carrying his brothers' heavy baggage, discovers the weeping hare on the beach and provides compassionate healing advice. Through this act of benevolence, the hare prophesies that Okuninushi, despite his lowly status among his...

The Eighty Brothers of Okuninushi Leaving Him to Carry Their Bags to Inaba

⛩️ Japanese MythologyTottori Coast (Ancient Inaba), JapanŌkuninushi • Ōnamuchi • Eighty Brothers

The myth of Ōnamuchi (later Ōkuninushi) and his eighty brothers who travel to the province of Inaba to court Princess Yakami. While his proud brothers force Ōnamuchi to carry all their heavy luggage, they encounter a suffering, skinless hare on the coast of Inaba. The brothers trick the hare with painful advice, but the compassionate Ōnamuchi offers the correct remedy, earning the gratitude...