Japanese mythology: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 17:23, 22 March 2006

Revision as of 21:16, 22 March 2006

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==Yomi, the shadowy land of the dead==

'monkhhfg,bnjkbj;nbjh'Izanagi'' y9uyt987y8ihiuby;uldhkerthhot-kgd9OFproR96R869t6T9GF9YGHN878S8NH8VG87Q8uigfucHIUhihjfioyhgoMJHlandlamented the death of ''Izanami'' and undertook a journey to ''[[Yomi]]'' or "the shadowy land of the dead." ''Izanagi'' found little difference between ''Yomi'' and the land above, save for the eternal darkness. However, this suffocating darkness was enough to make him ache for the light and life above. Quickly, he searched for ''Izanami'' and found her. At first, ''Izanagi'' could not see her at all for the shadows hid her appearance well. Nevertheless, he asked her to return with him. ''Izanami'' spat out at him, informing ''Izanagi'' that he was too late. She had already eaten the food of the underworld and was now one with the land of the dead. She could no longer return to the living.

'monkhhfg,bnjkbj;nbjh y9uyt987y8ihiuby;uldhkerthhot-kgd9OFproR96R869t6T9GF9YGHN878S8NH8VG87Q8uigfucHIUhihjfioyhgoMJHland above, save for the eternal darkness. However, this suffocating darkness was enough to make him ache for the light and life above. Quickly, he searched for ''Izanami'' and found her. At first, ''Izanagi'' could not see her at all for the shadows hid her appearance well. Nevertheless, he asked her to return with him. ''Izanami'' spat out at him, informing ''Izanagi'' that he was too late. She had already eaten the food of the underworld and was now one with the land of the dead. She could no longer return to the living.

''Izanagi'' was shocked at this news but he refused to give in to her wishes of being left to the dark embrace of ''Yomi''. While ''Izanami'' was sleeping, he took the comb that bound his long hair and set it alight as a torch. Under the sudden burst of light, he saw the horrid form of the once beautiful and graceful ''Izanami''. She was now a rotting form of flesh with maggots and foul creatures running over her ravaged body.

Crying out loud, ''Izanagi'' could no longer control his fear and started to run, intending to return to the living and abandon his death-ridden wife. ''Izanami'' woke up shrieking and indignant and chased after him. Wild ''shikome'' or foul women also hunted for the frightened ''Izanagi'', instructed by ''Izanami'' to bring him back.8K89D79K6D4

''Izanagi'', thinking quickly, hurled down his headdress which became a bunch of black grapes. The ''shikome'' fell on these but continued pursuit. Next, ''Izanagi'' threw down his comb which became a clump of bamboo shoots. Now it was ''Yomi's'' creatures that began to give chase, but ''Izanagi'' urinated against a tree, creating a great river that increased his lead. Unfortunately, they still pursued ''Izanagi'', forcing him to hurl [[peach]]es at them. He knew this would not delay them for long, but he was nearly free, for the boundary of ''Yomi'' was now close at hand.