Izumo myths and legends

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Yamata no Orochi Drinking the Sake and Falling into a Deep Stupor

⛩️ Japanese MythologyHii River, Izumo, Shimane, JapanSusanoo-no-Mikoto • Yamata no Orochi • Kushinadahime

Banished from the heavenly realms, the storm god Susanoo descends to the Hii River in Izumo, where he encounters an elderly couple weeping over the impending sacrifice of their eighth daughter, Kushinadahime, to the monstrous eight-headed serpent Yamata no Orochi. Susanoo devises an ingenious trap, requesting the brewing of highly refined eightfold sake to lure the beast into a drunken...

Susanoo Composing the World's First Waka Poem About the Thick Clouds of Izumo

⛩️ Japanese MythologySuga Shrine, Shimane, JapanSusanoo-no-Mikoto • Kushinadahime • Ashinazuchi

After defeating the monstrous eight-headed serpent Yamata no Orochi and saving the maiden Kushinadahime, the storm god Susanoo searched for a place to build their new home. Upon arriving in a serene valley in Izumo, his heart felt deeply refreshed, and he named the location Suga. As he constructed his bridal palace, magnificent layered clouds arose from the earth to wrap the estate in a...

Susanoo Slicing Yamata no Orochi to Pieces and Finding the Kusanagi Sword in Its Tail

⛩️ Japanese MythologyMount Sentsu, Shimane, JapanSusanoo-no-Mikoto • Yamata no Orochi • Kushinadahime

Exiled from heaven, the storm god Susanoo descends to Earth and encounters a grieving elderly couple whose daughters have been devoured by the monstrous Yamata no Orochi, an eight-headed serpent. Susanoo devises a clever plan to intoxicate the beast with eight vats of strong sake before slicing it to pieces. Deep within the serpent's tail, his sword strikes a hard object, revealing the...

Susanoo Building an Eightfold Palace for His New Bride Kushinadahime in Izumo

⛩️ Japanese MythologySuga Shrine, Shimane, JapanSusanoo-no-Mikoto • Kushinadahime • Yamata no Orochi

After defeating the eight-headed serpent Yamata no Orochi, the storm god Susanoo-no-Mikoto sought a place to settle down with his new bride, Kushinadahime. Upon reaching the lands of Izumo, he saw beautiful, rising clouds and felt a profound sense of peace, prompting him to build a magnificent eightfold palace. This sacred construction marked the birth of Shinto shrine architecture and the...

Susanoo Preparing Eight Vats of Strong Sake to Intoxicate Yamata no Orochi

⛩️ Japanese MythologyHii River, Izumo, Shimane, JapanSusanoo-no-Mikoto • Kushinadahime • Ashinazuchi

Exiled from the High Heavenly Plains, the storm god Susanoo descends to the Hii River in Izumo, where he discovers an elderly couple and their daughter weeping over a terrifying threat. The monstrous, eight-headed serpent Yamata no Orochi is coming to devour their final daughter, Kushinadahime. Susanoo devises a clever strategy to defeat the beast by instructing the couple to build eight...

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...

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...

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...

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 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...