700 BCE
Heaven and Earth Emerge from Chaos
The primordial chaos separates into Takamagahara (High Heaven) and the earthly realm. The first gods, including Amenominakanushi, appear. #mythology #kojiki
Chronological Storyline (42 Milestones)
680 BCE
Izanagi and Izanami Receive the Heavenly Jeweled Spear
The elder gods command Izanagi and Izanami to solidify the drifting land. They stand on the Floating Bridge of Heaven and stir the ocean with the spear. #creation #mythology
By Originally uploaded on sv:wiki 10 April 2005 kl.18.50 by Lamré - From sv.wikipedia.org., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=626913
679 BCE
First Island Onogoro Created
Drops from the spear form the island of Onogoro. Izanagi and Izanami descend and build a palace, beginning the creation of the Japanese archipelago. #japan #creation
678 BCE
Marriage of Izanagi and Izanami
The two deities perform a marriage ritual, circling a pillar. Izanami speaks first, leading to the birth of deformed children, later corrected. #mythology #marriage
677 BCE
Birth of the Eight Great Islands
Izanagi and Izanami give birth to the eight main islands of Japan: Awaji, Shikoku, Oki, Kyushu, Iki, Tsushima, Sado, and Honshu. #japan #creation
By SeaWiFS Project, NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, and ORBIMAGE - Cropped version of the high resolution variation of image found at: https://visibleearth.nasa.gov/images/52957/clear-view-of-japan, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3454339
676 BCE
Birth of Kami: Mountains, Rivers, and Seas
Izanami gives birth to numerous kami of natural phenomena: mountains, rivers, winds, and seas. The world becomes populated with divine spirits. #shinto #nature
By Utagawa Kunisada (歌川国貞; b. 1786, d. 1865) - [1], Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=607166
675 BCE
Izanami Dies Giving Birth to Fire God Kagutsuchi
Izanami gives birth to Kagutsuchi, the fire kami, and is fatally burned. She descends to Yomi, the underworld. #death #mythology
By 玉蘭斎貞秀 - 『神佛図會』国立国会図書館デジタルコレクション, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=158957618
674 BCE
Izanagi Kills Kagutsuchi in Grief
Enraged by Izanami's death, Izanagi beheads Kagutsuchi with his sword. Blood from the corpse spawns more kami. #violence #mythology
673 BCE
Izanagi Journeys to Yomi to Retrieve Izanami
Izanagi travels to the underworld to bring Izanami back. She warns him not to look at her, but he does, seeing her rotting corpse. #underworld #journey
By ChiefHira - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10358058
672 BCE
Izanagi Escapes Yomi and Purifies Himself
Izanagi flees Yomi, pursued by hags and thunder gods. He blocks the entrance with a boulder, severing ties with Izanami. He then performs misogi purification. #purification #shinto
By Ds13 at English Wikipedia - Transferred from en.wikipedia to Commons., CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2530281
671 BCE
Birth of Amaterasu, Tsukuyomi, and Susanoo
During purification, Izanagi washes his left eye, creating Amaterasu (sun goddess); his right eye creates Tsukuyomi (moon god); his nose creates Susanoo (storm god). #shinto #gods
670 BCE
Izanagi Divides the Realm Among His Three Children
Izanagi assigns Amaterasu to rule Takamagahara, Tsukuyomi the night, and Susanoo the seas. Susanoo weeps and refuses, causing chaos. #cosmology #shinto
669 BCE
Susanoo Banned from Heaven for Misbehavior
Susanoo's tantrum leads to his banishment from Takamagahara. He visits Amaterasu before leaving, but his actions escalate tensions. #banishment #mythology
668 BCE
Susanoo's Rampage and Amaterasu's Cave Hiding
Susanoo destroys Amaterasu's rice fields, flays a sacred horse, and throws it into her weaving hall. Amaterasu hides in the Heavenly Rock Cave, plunging the world into darkness. #sun #cave
667 BCE
Goddess Ame-no-Uzume Lures Amaterasu Out
The gods devise a plan: Ame-no-Uzume performs a lewd dance, making the gods laugh. Curious, Amaterasu peeks out and is pulled from the cave, restoring light. #dance #light
By Unknown - https://harvardartmuseums.org/collections/object/207776, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=185204957
666 BCE
Susanoo Exiled to Earth
After the cave incident, the gods fine and exile Susanoo from heaven. He descends to the earthly realm of Izumo. #exile #mythology
665 BCE
Susanoo Slays the Yamata no Orochi Serpent
In Izumo, Susanoo encounters an elderly couple whose daughter Kushinada-hime is to be sacrificed to the eight-headed serpent Yamata no Orochi. He tricks and kills the serpent, finding the sword Kusanagi in its tail. #dragon #hero
By Torii Kiyomasu II - https://www.artic.edu/artworks/19386/susano-o-no-mikoto-killing-the-eight-headed-dragon, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=162838263
664 BCE
Susanoo Marries Kushinada-hime
After defeating the serpent, Susanoo marries Kushinada-hime. They have children, including Okuninushi, who becomes a central figure in Izumo mythology. #marriage #mythology
By Muromachi-period artist; I took the photo - Own work, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=38367870
663 BCE
Okuninushi's Trials and Rise to Power
Okuninushi, son of Susanoo, undergoes many trials, including surviving attacks by his brothers. He eventually becomes ruler of the earthly realm, known as the land of Izumo. #hero #mythology
By Yashima Gakutei - This file was donated to Wikimedia Commons as part of a project by the Metropolitan Museum of Art. See the Image and Data Resources Open Access Policy, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=58779131
662 BCE
Okuninushi Meets the Hare of Inaba
Okuninushi helps a skinned hare, who later prophesies his marriage to Princess Yakami. This story illustrates his compassion and cunning. #folklore #rabbit
By Aimaimyi - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=14455671
661 BCE
Okuninushi's Marriage to Princess Yakami
Following the hare's prophecy, Okuninushi wins the hand of Princess Yakami, daughter of the local chieftain, through a series of contests. #marriage #mythology
660 BCE
Okuninushi's Rule Over the Earthly Realm
Okuninushi establishes his rule over the earthly realm, creating a prosperous kingdom. He is later known as a god of medicine and magic. #kingdom #shinto
659 BCE
Amaterasu Decides to Send Her Grandson to Earth
Amaterasu determines that the earthly realm should be ruled by her descendants. She orders her grandson Ninigi to descend and govern Japan. #divine #mission
By Ishii Rinkyo (1884-1930) - https://www.chiba-muse.or.jp/ART/horiemasaaki/ishii.htm, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=185331554
658 BCE
The Heavenly Grandson Ninigi Descends to Earth
Ninigi descends from Takamagahara to Mount Takachiho in Kyushu, accompanied by five attendant kami. This event marks the beginning of the imperial lineage. #descent #imperial
657 BCE
Ninigi Receives the Three Imperial Regalia
Amaterasu bestows upon Ninigi the sacred mirror (Yata no Kagami), the jewel (Yasakani no Magatama), and the sword (Kusanagi no Tsurugi). These become symbols of imperial authority. #regalia #imperial
By 菊竹若狭 (Kikutake Wakasa) - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=127010641
656 BCE
Ninigi Meets Konohanasakuya-hime
Ninigi meets the beautiful Konohanasakuya-hime, daughter of the mountain god. He proposes marriage, but her father offers both daughters, leading to a test of fidelity. #marriage #mythology
By Katsushika Hokusai - This file was donated to Wikimedia Commons as part of a project by the Metropolitan Museum of Art. See the Image and Data Resources Open Access Policy, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=88927605
655 BCE
Ninigi Marries Konohanasakuya-hime
Ninigi marries Konohanasakuya-hime, but her sister Iwanaga-hime is rejected, leading to the mortality of human emperors. Konohanasakuya-hime gives birth to three sons. #marriage #imperial
654 BCE
Birth of Hoderi and Hoori
Konohanasakuya-hime gives birth to twin sons: Hoderi (fire luck) and Hoori (mountain luck). Their story involves fishing and hunting, leading to conflict. #twins #mythology
By Yoshitoshi - https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/explore/collection/work/108431/, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=185378228
653 BCE
Hoderi and Hoori's Quarrel Over Lost Fishhook
Hoori borrows Hoderi's fishhook and loses it. Hoderi demands its return, leading Hoori to journey to the sea god's palace. #conflict #journey
652 BCE
Hoori Visits the Sea God's Palace
Hoori descends to the bottom of the sea and meets Toyotama-hime, daughter of the sea god. He marries her and stays for three years. #underworld #marriage
By Totoya Hokkei; Totoya Hokkei died 1850; Santei Shigemaru; Kagendô Tsugio died 1872 - http://www.rijksmuseum.nl/collectie/RP-P-1958-374 (handle), Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=33336503
651 BCE
Hoori Returns with the Lost Fishhook and Magic Jewels
The sea god gives Hoori the lost fishhook and two magic jewels: the tide-flowing and tide-ebbing jewels. Hoori returns and defeats Hoderi. #magic #victory
650 BCE
Birth of Ugayafukiaezu, Father of Emperor Jimmu
Toyotama-hime gives birth to Ugayafukiaezu on the beach, but transforms into a sea creature, causing her to leave. He later marries his aunt Tamayori-hime. #birth #imperial
By Yasuchika Otokawa (音川安親) - National Assembly Library of Korea, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=74065871
649 BCE
Ugayafukiaezu Marries Tamayori-hime
Ugayafukiaezu marries his aunt Tamayori-hime, who gives birth to four sons, including the future Emperor Jimmu. #marriage #imperial
648 BCE
Birth of Emperor Jimmu
Tamayori-hime gives birth to Kamuyamato Iwarebiko, later known as Emperor Jimmu, the first human emperor of Japan. #emperor #birth
By Ginko Adachi (active 1874-1897) - artelino - Japanese Prints - Archive 29th May 2009, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6894916
647 BCE
Jimmu's Journey from Kyushu to Yamato
Emperor Jimmu leads an expedition from Kyushu to the Yamato region, conquering local tribes with divine aid. This is the legendary foundation of the Japanese state. #conquest #foundation
646 BCE
Jimmu's Victory Over Nagasunehiko
Jimmu defeats the chieftain Nagasunehiko in battle, aided by a golden kite sent by Amaterasu. This victory secures his rule over Yamato. #battle #divine
645 BCE
Emperor Jimmu Ascends the Throne
Jimmu is enthroned as the first emperor of Japan at Kashihara, marking the traditional founding date of the Japanese imperial line. #emperor #founding
644 BCE
Jimmu Establishes the Imperial Palace
Emperor Jimmu builds his palace at Kashihara, establishing the first imperial court. This event is considered the beginning of the Yamato dynasty. #palace #dynasty
643 BCE
Jimmu's Death and Succession
Emperor Jimmu dies after a reign of 76 years, according to legend. He is succeeded by his son, Emperor Suizei. #death #succession
642 BCE
Emperor Suizei Ascends the Throne
Suizei, the second emperor, begins his reign. The early emperors are considered semi-legendary, with their reigns recorded in the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki. #emperor #legend
By Hashimoto Chikanobu - Wikimedia, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=183876828
641 BCE
Compilation of Early Imperial Genealogies
Oral traditions and genealogies of the early emperors are preserved and later recorded in the Kojiki. These form the basis of Japan's historical narrative. #history #genealogy
640 BCE
The Kojiki is Commissioned by Empress Genmei
In the historical timeline, Empress Genmei orders the compilation of the Kojiki in 712 CE. This event is placed here for narrative continuity. #compilation #history