The Beginning of Japan *

Sham S.Misri

Long time ago, there were many Gods living in the sky. When they looked down at the earth, there was nothing. The earth was covered by water. One day the Gods decided to make a country on the earth. They sent two Gods to do the job. All Gods gave a holy weapon to help the two Gods work.

The God and Goddess stood on a bridge between the sky and the earth. They put the weapon into the sea and stirred it well. When they picked it up, sea water dripped down from the edge of the weapon. The drops got into the sea, and they became Island. The God and the Goddess went down to the island. Then they built a holy pole and a large palace. They wanted to have more islands, so they decided to get married and have children.

The marriage ceremony was simple. They walked around a holy pole, and talked to each other. First the Goddess said, “What a great man you are?” Next the God said,” what a pretty women you are?.”  After they finished the ceremony, they had two babies, although both babies didn't have the right shape.

The two Gods rafted their babies down to the sea, they were worry about it very much; therefore, they went to the sky to ask for advices of many Gods. One God said that the marriage ceremony was wrong. Goddess shouldn't have spoken first. The two Gods went down to their palace and they acted on the advice, so they may have good babies. This time their babies became islands.

When they finished making islands, they tried to make many Gods such as God of wind, God of wood, God of sea and more. The Goddess died from getting burned when she delivered God of fire. Before she died, she had made fourteen islands and thirty five Gods. This was the beginning of Japan. That's why Japan consists of many small islands.

(*From the Legends of Japan)