Izanagi and Izanami

1Thereupon all the heavenly deities commanded the two deities Izanagi and Izanami, ordering them to 'make, consolidate, and give birth to this drifting land.' Granting to them a heavenly jeweled spear, they thus charged them.

2So the two deities, standing upon the Floating Bridge of Heaven, pushed down the jeweled spear and stirred with it. They stirred the brine till it curdled, and when they drew forth the spear, the brine that dripped down from the end of the spear piled up and became an island.

3This was the island of Onogoro. Having descended from heaven onto this island, they erected a heavenly august pillar and a great palace.

4Together they gave birth to the islands of Japan: first Awaji, then Shikoku with its four faces, then the island of Oki, then Kyushu with its nine provinces, then Iki, then Tsushima, then Sado, and finally the great island of Honshu.

5After giving birth to the islands, they gave birth to the deities of the sea, rivers, mountains, fields, and trees. Last of all, Izanami gave birth to the deity of fire, and in doing so was burned and fell sick.

6Izanami died and went to Yomi, the Land of the Dead. Izanagi, overcome with grief, followed her, but when he saw her decaying form in the darkness, he fled in terror.

7Izanagi purified himself in a river. From his washing, three noble deities were born: Amaterasu-Omikami, the sun goddess, from his left eye; Tsukuyomi, the moon god, from his right eye; and Susanoo, the storm god, from his nose.