no Mikoto produced Aha-nagi no Mikoto, and Aha nagi no Mikoto produced Izanagi no Mikoto."[1]
These make eight Deities in all. Being formed by the mutual action of the Heavenly and Earthly principles, they were made male and female.[2] From Kuni no toko-tachi no Mikoto to Izanagi no Mikoto and Izanami no Mikoto are called the seven generations of the age of the Gods.[3]
- ↑ Ame-kagami, heaven-mirror; Ame-yorodzu, heaven-myriad; Aha-nagi, foam-calm.
- ↑ This sentence is obviously from the pen of a student of Chinese philosophy.
- ↑ The eight Gods specially worshipped by the Jingikwan, or Department of the Shinto Religion in the Yengi period—901-922—were Takami-musubi no Kami, Kamimi-musubi no Kami, Tama-tsume musubi no Kami, Iku musubi no Kami, Taru musubi no Kami, Oho-miya no me no Kami, Mi Ketsu Kami, and Koto-shiro-nushi no Kami.
For the sake of comparison the Kiujiki scheme of the generations of early Deities is herewith added. It will still further exemplify the confusion of these traditions.
Therefore a God was developed in the Plain of High Heaven whose name was
Ame-
heaven
yudzuru-
transfer
hi-
sun
ame no
heaven
sa-
right
giri
mist
kuni-
land
yudzuru-
transfer
tsuki
moon
kuni
land
no
of
sa-
right
giri
mist
no Mikoto,
Ame- yudzuru- hi- {ame no} sa- giri kuni- yudzuru- tsuki kuni no sa- giri {no Mikoto,}
heaven transfer sun heaven right mist land transfer moon land of right mist {}
who was produced alone. After him, were born two generations of companion Gods and five generations of mated Deities. These make up what is called the seven generations of the Gods.
Genealogy of the Age of the Gods.
The Heavenly parent, Ame yudzuru hi ame no sa-giri kuni yudzuru tsuki kuni no sa-giri no Mikoto.
1st Generation.
Companion-born heavenly Gods.
Ame
heaven
no
mi-naka-
middle
nushi
master
no Mikoto.
Ame no mi-naka- nushi {no Mikoto.}
heaven {} middle master {}
Umashi-
sweet
ashi-kabi
reed-shoot
prince
hikoji
elder
no Mikoto.
Umashi- ashi-kabi {} hikoji {no Mikoto.}
sweet reed-shoot prince elder {}
2nd Generation.
Companion-born heavenly Gods.
Kuni
land
no
toko
eternal
tachi
stand
no Mikoto.
Kuni no toko tachi {no Mikoto.}
land {} eternal stand {}
Toyo-
rich
kuni-
land
nushi
master
no Mikoto.
Toyo- kuni- nushi {no Mikoto.}
rich land master {}