The Origin Of Death According To Japanese Mythology

Japanese culture regards death as a dirty thing to be purified. Therefore, it is necessary to purify, aromatize, prepare, and clothe the person who is dead so that their soul can enter the next world.

The origin of death according to Japanese mythology is found in a strange legend about the creation of Japan. Despite the influence of ancient Chinese civilization, a very important part of Japanese religion is unique. In addition, their religion contains Shinto and Buddhist traditions as well as popular agricultural beliefs.

Conventional Japanese myths are based on Kojiki and Nihon Shoki. Kojiki literally means ‘list of ancient affairs’ and is the oldest book on myths, legends and the history of Japan. Nihon Shoki is the second oldest and it tells about the various deeds of the gods.

In this article, we explore the origins of death according to Japanese mythology through this wonderful legend.

The legend of the creation of Japan

In the dawn of time, the first Japanese gods created two divine beings: a man named Izanagi and a woman, Izanami. The gods of these ancestors entrusted them with the mission of creating a wonderful land.

The origin of death according to Japanese mythology is found in a strange legend about the creation of Japan

Years later, when they completed the mission, they decided it was time to have offspring. The eight major Japanese islands were created by their union.

Harmony reigned in the new world. The gods lived with their innumerable children until Izanami gave birth to Kagutsuchi, the god of fire. After a very complicated birth, Izanami died.

Kingdom of Yomi in Japanese mythology

Izanagi suffered greatly when Izanami died. Instead of burying her body on Mount Hiba, the legendary mountain near Izumo, he decided to search for his beloved in Yomi, the realm of the dead.

Izanagi traveled out into the darkness of the country and began searching for his beloved wife. All the demons he met warned him that Izanami could never return. In other words, they told him she could not return to the living land if she had already tasted the Yomi fruit.

After many months of suffering, Izanagi finally found his wife in a place where darkness reigned. But it was too late: She had already eaten the food of the underworld. She told him she could not return with him. However, she would try to convince Yomi leaders to let her return.

A tragic fate

The only condition of the gods was that Izanagi could not look at his wife when he returned to the palace. However, he allowed himself to be persuaded by the temptation. Therefore, he lit a small flame and went into the palace. With the light, Izanagi broke the law by disturbing the darkness of harmony. He looked at his wife’s body, which had become a rotten corpse.

The god fled in dismay while his spouse accused him of shameing her. She chased him through the Yomi realm and tried to kill him. After incessant persecution, Izanami pierced her husband’s body with a spear, leaving him badly wounded.

The father of creation ran and ran until he felt an outdoor breeze. Despite his wounds, he reached the living land. With the strength he had left, he sealed the thin crack that connected the two worlds with a large rock.

From inside the cave, Izanami shouted to her husband to allow her to enter the realm of the living. But terrified of everything he had just witnessed, he completely refused. The goddess then threatened her spouse with killing a thousand people every day. To this Izanagi replied: “Then I will give life to another 1500 beings every day”.

This is how death spreads all over the Earth.