Izanagi

Shinto
This article is part of a series on Shinto
Practices and Beliefs
Kami  · Ritual Purity  · Polytheism  · Animism  ·
Japanese Festivals  · Mythology  · Shinto shrines  ·
Notable Kami
Amaterasu Omikami  · Sarutahiko Okami  · Ame-no-Uzume-no-Mikoto  · Inari Okami  ·
Izanagi-no-Mikoto  · Izanami-no-Mikoto  · Susanoo-no-Mikoto  ·
Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto ·
Important Literature
Kojiki · Nihon Shoki · Fudoki · Rikkokushi ·
Shoku Nihongi · Jinnō Shōtōki · Kujiki ·
See also
Japan  · Religion in Japan  · Glossary of Shinto
List of Shinto divinities  · List of Shinto shrines
Sacred Objects  · Japanese Buddhism  · Mythical Creatures
Shinto Portal  v • d • e

Izanagi (イザナギ^?, recorded in the Kojiki as 伊弉諾 and in the Nihon Shoki as 伊邪那岐; also written as 伊弉諾尊) is a deity born of the seven divine generations in Japanese mythology and Shintoism, and is also referred to in the roughly translated Kojiki as "male-who-invites" or Izanagi-no-mikoto　It is also pronounced Izanaki-no-mikoto.

He and his spouse and younger sister Izanami bore many islands, deities and forefathers of Japan. When Izanami died in childbirth, Izanagi tried (but failed) to retrieve her from Yomi (the underworld). In the cleansing rite after his return, he begot Amaterasu (the sun goddess) from his left eye, Tsukuyomi (the moon god) from his right eye and Susanoo (tempest or storm god) from his nose.

The story of Izanagi and Izanami has close parallels to the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, but it also has a major difference. When Izanagi looks prematurely at his wife, he beholds her monstrous and hellish state and she is shamed and enraged. She pursues him in order to kill him. She fails to do so, but promises to kill a thousand of his people every day. Izanagi retorts that a thousand and five hundred will be born every day.

v • d • e Japanese mythology and folklore Mythic texts and folktales: Kojiki | Fudoki | Nihon Shoki | Kujiki | Otogizōshi | Kogo Shūi | Nihon Ryōiki | Konjaku Monogatarishū | Urashima Tarō | Kintarō | Momotarō | Tamamo-no-Mae | Issun-bōshi | Shita-kiri Suzume | Yotsuya Kaidan Divinities: Izanami | Izanagi | Amaterasu | Susanoo | Tsukuyomi | Ame-no-Uzume | Inari | List of divinities | Kami | Seven Lucky Gods Legendary creatures: Oni | Kappa | Tengu | Tanuki | Kitsune | Yōkai | Dragon | Shōjō | Mythology in Popular Culture Mythical and sacred locations: Mt. Hiei | Mt. Fuji | Izumo | Ryūgū-jō | Takamagahara | Yomi Religions | Sacred objects | Creatures and spirits | Japanese deities