I just had to look!
Izanami tells Izanaki “Do not look inside,” but Izanaki peeks
Izanami was deeply moved that Izanaki had gone all the way to the land of Yomi to bring her back. She said, “I will consult with the gods of the land of Yomi. While I do that, do not look inside, no matter what.” Izanaki agreed and waited. However, no matter how long he waited, there was no response from inside. Finally, unable to endure it any longer, Izanaki broke his promise to Izanami and went inside!
Because it was very dark, he broke one prong of the comb he had in his hair to light a fire.
Izanami’s horrified form
What Izanaki saw was Izanami, in a decayed and unrecognizable form. Around her body were the eight thunder deities (Yakusanoikazuchi), born from her corpse:
-Ōikazuchi (Great Thunder )
-Honoikazuchi (Fire Thunder)
-Kuroikazuchi (Black Thunder)
-Sakuikazuchi (Cleft Thunder)
-Wakaikazuchi (Young Thunder)
-Tsuchiikazuchi (Earth Thunder)
-Naruikazuchi (Sounding Thunder)
-Fusuikazuchi (Reposing Thunder)
According to the Kojiki, eight thunder deities originated from distinct parts of Izanami’s body after her death.
Great Thunder manifested in the head, Fire Thunder in the chest, Black Thunder in the abdomen, and Cleft Thunder in the region of the genitals.
Young Thunder and Earth Thunder emerged at the left and right hands respectively, while Sounding Thunder and Reposing Thunder arose from the left and right legs.
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The deities on this site were character-designed and illustrated by Tokura Kura. Since the Kojiki contains no descriptions or illustrations of the deities’ physical appearances, they are depicted based on imagination.
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