Origins & Purpose
The primary source of Japanese myths.
Answer: What is Shinto?
Sun goddess, most important deity, Imperial lineage.
Answer: Who is Amaterasu?
The world began as this before order was created.
Answer: What is a shapeless ocean of chaos?
The reason Amaterasu hid in the Rock Cave of Heaven.
Answer: What is Susanoo’s destructive behavior (destroying rice fields, vandalizing her palace)?
This theme emphasizes humans living in balance with nature.
Answer: What is Nature and Harmony?
Two other influences on Japanese myths.
Buddhism and Hinduism
Moon god and brother of Amaterasu.
Answer: Who is Tsukuyomi?
The first deities, meaning “He Who Invites” and “She Who Invites.”
Answer: Who are Izanagi and Izanami?
The object used to lure Amaterasu out of the cave.
Answer: What is a polished mirror?
This theme focuses on familial bonds, loyalty, and duty.
Answer: What is Family and Loyalty?
Kami are ____.
spiritual gods or supernatural beings living in nature
Creator deities who formed the islands of Japan.
Answer: Who are Izanagi and Izanami?
The platform in the sky from which they created the first island.
Answer: What is the Floating Bridge of Heaven?
The Rock Cave symbolizes ____.
Answer: What is isolation, darkness, or loss of order?
Giving something up for the greater good relates to which theme?
Answer: What is Sacrifice and Balance?
One purpose of Japanese myths is to respect ____.
Answer: What is nature?
Storm god who slew Yamata-no-Orochi.
Who is Susanoo?
The first island created by Izanagi and Izanami.
Answer: What is Onogoro Island?
Compare Amaterasu and Susanoo: what do they represent?
Answer: What are light/order and chaos/destruction?
DAILY DOUBLE: "Why was it important for Izanagi to speak first during the wedding ritual with Izanami? What does this tell us about Japanese beliefs?"
Speaking first symbolized proper ritual order and male authority, showing the importance of tradition and hierarchy in Japanese culture
Japanese myths also pass down values like ____, ____, and ____.
respect, duty, and harmony
Goddess of dance, creativity, and laughter.
Answer: Who is Ame-no-Uzume?
The fire god whose birth caused Izanami’s death.
Answer: Who is Kagutsuchi?
The ritual Izanagi performed after escaping Yomi that created new gods.
Answer: What is a purification ritual?
Name one way Japanese myths reflect the country’s geography, climate, or culture.
Answer: What is importance of rice (Inari), storms (Susanoo), mountains (Tengu), or rivers (Kappa)?