Izanagi’s purification after returning from Yomi

E152369

Shinto mythic episode foundational Shinto narrative mythological purification ritual

Izanagi’s purification after returning from Yomi is a central Shinto mythic episode in which the creator deity ritually cleanses himself of death’s defilement, giving rise to important kami and establishing the prototype for purification rites.

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All labels observed (3)

Label	Occurrences
Izanagi and Izanami creation myth	1
Izanagi’s purification after Yomi	1
Izanagi’s purification after returning from Yomi canonical	1

How this entity was disambiguated

This entity first appeared as the object of triple T1334937 — resolving that mention is where its identity was fixed. The disambiguator weighed these candidate entities and picked the highlighted one (or “None”, minting a new entity). This is how homonymy is resolved: the same surface form can point to different entities.

NED1 Entity disambiguation (via context triple) gpt-5-mini-2025-08-07

Target entity: Izanagi’s purification after returning from Yomi
Context triple: [Misogi, hasMythologicalOrigin, Izanagi’s purification after returning from Yomi]

A. Ōkuninushi
Ōkuninushi is a major Shinto deity associated with nation-building, medicine, agriculture, and good fortune, often revered as a protector and creator of the land of Japan.
B. Susanoo
Susanoo is a major Shinto storm and sea deity known for his turbulent nature and legendary battle with the serpent Yamata no Orochi.
C. Ninigi-no-Mikoto
Ninigi-no-Mikoto is a central deity in Japanese mythology, known as the grandson of the sun goddess Amaterasu who descended to earth and became the divine progenitor of Japan’s imperial line.
D. Amaterasu
Amaterasu is the Shinto sun goddess and one of the most important deities in Japanese mythology, revered as the divine ancestor of Japan’s imperial line.
E. Wakahirume-no-Mikoto
Wakahirume-no-Mikoto is a Shinto goddess associated with the rising sun and weaving, revered as a divine maiden linked to the sun deity Amaterasu.
F. None of above. chosen
G. Unsure - the case is ambiguous/there is not enough information to decide.

NED2 Entity disambiguation (via description) gpt-5-mini-2025-08-07

Target entity: Izanagi’s purification after returning from Yomi
Target entity description: Izanagi’s purification after returning from Yomi is a central Shinto mythic episode in which the creator deity ritually cleanses himself of death’s defilement, giving rise to important kami and establishing the prototype for purification rites.

A. Ōkuninushi
Ōkuninushi is a major Shinto deity associated with nation-building, medicine, agriculture, and good fortune, often revered as a protector and creator of the land of Japan.
B. Susanoo
Susanoo is a major Shinto storm and sea deity known for his turbulent nature and legendary battle with the serpent Yamata no Orochi.
C. Ninigi-no-Mikoto
Ninigi-no-Mikoto is a central deity in Japanese mythology, known as the grandson of the sun goddess Amaterasu who descended to earth and became the divine progenitor of Japan’s imperial line.
D. Amaterasu
Amaterasu is the Shinto sun goddess and one of the most important deities in Japanese mythology, revered as the divine ancestor of Japan’s imperial line.
E. Wakahirume-no-Mikoto
Wakahirume-no-Mikoto is a Shinto goddess associated with the rising sun and weaving, revered as a divine maiden linked to the sun deity Amaterasu.
F. None of above. chosen

Statements (45)

Predicate	Object
instanceOf	Shinto mythic episode ⓘ foundational Shinto narrative ⓘ mythological purification ritual ⓘ
action	removal of garments and ornaments ⓘ ritual ablution ⓘ washing of body in water ⓘ
associatedRealm	Yomi ⓘ
bodyPartSource	Amaterasu was born from Izanagi’s left eye ⓘ linked to: Amaterasu Susanoo was born from Izanagi’s nose ⓘ linked to: Takehaya Susanoo no Mikoto Tsukuyomi was born from Izanagi’s right eye ⓘ linked to: Tsukuyomi
cause	contact with death and impurity in Yomi ⓘ
chronologicalContext	occurs after Izanami’s death and descent to Yomi ⓘ precedes the sending of Amaterasu to rule Takamagahara ⓘ
conceptualRole	archetype of misogi (water purification) ⓘ
cosmologicalRole	contributes to ordering of the kami hierarchy ⓘ marks re-establishment of boundary between life and death ⓘ
createdKami	Amaterasu ⓘ Susanoo ⓘ Tsukuyomi ⓘ multiple lesser kami from bodily washing ⓘ multiple lesser kami from discarded garments ⓘ
culturalSignificance	explains divine origins of major kami of heaven ⓘ provides mythic foundation for Japanese purification customs ⓘ
genre	Japanese creation myth cycle ⓘ
geographicalAssociation	Tachibana River in Himuka (as named in some traditions) ⓘ land of Izumo in mythic geography ⓘ
influencedPractice	Shinto harae purification rituals ⓘ Shinto misogi rites ⓘ
mainDeity	Izanagi ⓘ
mythicFunction	transition from chthonic pollution to celestial order ⓘ
narrativeSequence	follows Izanagi’s flight from Yomi ⓘ precedes the separation of Amaterasu and Susanoo ⓘ
performedAt	river mouth ⓘ sea shore ⓘ
purpose	removal of kegare (ritual impurity) ⓘ
relatedConcept	harae ⓘ kegare ⓘ misogi ⓘ
religion	Shinto ⓘ
result	establishment of prototype for Shinto purification rites ⓘ generation of new kami ⓘ
symbolizes	restoration of order after contact with death ⓘ separation of purity from pollution ⓘ
textualSource	Kojiki ⓘ Nihon Shoki ⓘ

How these facts were elicited

Referenced by (3)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Misogi → hasMythologicalOrigin → Izanagi’s purification after returning from Yomi ⓘ

subject linked to: misogi

Shinto misogi rites → hasMythicReference → Izanagi’s purification after Yomi ⓘ

linked to: Izanagi’s purification after returning from Yomi

Tachibana River in Himuka → relatedMyth → Izanagi and Izanami creation myth ⓘ

subject linked to: Tachibana River in Himuka (as named in some traditions)