The Japanese god family tree is rooted in Shinto, Japan’s indigenous faith, and is most authoritatively recorded in the early 8th-century chronicles the Kojiki (712 CE) and the Nihon Shoki (720 CE). At its head are the primordial deities who created the Japanese islands and gave rise to the sun goddess Amaterasu, from whom the imperial family claimed descent.
Primordial Creation Deities
Before the visible world existed, Shinto cosmology describes a formless chaos that gradually separated into heaven and earth. From this void emerged the first five deities, known collectively as the Kotoamatsukami (Separate Heavenly Deities). They were:
- Amenominakanushi – the Master of the August Center of Heaven, often considered the first god.
- Takamimusubi – the High Creator, associated with divine generation.
- Kamimusubi – another creator deity linked to the power of becoming.
- Umashiashikabihikoji – the Reed-Shoot Deity, appearing as a reed sprouting from the earth.
- Amenotokotachi – the Eternal Heaven-Standing Deity.
These five are generally considered genderless or abstract, and they play little role in later myths. Following them came a second generation of deities, including the pairs Kuninotokotachi and Toyokumono, who are also largely abstract.
Izanagi and Izanami: The Creators
The central creation myth begins with Izanagi (He-Who-Invites) and Izanami (She-Who-Invites), a brother-sister pair who were instructed by the heavenly deities to solidify the drifting land. Standing on the Floating Bridge of Heaven, they stirred the ocean with a jeweled spear, and the drops that fell formed the island of Onogoro. There they performed a marriage ritual and gave birth to the eight great islands of Japan and numerous kami of natural phenomena.
Their story takes a tragic turn when Izanami dies giving birth to the fire god Kagutsuchi. In grief and rage, Izanagi killed Kagutsuchi, whose blood and body parts spawned many other deities. Izanagi then journeyed to the underworld, Yomi, to retrieve Izanami, but found her rotting and was chased out. He sealed the entrance with a boulder, and Izanami declared she would kill a thousand people a day; Izanagi replied he would create 1,500 births daily.
The Three Noble Children
After escaping Yomi, Izanagi purified himself in a river, and from his cleansing emerged the three most important deities of the Shinto pantheon:
- Amaterasu – the sun goddess, born from his left eye.
- Tsukuyomi – the moon god, born from his right eye.
- Susanoo – the storm god, born from his nose.
Izanagi divided the world among them: Amaterasu received the High Plain of Heaven, Tsukuyomi the night, and Susanoo the seas. However, Susanoo refused his domain and wept, causing calamities. He then went to heaven and behaved so destructively that Amaterasu hid in a cave, plunging the world into darkness. The other gods lured her out with a mirror and jewels, restoring light.
Amaterasu’s Descendants and the Imperial Line
Amaterasu’s grandson, Ninigi, was sent to rule the earthly realm, carrying the three sacred treasures: the mirror, the jewel, and the sword. Ninigi married the blossom princess Konohanasakuya-hime, and their descendants eventually produced the first emperor, Jimmu, who is said to have ascended the throne in 660 BCE. This lineage established the divine right of the Japanese imperial family, which claimed unbroken descent from Amaterasu until the end of World War II.
The family tree continues with other important kami. Amaterasu and her siblings have various offspring, and the Kojiki lists many genealogies. For example, Omoikane, the deity of wisdom, is often cited as a child of Takamimusubi. Iwanaga-hime, the rock princess, was offered to Ninigi but rejected, which is why human lives are short.
Major Kami and Their Roles
Beyond the central lineage, Shinto has thousands of kami, each with specific domains. Some of the most prominent include:
- Inari – the kami of rice, agriculture, and prosperity, often depicted as a fox.
- Hachiman – the god of war and archery, later venerated as a protector of Japan.
- Tengu – not strictly kami but supernatural beings associated with mountains and martial arts.
- Raijin and Fujin – gods of thunder and wind, respectively.
- Ebisu – one of the Seven Lucky Gods, the patron of fishermen and merchants.
These deities often have complex origins; some, like Hachiman, are deified historical figures. Others, such as the Seven Lucky Gods, include figures from Buddhism and Chinese mythology, illustrating how Shinto absorbed external influences.
Common Misconceptions
A frequent misconception is that Shinto is polytheistic in the same way as Greek or Norse mythology. In practice, Shinto is often described as animistic and pantheistic, with kami residing in natural objects, ancestors, and even abstract concepts. The family tree is not a fixed pantheon but a genealogical narrative that explains the origins of the world and the imperial line. Another misunderstanding is that all kami are benevolent; some, like Izanami after her death, become malevolent, and rituals are needed to appease them.
Comparisons with Other Mythologies
Japanese mythology shares structural similarities with other ancient traditions. The creation from chaos and the separation of heaven and earth echo Mesopotamian and Greek myths. The sibling pair of Izanagi and Izanami resembles the Egyptian Osiris and Isis, where death and resurrection play a role. The sun goddess hiding in a cave has parallels with solar myths worldwide, such as the Norse story of the sun being devoured by a wolf. However, the Japanese emphasis on genealogical purity and the divine right of rulers is distinctive.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the supreme god in Japanese mythology?
There is no single supreme god. Amaterasu is often considered the most important, but the primordial deity Amenominakanushi is sometimes viewed as the ultimate creator. In practice, different shrines may elevate different kami, and Shinto is flexible about hierarchy.
Are the Japanese gods still worshipped today?
Yes, Shinto is an active religion with millions of adherents. Kami are venerated at shrines, and many Japanese people participate in Shinto rituals for life events like births, weddings, and New Year, even if they do not consider themselves strictly religious.
How many Japanese gods are there?
The Kojiki and Nihon Shoki name several hundred deities, but Shinto tradition holds that there are yaoyorozu no kami – literally “eight million gods.” This phrase means “countless” and reflects the belief that kami exist in all things.
Why did Amaterasu hide in a cave?
She hid after her brother Susanoo threw a flayed horse into her weaving hall and caused the death of one of her attendants. In grief and anger, she retreated to a cave, and the world was plunged into darkness until the other gods tricked her out with a mirror and jewels.
Is the Japanese imperial family really descended from Amaterasu?
This was the official claim until 1946, when Emperor Hirohito renounced the doctrine of his own divinity. The mythological descent is recorded in the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki, but modern historians view it as a political myth to legitimize rule.
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