Kamiyonanayo

In Japanese mythology, the Kamiyonanayo (神世七代, lit. "Seven Generations of the Age of the Gods") are the seven generations of kami that emerged after the formation of heaven and earth.[1]

According to the Kojiki, these deities appeared after the Kotoamatsukami. The first two generations were hitorigami while the five that followed came into being as male-female pairs of kami: male deities and sisters that were at the same time married couples. In total the Kamiyonanayo consist of 12 deities in this chronicle.[1]

In contrast, the chronicle Nihon Shoki, points out that this group was the first to appear after the creation of the universe. It also states that the first three generations of deities were hitorigami and that the other generations of deities were pairs of the opposite sex. Finally the Nihon Shoki uses a different spelling for the names of all deities.

The last generation formed by Izanagi and Izanami were the couple that would be responsible for the creation of the Japanese archipelago (Kuniumi) and would engender other deities (Kamiumi).[2][3]

List of deities

Gen. Name according to Kojiki Name according to Nihonshoki
1 Kuni-no-tokotachi-no-kami (国之常立神) Kuni-tokotachi-no-mikoto (国常立尊)
2 Toyo-kumo-no-no-kami (豊雲野神, Toyo-kumo-no-no-kami) Kuni-no-satsuchi-no-mikoto (国狭槌尊)
3 U-hiji-ni (宇比邇神) and Su-hiji-ni (須比智邇神) Toyo-kumo-nu-no-mikoto (豊斟渟尊)
4 Tsunu-guhi (角杙神) and Iku-guhi (活杙神) U-hiji-ni (泥土煮尊, U-hiji-ni) and Su-hiji-ni (沙土煮尊)
5 Ō-to-no-ji (意富斗能地神) and Ō-to-no-be (大斗乃弁神) Ō-to-no-ji (大戸之道尊, Ō-to-no-ji) and Ō-to-ma-be (大苫辺尊)
6 Omo-daru (淤母陀琉神, Omo-daru) and Aya-kashiko-ne (阿夜訶志古泥神) Omo-daru (面足尊, Omo-daru) and Kashiko-ne (惶根尊)
7 Izanagi (伊邪那岐神, Izanagi no kami) and Izanami (伊邪那美神, Izanami no kami) Izanagi (伊弉諾尊, Izanagi no mikoto) and Izanami (伊弉冉尊, Izanami no mikoto)

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Chamberlain 2008, p. 72
  2. ↑ Chamberlain 2008, p. 75
  3. ↑ Chamberlain 2008, p. 77

Bibliography

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