Okuninushi ( Jap. 大 国 主 O: Kuninushi , “Ruler of a great country”) is the main deity of the Izumo tribal union. After the alliance was subordinated to the Yamato government, Okuninushi was included in the Shinto mythology as a deity that originally ruled Japan , but ceded its lands to the Yamato deity, Amaterasu . [1] Also known by the names Oonamuji, Asiharasikoo, Yatihoko and Utsushikunidama.
The traditions of Okuninushi belong to the Izumi mythological cycle. He tells about how the ancestor of Okuninushi (according to some sources - his grandfather), the divine hero Susanoo , the brother of the goddess Amaterasu , was expelled from the Highest Heavenly Fields to the earth, and how he and his descendants began to equip Japan. Okuninushi and his heroic deeds play one of the central roles in these myths. Okuninushi was the first to learn to grow millet and rice; he was the initiator of sericulture, weaving and medicine.
Content
- 1 Biography
- 2 Wives and children
- 3 notes
- 4 Literature
Biography
Kojiki says that when Okunikushi was young, he and his eighty brothers went to marry the beautiful Yagamihime. Having met a naked hare along the way, the Okunikushi brothers told him to plunge into sea water and then lie down on a high rock. As a result, when the salt from the sea water dried, the hare's skin cracked. Okunikushi, who was following his brothers, taught the hare how to heal himself. Thanks to the kindness shown to the hare, Yagamihime refused all the brothers and announced that she would become Okunikushi's wife. Then the brothers decided to kill Okunikushi. The first time they suggested he catch a wild boar, under the guise of whom they threw a hot stone. The second time, God was crushed in the crevice of a tree. Both times, mother Okuninushi raised her son. In order to deal with the brothers, Okunikushi had to go to Susanoo for help. In the home of Susanoo Okunikushi met his daughter, Susaribime and became engaged to her. Despite the feelings of his daughter, Susanoo himself tried several times to kill his guest. Therefore, Okunikushi had to flee, taking with him Suseribime, as well as the magic bow and sword stolen from Susanoo. Having caught up with the fugitive, Susanoo taught him how to kill his brothers with a bow and sword and predicted that Okunikushi would become the ruler of Japan. However, he demanded that Okunikushi make Susaribime his main wife. Having rid himself of his brothers, Okuninushi married Yagamihime and subsequently became engaged to a number of other goddesses. However, as Susanoo was punished, Susaribime remained his main wife.
Subsequently, Okunikushi met the god Sukun Beacon . As it turned out, it was a child of Kamimusu bi-no-kami. By order of Kamimus, Okunikushi and Sukuna became brothers and together took up the creation of the country. After the creation of the country was completed, Sukuna retired to the country of eternal life. Following him, Okunikushi became an assistant to a certain god living on Mount Mimoro Yama. In exchange for help in maintaining the country, he demanded proper worship of himself. After Okunikushi created the country, Amaterasu decided that her child should manage it. At first, Ame-no-hohi-no kami was sent to conquer the country. However, he immediately became merciful to Okunikushi and for three years did not give any news about himself. Following him, Ame-no-wakahiko was sent to earth. This envoy Amaterasu became engaged to his daughter Okunikushi and there was no news of him for eight years. To understand what was happening, they sent a pheasant Nakime, whom Wakahiko shot, taking it for a bad bird. Finally, the gods Ame-no-torifune-no kami and Takemikazuti-no kami went to the earth. They managed to meet with Okunikushi and his two sons. The first son immediately agreed to cede the country, the second only after a duel with Takeikikazuti. Hearing that his sons agreed with Amaterasu’s demand, Okunikushi agreed to cede his country to her descendant, demanding that they build new chambers and honor him accordingly.
In the "Description of the Morals and Nature of Izumo Province" you can find another version of the creation of the country of Okunikushi. According to this version, Okunikushi discovered that the country of Izumo is narrow, like a strip of canvas. Looking at parts of neighboring lands, he began to wonder if they were superfluous and each time decided that they were superfluous. After that, the god took the span “wide and flat, like the breast of a young girl,” chopped off the part of the land he liked and pulled it to Izumo. However, this myth is not mentioned in Kojiki . [one]
Wives and children
- Susaribime, daughter of Susanoo, became Okunikushi's first and main wife. Being the main wife, she was very jealous of the rest of the wives.
- Yagami-hime gave birth to Okunikushi Ko-no-mata-no kami (God of the Cleft Tree), also known as Mii-no kami (God of the Sacred Well). Out of fear of Okunikushi's main wife, Suseribime, Yagami-hime hid her child in a tree fork. Thanks to this event, the child got its name.
- Nunakawa-hime (Virgo from Nunakawa) became Okunikushi's third wife.
- The wife of Takiri-bime-no mikoto (Virgin - Goddess of the Mist), who lives in the Okitsumiya palace in Munakata, gave birth to Okunikushi Adeisikitaka-hikone-no kami (the Young Man - the High God of the Plows). After that, Okunikushi became engaged to his younger sister Takiri, known as Taka-hime-no mikoto (Virgo - High Goddess) and Sitate-ru-hime-no mikoto (Virgo - Below the Luminous Goddess). From her was born Adeisikitaka-hikone-no kami, now known as Kamo no oo-mi-kami (The Great Sacred God Kamo).
- The wife of Kamuyate-hime-no mikoto (Virgo - Goddess of the Divine Arrows and Shield) gave birth to Okunikushi Kotoshiranushi-no kami (God-Oracle).
- The daughter of Yashimamuji-no kami (God is the Owner of the Eight Islands), Torimimi-no kami (Goddess is the Bird's Eye), gave birth to Okunikushi Torinarumi-no kami (God of the Sea of Screaming Birds).
- Hinaterinukatabi-thioikotini-no kami (Goddess Lighting the Countryside in Nukata) gave birth to Okunikushi Kunioshitomi-no kami (God of the Country’s Abundant Wealth).
- From Asinadak-no kami (Goddess of the Reed Heights), or Yagahae-hime (Virgin of Many Blossoms), Hayamika-no-takeesahaya-dainumi-no kami (God the Fast Intimidating Brave Ruler from Sahai) was born.
- From Sakitama-hime (Virgin of the Happy Pearl), the daughter of Ame-no-mikanushi no kami (God is the Heavenly Intimidating Ruler), Mikanushi-hiko-no kami was born (Young Man is the God Intimidating Ruler).
- From Hinarashi-hime (Virgin of the Equal Fire), daughter of Okami-no kami (the Dragon God), Tahirikimarumi-no kami (God is the Spirit from Kijima) was born.
- Ikutama-sakitama-hime-no kami (Virgin is the Goddess of the Life-giving Pearl, the Happy Pearl), daughter of Hihiragi-no-sonohanamazumi-no kami (God of the Rarest Flowers of the Fragrant Shrub), gave birth to Okunikushi Mironami no kami (God of the Waves in Miro).
- Aonumaumanumaoshi-hime (Virgin of the Swamps from Nunosi), daughter of Sakiyamanushi-no kami (God is the Ruler of the Retreating Mountains), gave birth to Nunoositomitorinarumi-no kami (God of the Sea of Screaming Birds in Nunosi).
- Waka-tsukushime-no kami (Young Goddess from Tsukushi) gave birth to Ame-no-hibaraoosinadomi-no kami (God - the Solar Womb from the Great Sinado).
- Tootsumatin-no kami (Goddess of the Distant Mati), daughter of Ame-no-sagiri-no kami (God of the Heavenly Mists in the Gorges), gave birth to Tootsuyamasakitarasi-no kami (God of the Distant Yamasaki).
Notes
- ↑ 1 2 A A Nakorchevsky Japan Shinto chapter 1 Mythology
Literature
- Kodziki / Notes on the Acts of Antiquity (link not available)