5. Nihon Shoki I — 5
1According to one account, Izanagi no Mikoto made water against a large tree, which water at once turned into a great river. While the Ugly Females of Yomi were preparing to cross this river, Izanagi no Mikoto had already reached the Even Pass of Yomi. So he took a thousand-men-pull-rock, and having blocked up the path with it, stood face to face with Izanami no Mikoto, and at last pronounced the formula of divorce. Upon this, Izanami no Mikoto said: "My dear Lord and husband, if thou sayest so, I will strangle to death the people of the country which thou dost govern, a thousand in one day." Then Izanagi no Mikoto replied, saying, "My beloved younger sister, if thou sayest so, I will in one day cause to be born fifteen hundred." Then he said, "Come no further," and threw down his staff, which was called Funado no Kami. Moreover, he threw down his girdle, (I. 20.) which was called Naga-chi-ha no Kami. Moreover, he threw down his upper garment, which was called Wadzurahi no Kami. Moreover, he threw down his trowsers, which were called Aki-gui no Kami. Moreover, he threw down his shoes, which were called Chi-shiki no Kami.
2Some say that the Even Pass of Yomi is not any place in particular, but means only the space of time when the breath fails on the approach of death.
3Now the rock with which the Even Pass of Yomi was blocked is called Yomi-do ni fusagaru Oho-kami. Another name for it is Chi-gayeshi no Oho-kami.
4When Izanagi no Mikoto had returned, he was seized with regret, and said, "Having gone to Nay! a hideous and filthy place, it is meet that I should cleanse my body (I. 21.) from its pollutions." He accordingly went to the plain of Ahagi at Tachibana in Wodo in Hiuga of Tsukushi, and purified himself. When at length he was about to wash away the impurities of his body, he lifted up his voice and said, "The upper stream is too rapid and the lower stream is too sluggish, I will wash in the middle stream." The God which was thereby produced was called Ya-so-maga-tsu-bi no Kami, and then to remedy these evils there were produced Deities named Kami-nawo-bi no Kami, and after him Oho-nawo-bi no Kami.
5Moreover, the Deities which were produced by his plunging down and washing in the bottom of the sea were called Soko-tsu-wata-tsu-mi no Mikoto and Soko-tsutsu-wo no Mikoto. Moreover, when he plunged and washed in the mid-tide, there were Gods produced who were called Naka tsu wata-dzu-mi no Mikoto, and next Naka-tsutsu-wo no Mikoto. Moreover, when he washed floating on the surface of the water, Gods were produced, who were called Uha-tsu-wata-dzu-mi no Mikoto and next Uha-tsutsu-wo no Mikoto. There were in all nine Gods. The Gods Soko-tsutsu-wo no Mikoto, Naka-tsutsu-wo no Mikoto, and Soko-tsutsu-wo no Mikoto are the three great Gods of Suminoye. The Gods Soko-tsu-wata-dzu-mi no Mikoto, Naka-tsu-wata-dzu-mi no Mikoto, and Uha-tsu-wata-dzu-mi no Mikoto are the Gods worshipped by the Muraji of Adzumi.
6Thereafter, a Deity was produced by his washing his (I. 22.) left eye, which was called Ama-terasu-no-oho-Kami. Then he washed his right eye, producing thereby a Deity who was called Tsuki-yomi no Mikoto. Then he washed his nose, producing thereby a God who was called Sosa no wo no Mikoto. In all there were three Deities. Then Izanagi no Mikoto gave charge to his three children, saying, "Do thou, Amaterasu no Oho-kami, rule the plain of High Heaven: do thou, Tsuki-yomi no Mikoto, rule the eight-hundred-fold tides of the ocean plain: do thou, Sosa no wo no Mikoto, rule the world." At this time, Sosa no wo no Mikoto was already of full age. He had, moreover, grown a beard eight spans long. Nevertheless, he neglected to rule the world, and was always weeping, wailing, and fuming with rage. Therefore Izanagi no Mikoto inquired of him, saying, "Why dost thou continually weep in this way?" He answered and said, "I wish to follow my mother to the Nether Land, and it is simply for that reason that I weep." Then Izanagi no Mikoto was filled with detestation of him, and said, "Go, even as thy heart bids thee." So he forthwith drove him away.
7(I. 23.) In one writing it is said: "Izanagi no Mikoto drew his sword and cut Kagutsuchi into three pieces. One of these became Ikadzuchi no Kami, one became Oho-yama-tsu-mi no Kami, and one became Taka-wo-Kami. Moreover, it is said: "When he slew Kagutsuchi, the blood gushed out and stained the five hundred rocks which are in the midst of the eighty rivers of Heaven, forming thereby Gods who were called Iha-saku no Kami; next Ne-saku no Kami's child, Ihatsutsu-wo no Kami; and next, Iha-tsutsu-me no Kami's child, Futsu-nushi no Kami."
8(I. 24.) In one writing it is said: "Izanagi no Mikoto cut Kagutsuchi no Mikoto into five pieces, which were each changed, and became the five Mountain-Gods. The first piece, viz., the head, became Oho-yama-tsu-mi; the second, viz. the trunk, became Naka-yama-tsu-mi; the third, viz. the hands, became Ha-yama-tsu mi; the fourth, viz. the loins, became Masa-katsu-yama-tsu-mi; and the fifth, viz. the feet, became Shiki-yama-tsu-mi.
9At this time the blood from the wounds spurted out and stained the rocks, trees and herbage. This is the reason that herbs, trees, and pebbles naturally contain the element of fire."