Kojiki ③ / Japanese basic mythology / Izanagi and Izanami
Monday, July 4, 2016
After Izanami's death,Izanagi went to a country for the dead,called Yomi no kuni.
He wanted to take her back from death world somehow.
He knocked on the door of death world's palace.
"My darling,we haven't made enough islands yet.
Please come back again."
Izanami said,
"It is too late.I am already resident in Yomi,
because I ate some foods in the wor
But I want to go back with you.I will consult with God of Yomi.
Please wait for a while.Never open the door.I don't want you to see my appearance."
Although Izanagi had been waiting there,she didn't come back.
He burned teeth of comb as a candle and went into the palace at last.
It was terrible thing to him.
Izanami's body was already rotten and there were many maggots.
Furthermore,there were eight kinds of lightning gods around her body.
Seeing her body,Izanami ran away with horror.
"You broke our promise.You shamed me!!"
Izanami was mad at him and let ugly woman chase Izanagi.
Ugly woman almost caught up with him.
Izanagi threw hair strap of vine at ugly woman.
The vine changed into wild grape tree.
"Looks so delicious!"Ugly woman start to eat grapes.
He was able to ran away while she is eating.
But she started to chase him again.
Izanagi threw teeth of a comb at her.
These changed into bamboo shoots.
"Looks good!" She said.
Izanagi could ran away while she is eating.
Eight kinds of lightning gods and over 1,500 monsters start to chase Izanagi.
Izanagi ran away while swinging a sword on his rear side.
At last,Izanagi came back to the gate of Yomi.
(Yomi no hirasaka/sloping road which leads to the death world)
He threw three peaches at them.
They were surprised and fled.
Photos by wikipedia