Volume 1, Section 2: The Seven Divine Generations

The names of the Deities that were born next were the Earthly-Eternally-Standing-Deity [1], next the Luxuriant-Integrating-Master-Deity [2]. These two Deities were likewise Deities born alone, and hid their persons. The names of the Deities that were born next were the Deity Mud-Earth-Lord, next his younger sister [3] the Deity Mud-Earth-Lady [4]; next the Germ-Integrating-Deity, next his younger sister the Life-Integrating-Deity[5]; next the Deity Elder-of-the-Great-Place, next his younger sister the Deity Elder-Lady-of-the-Great-Place; next the Deity Perfect-Interior, next his younger sister the Deity Oh-Awful-Lady [6]; next the Deity the Male-Who-Invites [7], next his younger sister the Deity the Female-Who-Invites [8]

From the Earthly-Eternally-Standing Deity down to the Deity the Female-Who-Invites in the previous list are what are termed the Seven Divine Generations (The two solitary Deities above[-mentioned] are each called one generation. Of the succeeding ten Deities each pair of deities is called a generation)

The comments made for volume 1, section I apply here as well

The deities presented in this section form what are called the "seven generations", which are actually several stages of the evolution of the world, although none of them is clearly defined. Their names are vague enough that no definitive clear meaning can be established, and none of them, save for the last couple of deities (the last of the "seven generations") plays any role, nor are their attributes clearly defined (for possible hints at their respective role, see notes below)

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Notes

[1] May be understood as either "Deity-Standing-Eternally-on-Earth" or "Earth Eternal Standing Deity"

[2] Could be a grain spirit and deity of the plain

[3] Read as "younger sister" but also "wife"

[4] Those names are actually difficult to interprete, but they have to do with the mud from which the world is created

[5] Phillipi proposes a different translation: "Horn Post (pillar) Deity" and "Living Post Deity" respectively. Those names, and in particular the former, may have a sexual conotation. A question that I'll leave open is whether those references to the pillars may have a relation with the stone rods and wooden and stone pillars that have characterized the cultural landscape of part of the Jomon period then

[6] Probably should read as "Oh-Venerable-Lady"


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[7] In Japanese Izanagi no kami, said to be enshrined in Taga-jinja (modern Ehime prefecture)

[8] Also known as Yomo tu opo kami, that is the goddess of Yomi, that deity appears usually as Izanami no kami in the Kojiki as well