Susanō, Ne-no-kuni, and Izumo: The Mythological Circle of Death and Rebirth in <i>Kojiki</i> and <i>Nihon-shoki</i>

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Other Title
  • スサノヲ・根の国・出雲
  • スサノヲ・根の国・出雲 : 古事記・日本書紀の表現を通して
  • スサノオ ・ ネノクニ ・ イズモ : コジキ ・ ニホンショキ ノ ヒョウゲン オ トオシテ
  • ――古事記・日本書紀の表現を通して――

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<p>It is anachronistically inappropriate to regard Susanō's apotheosis as the result of his maturity because there was no concept of growth in Japanese ancient mythology. As is seen in Amaterasu's retreat into the Ama-no-Iwato cave or Ohonamuchi's visit to Ne-no-kuni, the legend of Susanō was constructed not on the modern linear sense of time but on the mythological circle of death and rebirth. In addition to his involvement in Amaterasu's disappearance and resurrection, Susanō himself was reborn as a god in Izumo after his exile from heaven. It is no wonder that his song of Izumo, in which Kokin-waka-shū-kana-jo found the origin of waka poetry, echoes Kojiki and Nihon-shoki in its image of resurrection. The aim of this paper is to explore the mythological logic of the ancient books while recognizing differences between them.</p>

Journal

  • Japanese Literature

    Japanese Literature 69 (6), 1-11, 2020-06-10

    Japanese Literature Association

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