shinto myths and legends

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Susanoo Banished from Heaven, Descending to the Earthly Land of Izumo

⛩️ Japanese MythologyMount Sentsu, Shimane, JapanSusanoo-no-Mikoto • Amaterasu-Omikami • Kushinadahime

Following his violent outbursts and banishment from the High Celestial Plain, the tempestuous storm god Susanoo descends to Earth at Mount Sentsu in the historical province of Izumo. There, he encounters an elderly couple and their daughter, Kushinadahime, who is about to be sacrificed to the monstrous eight-headed serpent Yamata no Orochi. Through cleverness and divine prowess, Susanoo slays...

Amaterasu Sealing Herself Inside the Heavenly Rock Cave, Plunging the World into Darkness

⛩️ Japanese MythologyAmano-Iwato Shrine, Miyazaki, JapanAmaterasu • Susanoo • Ame-no-Uzume

Driven to deep despair and grief by the destructive, reckless actions of her brother Susanoo, the sun goddess Amaterasu seals herself within the Heavenly Rock Cave, Amano-Iwato. Her withdrawal plunges both the heavens and the earth into complete, terrifying darkness and unleashes countless evil spirits. Through a clever, festive plan devised by the assembly of gods, Amaterasu is lured out of...

Tsukuyomi Born from Izanagi's Right Eye, Becoming the God of the Moon

⛩️ Japanese MythologyGekū (Outer Shrine of Ise), Mie, JapanIzanagi-no-Mikoto • Izanami-no-Mikoto • Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto

Following his harrowing journey to the underworld of Yomi to rescue his wife Izanami, the creator god Izanagi underwent a ritual purification to cleanse himself of the underworld's impurities. As he washed his face, three major deities, known as the Three Noble Children, were born from his ablutions. From Izanagi's right eye emerged Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto, who was destined to rule the realm of...

Sukunabikona Climbing a Millet Stalk and Being Flung into the Eternal Land of Tokoyo

⛩️ Japanese MythologyAwaji Island, Hyogo, JapanSukunabikona • Ookuninushi • Kamimusubi

The miniature deity Sukunabikona, after working alongside Ookuninushi to establish and develop the land of Japan, climbed a tall, swaying millet stalk. As the flexible stem bent under his featherlight weight and suddenly rebounded, he was flung across the ocean into Tokoyo-no-Kuni, the mythical Eternal Land. This dramatic departure marked the end of his earthly partnership in the nation's...

Okuninushi and Sukunabikona Cooperating to Build and Cultivate the Islands

⛩️ Japanese MythologyIzumo Taisha, Shimane, JapanOkuninushi • Sukunabikona • Kamimushubi

This Japanese myth recounts the partnership between the benevolent deity Okuninushi and the dwarf god Sukunabikona, who arrived on a wave in a tiny boat. Together, they traveled across the Japanese archipelago, developing agriculture, establishing the arts of medicine, and taming wild beasts to make the land habitable. Their collaborative efforts laid the physical and spiritual foundations of...

Sukunabikona Arriving on a Wave in a Goose-Feather Boat to Assist Okuninushi

⛩️ Japanese MythologyMiho Shrine, Shimane, JapanSukunabikona • Okuninushi • Kamimusubi

The dwarf god Sukunabikona arrives across the waves in a tiny boat made of a feather, wearing garments of moth wings, to assist Okuninushi in creating, organizing, and healing the land of Ashihara no Nakatsukuni. Together, they establish medicine, hot springs, agricultural techniques, and sake-brewing to benefit humanity before Sukunabikona eventually departs for the eternal land of Tokoyo no...

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...