Kayanohime

• • For the Yokai of the same name see: Nozuchi (Yokai)
  • Affiliation: Shinto
  • Kami of: Herbs (nihongi) Moorland (kojiki)
  • Family: Izanami (mother) Izanagi (father) Ōyamatsumi (brother/husband) Kuninosazuchi (son) Amenosazuchi (daughter) Amenosagiri (daughter) Kuninosagiri (son) Amenokurado (daughter)
    Kuninokurado (son) Ōtomatohime (daughter) Ōtomatohiko (son)

Kayanohime

Kayanohime (草野姫命 – Lady Thatch) also called Nozuchi (Moorland Elder) is said to be the kami of Herbs in the nihongi¹ and Moorland in the kojiki.²

She was created by Izanami and Izanagi after the kami Kukunochi. This is related in the nihongi.¹

In the kojiki however, she is born after her husband and brother, the kami Ōyamatsumi. Her name represents rugged terrain expanding from the base of mountains.

Together the two of them have eight children, Kuninosatsuchi, Amenosazuchi, Amenosagiri, Kuninosagiri, Amenokurado, Kuninokurado, Ōtomatohime and Ōtomatohiko.²

She is briefly seen in an alternative writing in the nihongi during the events of Amaterasu entering into the Rock Cave. When offerings are being gathered to try and coax her from the cave she is instructed to gather suzuki grass.¹

Footnotes

1. Aston. W.G. (1896) “Nihongi Volume 1: Chronicles of Japan from the Earliest Times to AD697”. Tuttle Publishing.
2. Yasumaro. O, translated by Gustav Heldt. (2014) “Kojiki. An Account of Ancient Matters”. New York: Columbia University Press.

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