Onogoro-shima Kuniumi Legend

Onogoro-shima Kuniumi is the land-birth myth of the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki, in which Izanagi-no-Kami and Izanami-no-Kami brought forth the islands of Japan. Receiving from the heavenly deities the charge to shape the land, the two stood on the floating bridge of heaven and stirred the sea with the heavenly jeweled spear Ame-no-Nuboko. The brine dripping from the lifted spear gathered and formed Onogoro-shima; the two descended to it, raised the heavenly pillar Ame-no-Mihashira, and walked around it in opposite directions to meet in marriage. When Izanami-no-Kami spoke first, the children born (Hiruko and Awashima) were not counted and were set adrift in a reed boat. At the heavenly deities' direction the rite was repeated with Izanagi-no-Kami speaking first, and the eight great islands (Oyashima-no-Kuni) were born one after another, beginning with Awaji-no-Ho-no-Sawake-no-Shima (Awaji Island), then Iyo-no-Futana-no-Shima (Shikoku), the three children of Oki, Tsukushi (Kyushu), Iki, Tsushima, Sado, and Oyamato-Toyoakitsushima (Honshu). The leading site for Onogoro is Nushima in Minamiawaji, Hyogo, with the columnar rock Kamitategami-iwa as a relic of the heavenly pillar; the Onokoro-jima Shrine in Enami-shimohata, Minamiawaji, is also a sacred site of the tradition. The Kojiki, upper scroll, Kuniumi segment (712 CE), the Nihon Shoki, divine age book one fourth section (720 CE), and the Sendai Kuji Hongi form the textual basis; Motoori Norinaga's Kojiki-den gives close commentary.