Gods and Goddesses
Who was the creator god and who was the creator goddess?
Izanagi was the creator god and Izanami were the creator goddess.
Both the Greek and Japanese creation myths begin with this state of existence, marked by a lack of structure and form.
Chaos/Darkness
What is the realm in which after death, souls are judged and either move on to a peaceful realm or are trapped in a shadowy world, is a recurring concept in Japanese mythology
The afterlife
What emotion caused Susanoo to destroy Amaterasu's rice fields?
Jealousy
In Japanese mythology, this role is exemplified by Amaterasu, who not only governs the sun but also symbolizes fertility, authority, and the divine ancestry of Japan's imperial family.
What is the role of women as symbols of divine authority and rulers of natural forces?
Who was the god of fire?
Kagutsuchi
Both the Greek and Japanese creation myths involve this significant theme, which is introduced through a tragic event. What are these tragic events?
Pandora's box in Greece and Izanami’s death in Japan—affecting the mortal world forever.
What is the name of the common practice in not just Shintoism but in other religions where people visit shrines to cleanse themselves.
Purification
When Izanami died and descended to the land of darkness, her grief-stricken husband Izanagi felt this emotion.
Grief
What is the role of women as maintainers of cosmic balance and life-giving forces?
Amaterasu's actions, particularly in the myth where she dances to bring the sun back from her cave, symbolizing how women are portrayed as protectors of life and bringers of balance to the world.
Who is Amaterasu?
Amaterasu is the goddess of the sun and fertility who brings light to the world.
Who are the gods of war in Greek and Japanese mythology?
Ares, Hachiman
What is the book series based off of Greek mythology?
Percy Jackson
When Izanagi gets purified what does this represent?
They represent parents.
What is the role of women in governing both life and death?
In the myth of Izanami and Izanagi, Izanami’s tragic descent into the land of the dead and her eventual rule over it emphasizes women’s connection to both life creation and death in Japanese mythology.
Which god is known for his military skill?
Hachiman is the god of warriors and is known for his military skill.
In both myths, one deity is punished for defying the gods. Who are these deities?
In Greek mythology, Prometheus steals fire for humanity, while in the Japanese myth, Izanagi’s actions lead to consequences after his wife’s death.
What is reincarnation?
It is a concept which involves the cycle of life, death, and rebirth and is a key idea in Shintoism that focuses on the spiritual essence of life, where the kami are believed to inhabit both the living and the dead, reflecting a form of spiritual continuity.
While giving birth to the fire god Kagutsuchi, Izanami was badly burned. What does this represent in humans?
What is the pain of childbirth for mothers.
What is the role of women as embodiments of fertility and protectors of the land?
In the Izumo Cycle, the goddess of Mount Fuji plays the role of a nurturing figure who contributes to the fertility of the land and the prosperity of Japan through her marriage to Ninigi.
Who is Amaterasu's brother and what is he the god of?
Susano-ô is a violent god associated with storms and the sea.
What are the primordial deities for Greek and Japanese Mythology?
In both myths, these two deities are central to the creation of the world—one being a male and the other a female figure. In Greek mythology, they are Uranus and Gaia, and in Japanese mythology, they are Izanagi and Izanami.
What is the famous Japanese game that involves creatures being caught in a ball?
Pokemon
When Izanagi gets purified what does this represent?
Rebirth and Renewal
Which goddess is the embodiment of great power similar to Zeus? What exactly does she symbolize?
Amaterasu, She symbolizes light, warmth, and energy similar to the sun