REL 1000 Study Guide - Kojiki, Sumo, Misogi
Document Summary
Kami gods/goddesses, any one of countless spirits; anything with excellence, personality, virtue, awe. Ama-no-minaka-nushi-no-kami that mysterious creative life energy of nature, ultimate principle. Polytheistic, or animistic all things are seen as part of one life energy. Nativism save what is true, what is original. Kojiki oldest, 712 ce, record of ancient matters, history of japan. Nihongi 720 ce, story of japanese people from end of kojiki to publishing, chronicles of japan. That which is pure rises and becomes heaven, less pure falls and becomes earth. Pillar of earth went into heaven, out of this came a male and female kami. First offspring giant slug, woman made mistake. Second time, man goes first, from oceans come dry land, islands of japan. Burned alive when giving birth to fire kami, killed, goes to underworld. Amaterasu (most pure kami, sent to heavens, sun); tsukiyomi (moon); susano-o (storm, bad weather) Yamoto clan, clan of emperor, originate from amaterasu.
