Kunitokotachi

• • Affiliation: Shinto
  • Kami of: –
  • Family: Ame Kagami (daughter)

Kunitokotachi

Kunitokotachi (Ever Standing Land – 国之常立神 – kojiki) (国常立尊 – nihongi) was the 6th singular kami to come into existence in the kojiki. Like the other kami before, they concealed themselves after coming into existence. Born after Ametokotachi to show the superiority of Heaven.¹

In one version of the nihongi it states this kami was the first to come into existence also calling this kami Kuni-soko-tachi. Another states this kami was the second to come into existence after Umashiashikabihikoji. Another states he came into existence at the same time as Kuninosatsuchi, followed by the kami Amenominakanushi, Takamimusuhi and Kamimusuhi.

A fourth states that when the reedshoot formed between Heaven and Earth it took human form becoming Kuni-toko-tachi. A fifth states he was the third being to exist after Ametokotachi and Umashiashikabihikoji, forming from a floating pool of oil.

A fifth gives the ancestry of Izanagi, listing a group of kami descended from Kunitokotachi. None of these kami are mentioned elsewhere, their names being (in generation order). Kunitokotachi, Ame Kagami, Ame Yorodzu, Aha Nagi and then Izanagi.²

Footnotes

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

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