The Age of the Gods

1The names of the deities that were born in the Plain of High Heaven when heaven and earth first appeared were the deity Ame-no-Minaka-Nushi-no-Kami, next the deity Taka-Mi-Musubi-no-Kami, next the deity Kami-Musubi-no-Kami.

2These three deities were all born alone, and hid their persons. The names of the deities that were born next from something that sprouted up like a reed-shoot when the earth was young were Umashi-Ashi-Kabi-Hiko-Ji-no-Kami and Ame-no-Toko-Tachi-no-Kami.

3These two deities were likewise born alone, and hid their persons. The five deities above are the Separate Heavenly Deities.

4Next came the Seven Generations of the Age of the Gods, pairs of male and female deities who appeared to begin the creation of the world.

5The last of these seven generations were Izanagi-no-Kami and Izanami-no-Kami, the male-who-invites and the female-who-invites, who would create the islands of Japan.