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ain; of the sea on account of its depth and the difficulty of crossing it, of the mountain on account of its loftiness[1].
Izanagi and Izanami, after descending by command of the Heavenly Gods upon Onogoro-jima begot the eight islands of Japan, namely, what are now called Awaji, Shikoku, Oki, Kiushiu, Iki, Tsushima, Sedo and the main island. They begot a number of gods, and their posterity gradually increased. Amongst the descendants of their child Susanowo no kami was Oho-na-muji no kami, a god of surpassing powers. For a long time he was subjected to great annoyance at the hands of his numerous brothers, but having taken a journey to the nether world (the moon) to consult his ancestor, he was enabled, by following the advice he then received, to overcome his rebellious brethren, and establish himself as the ruler of this country. One of his many names is Oho-kuni-nashi no kami, which means the ‘great lord of the country.’ The seat of his government was in the province of Idzumo. He had many children, the eldest of whom was Koto-shiro-nushi no kami, one of the eight gods worshipped in the Jingikuan; a second was Aji-suki-taka-hiko-ne no kami, the god of Kamigamo near Kiôto, and another was Take-mi-na-kata no mikoto, the god of Kami-no-Suwa in Shinano. Oho-na-muji is a corruption of Oho-na-mochi, the Great Possessor of Names, a title given to him because of the numerous names which he possessed. In conjunction with Sukunabikona no kami, the eldest son of the two creators, he compiected the work begun by Izanagi and Izanami, and civilized the country. To these two gods are ascribed the discovery of medicine and the invention of divination.
Amaterasu oho-mi-kami, having been appointed Queen
- ↑ Kami, god, is evidently the same word as kami applied to a superior, as to a master by his servant or to the sovereign by his subjects, to the chief officer of a sub-department of the administration, and in ancient times to the governor of a province, Its primary meaning is ‘that which is above,’ and hence ‘chief.’ So that Izanagi no Oho kami would mean Great Chief Izanagi. Mikoto, which is a title applied to gods, and forms part of the word Samera-mikoto, the ancient name of the sovereigns of Japan, is composed of the honorific mi and koto, word, and hence, thing. It might be rendered augustness, and Izanagi no mikoto would mean His Augustness Izanagi.
