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Quiz about Shinto Mythology from the Kojiki

Shinto Mythology from the Kojiki Quiz

The Kojiki, or "Record of Ancient Matters" is (likely) the oldest extant Japanese text. It gives the mythical origins of the Japanese nation. Do you know where Japan came from?

A multiple-choice quiz by ari1819. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
ari1819

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
299,243

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
209

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. In the beginning, there were five self-born deities who did not bear any children. Which of the following was not one of these gods? Hint

Toyo-kumo-nu-no-kami

Ame-no-toko-tachi-no-kami

Taka-mi-musu-bi-no-kami

Ame-no-mi-naka-nushi-no-kami

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. How many Divine Generations of deities were there?

Answer: (One Word or a number)

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Question 3 of 10

3. What do Izanagi-no-kami and Izanami-no-kami use to create Onogoro, the first land? Hint

a silver sword

red jewels

a paintbrush

a jewelled spear

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Question 4 of 10

4. Why does Izanagi-no-kami and Izanami-no-kami's first attempt at marriage ceremony fail? Hint

because Izanagi refuses Izanami's advances

because Izanami has not properly purified herself

because Izanami, the female, speaks first

because their father, Omo-daru-no-kami, interferes

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Question 5 of 10

5. How does Izanami-no-kami die? Hint

She drowns upon giving birth to the ocean

She kills herself to return fertility to the earth

Izanagi-no-kami kills her

She is burned in giving birth to the deity of fire

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Question 6 of 10

6. Izanagi tries to bring Izanami beck from the land of the dead. What is the name of this realm? Hint

Kuni

Hades

Yomi

Machi

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Question 7 of 10

7. What does Izanami-no-kami tell Izanagi-no-kami not to do while he is in the underworld? Hint

eat the food

look at her

steal treasure

touch anything

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Question 8 of 10

8. Which of these does Izanami-no-kami not send after her husband? Hint

The ugly female of the underworld

1,500 warriors of the underworld

The eight thunder gods

The dogs of the underworld

9. Izanagi-no-kami had to purify himself after leaving the underworld. Many deities were born from his washing, the most important of which was Ama-terasu-oho-mikami. Was she born from his right eye?

Yes

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Question 10 of 10

10. What does Izanagi-no-kami give to Ama-tera-su-oho-mikami as a gift? Hint

the moon

a sword

a necklace

a mirror

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. In the beginning, there were five self-born deities who did not bear any children. Which of the following was not one of these gods?

Answer: Toyo-kumo-nu-no-kami

Toyo-kumo-nu-no-kami's name is obscure, but according to Motowori and Hirata, it may mean "deity who presides over a thing".

2. How many Divine Generations of deities were there?

Answer: Seven

These generations run between Kuni-no-toko-tachi-no-kami ("Deity standing eternally on earth") and the brother and sister Izanagi-no-kami and Izanami-no-kami ("Male who invites" and "Female who invites").

3. What do Izanagi-no-kami and Izanami-no-kami use to create Onogoro, the first land?

Answer: a jewelled spear

They stand on the Floating Bridge of Heaven and dip the spear in the ocean below them. The drops of water that fall off of the spear form the island of Onogoro, or "Self Congealed".

4. Why does Izanagi-no-kami and Izanami-no-kami's first attempt at marriage ceremony fail?

Answer: because Izanami, the female, speaks first

Because Izanami-no-kami spoke first during the ceremony, the ceremony became impure. According to the Kojiki, the male should have spoken first. The two deities try the ritual again and get it right the second time.

5. How does Izanami-no-kami die?

Answer: She is burned in giving birth to the deity of fire

Why the fire god, Kagu-Tsuchi, didn't burn her in pregnancy is a mystery to me. After her death, she is buried on Mt. Hiba.

6. Izanagi tries to bring Izanami beck from the land of the dead. What is the name of this realm?

Answer: Yomi

Hades is the Greek underworld. Machi means "town" in Japanese, and kuni means "country."

7. What does Izanami-no-kami tell Izanagi-no-kami not to do while he is in the underworld?

Answer: look at her

Izanagi, of course, disobeys (just like Orpheus in Greek mythology). Upon looking at his wife, he is repulsed to find her decaying and covered with maggots.

8. Which of these does Izanami-no-kami not send after her husband?

Answer: The dogs of the underworld

Izanagi thwarts the ugly female by throwing his headdress and his comb on the ground, which turn into a cluster of grapes and a stand of bamboo, respectively. He drives off the thunder gods and the warriors of the underworld by throwing peaches at them.

Answer: No

She was born from his left eye. The moon god Tsuki-yomi-no-kami was born from his right eye, and the storm/sea god Take-haya-susa-no-wo-no-mikoto was born from his nose.

10. What does Izanagi-no-kami give to Ama-tera-su-oho-mikami as a gift?

Answer: a necklace

He also gives her rulership over the Plain of Heaven, telling Tsukyomi to rule the night, and Susanoo to rule the sea.

Source: Author ari1819

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor looney_tunes before going online.
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