Volume 1, Section 8: The Slaying of the Fire-Deity

The His Augustness the Male-Who-Invites, drawing the ten-grasp [1] saber that was augustly girded on him, cut off the head of his child the Deity Shining-Elder [2]. Hereupon the names of the Deities that were born from the blood that stuck to the point of the august sword and bespattered the multitudinous rock-masses were: the Deity Rock-Splitter, next the Deity Root-Splitter, next the Rock-Possessing-Male-Deity [3]. The names of the Deities that were next born from the blood that stuck to the upper part of the august sword and again bespattered the multitudinous rock-masses were: the Awfully-Swift-Deity, next the Fire-Swift-Deity, next the Brave-Aweful-Possessing-Male-Deity, another name for whom is the Brave-Snapping-Deity, and another name is the Luxuriant-Snapping-Deity [4]. The names of the Deities that were next born from the blood that collected on the hilt of the august sword and leaked out between his fingers were: the Deity Kura-okami and next the Deity Kura-mitsuha [5]

All the eight Deities in the above list, from the Deity Rock-Splitter to the Deity Kura-mitsuha, are Deities that were born from the august sword

The name of the Deity that was born from the head of the Deity Shining-Elder who had been slain was the Deity Possessor-of-the-True-Pass-Mountains. The name of the Deity that was next born from his chest was the Deity Possessor-of-Descent-Mountains. The name of the Deity that was next born from his belly was the Deity Possessor-of-the-Innermost-Mountains. The name of the Deity that was next born from his private parts was the Deity Possessor-of-the-Dark-Mountains. The name of the Deity that was next born from his left hand was the Deity Possessor-of-the-Dense[ly-Wooded]-Mountains. The name of the Deity that was next born from his right hand was the Deity Possessor-of-the-Outlying-Mountains. The name of the Deity that was next born from his left foot was the Deity Possessor-of-the-Moorland-Mountains. The name of the Deity that was next born from his right foot was the Deity Possesor-of-the-Outer-Mountains [6] (Eight Deities in all from the Deity Oissessor-of-the-True-Pass-Mountains to the Deity Possesor-of-the-Outer-Mountains). So the name of the sword with which [the Male-Who-Invites] cut off [his son's head] was Heavenly-Point-Blade-Extended [7], and another name was Majetic-Point-Blade-Extended

---

General comment

I must confess I would probably not have been able to figure that one out on my own, but this chapter is actually a metaphor for the tempering of the sword (the deities being born from the slaying of the fire deity being deities of rock, fire and water - which are the necessary elements to the tempring of a sword. This section can also be seen in relation with a volcanic erruption: the violence of Izanagi's act, the spurting of the blood (reminiscent of the spurting by an errupting volcano of molten lava) and then the fact that deities stand for rock and fire, but are also related to lightning and water (i.e. possibly flooding). Personally, I think that would tie in nicely with the birth of the same fire deity which caused Izanami (that is an earth goddess) to become sick. That too, could be seen as a metaphor for volcanic activity - with the erruption of the fire deity making the earth goddess sick: nonetheless, numerous deities are born from that event and from the slaying of the fire deity - after all, aren't the soils made more fertile by volcanic deposits?

---

Notes

[1] "Grasp" is a measurement unit, the width of four fingers; Philippi uses the expression "ten hands long"

[2] The fire deity whose birth made Izanami sick

[3] In Japanese Iha-saku-no-kami, Ne-saku-no-kami and Iha-tsutsu-no-wo-no-kami all deities related to rock (see general notes)

[4] That would be Mika-haya-bi-no-kami, Hi-haya-hi-no-kami and Take-mika-dzu-chi-no-wo-no-kami: all three being deities of fire and/or lightning

[5] Stand in Japanese in Chamberlain's translation: both are water deities, the first worshipped as the deity for rainwater, and the second's name means "valley water-greens deity"

[6] In Japanese Ma-saka-yama-tsu-mi-no-kami, Odo-yama-tsu-mi-no-kami, Oku-yama-tsu-mi-no-kami, Kura-yama-tsu-mi-no-kami, Shigi-yama-tsu-mi-no-kami, Ha-yama-tsu-mi-no-kami, Hara-yama-tsu-mi-no-kami and To-yama-tsu-mi-no-kami; they are all mountain deities

[7] That is in Japanese Ame-no-wo-ha-bari, name shared by a deity as well


Please leave any question and/or comment at the Information central thread or contact me at my home