Japanese Mythology - The Creation Quiz

Answer: Heavy particles sunk to form Earth, while lighter particles stayed on top to form the heavens

As is often the case in creation myths, there was no initial order to the universe in Japanese mythology. The stories of the beginning of the universe in this culture are ambiguous and inconsistent, much like Egyptian mythology (and to a lesser extent Norse and Greek mythology). Nevertheless, the idea of heavy particles forming the Earth and light particles forming the sky/heaven are often included in the re-tellings of Japan's mythology, and these are sometimes linked to Yin and Yang respectively, thus highlighting the influence of Shintoism on what were originally folktales used to explain nature.

Answer: A bridge

Much like Bifrost in Norse mythology, Amenoukihashi was a bridge said by some to link heaven and Earth. The reason for the divine couple carrying out their work on this bridge was because there was at the time no solid land on Earth. Some depictions show a vastness of ocean, whereas others describe a mass of dust or oily mess. Izanagi at once plunged his jewel-encrusted spear into the water and from the drops formed the island of Onokoro (or Onogoro), meaning "self-forming island".

Answer: Honshu

Izanami created (or, since the islands are usually depicted as deities, gave birth to) eight islands. In order of creation, they were Awaji, Iyo (now Shikoku), Oki, Tsukushi (now Kyushu), Iki, Tsushima, Sado, and Yamato (now Honshu). Much of the information in this quiz has been derived from various retellings on websites and books, most of which use the Kojiki as its main source (forgivable, since there are so few original sources).

However, another set of myths derived from the Izumo region of Japan tells the story of how it was Okuninushi - not Izanagi and Izanami - who created Japan's islands.

This story describes how Okuninushi and a dwarf god called Sukunabiko used rope and a boat to drag land from various places (including Korea) to form what is now Japan.

Answer: Because Izanami spoke first during the ritual

Yes, the audacity! On the island of Onokoro, the couple walked in opposite directions for months before meeting each other again. When they did meet, Izanami said "how lucky I am to find a handsome youth" (the exact words vary between sources, but all convey the same sentiment), while Izanagi responded "how lucky I am to find a beautiful maiden".

Their first two children were weak (described as "boneless" in some sources) and were discarded. The shapeless heavenly deities inform the couple that this misfortune was because Izanami spoke first during the marriage ritual.

The couple therefore repeated the ritual according to the heavenly deities' wishes and were then able to produce healthy offspring.

Answer: Kami

The mythology of Japan is based around worship of nature. The children of Izanami and Izanagi were not tangible beings, but represented aspects of nature. One of the first to be born was the god of wind, who blew away the haze that remained from the universe's early days, therefore allowing the Earth to be illuminated.

Other children included the trees, plains, metals, rivers, and mountains.

Answer: Fire

Kagutsuchi, the representation of fire, was the name given to this deity, though the spelling of his name varies between sources and he is sometimes alternatively known as Ho-Masubi. Despite the explicit descriptions in most texts of Izanagi and Izanami as divine beings, this clearly does not confer immortality (as it does in Greek mythology), but leaves them vulnerable to death (much like in Norse mythology (e.g. the death of Balder) and Egyptian mythology (e.g. the murder of Osiris)). Izanagi is distraught at the death of his wife and is angry at his son for causing her death.

In his anger, Izanagi beheads Kagutsuchi, and from his lifeless body comes several more deities, including those of fire, rocks and water.

Answer: A mirror

There are perhaps more variations to this tale than any other in Japanese mythology. As told in the Kojiki, Izanagi held a mirror in his left hand and looked into it to create Amaterasu. With the mirror in his right hand, he created Tsukiyomi. Finally, looking into the mirror sideways, he bore Susano.

Another version of the story says that the three children sprang from the water used to wash away the images Izanagi had seen in the underworld whilst trying to retrieve his late wife. Another version says the children were born from his tears, and yet another says that they developed from his facial features - Amaterasu from his left eye, Tsukiyomi from his right eye, and Susano from his nose.

Answer: The Sun was female and the Moon was male

In Western culture, the Moon is usually linked with the female and the male (albeit to a lesser extent) with the Sun. In Greek mythology, Helios is a male titan associated with the Sun, while Phoebe (a titaness) is linked to the Moon. Similarly, the goddess Selene is usually depicted as the personification of the Moon.

In Egyptian mythology, the Sun is associated with numerous male deities, the most famous of which is Re (or Ra). The Moon is linked to various female deities in Egyptian mythology, though perhaps the deity most closely associated with the Moon is Khonshu - a male.

Answer: Yomi

It is unclear whether Susano was banished to Yomi by Izanagi (acting as an angry and disappointed father) or by Amaterasu (his sister with whom he has a fierce rivalry). Additionally, Susano is credited with being a god of the sea and god of storms. In any case, the banishment to Yomi should certainly be seen as a punishment, since it is invariably described as a place of suffering rather than a mere resting place (as can be argued for Hel in Norse mythology).

Answer: Ogetsuno, the food goddess

Though it is unclear whether animals and grain pre-existed, one story tells of how Tsukiyomi visited Ogetsuno. Seeing the Moon god approaching, Ogetsuno ordered the land to produce rice and the water to produce fish. She also issued many land-dwelling animals from her body. Rather than being flattered by this gesture, Tsukiyomi was disgusted that he was being offered food from the goddess' body and so killed her. Amaterasu was angry with Tsukiyomi for this and the early followers of Japanese mythology used this as an explanation for why the Sun and the Moon were so rarely seen together.

And yes, the Shirme is an actual being in Japanese tales.