Kojiki Genesis - Myth - OMNIKA Mythology

About this myth

Kojiki Genesis is a Creation myth originating from the Shinto belief system. The oldest attested artifact in our index that contains this myth was likely created around 1371 CE. The main deity depicted in this myth is likely Ame-no-minaka-nushi.

In a nutshell

Myth summary

Before man, the universe was chaotic and silent. Sounds and light arose to create the heaven and earth. The original five deities did not have a sex and gave birth to another original ten gods. Afterwards, the Japanese archipelago was created and more deities were created. Eventually, man came into being.

Attested:

Created: Unknown

Myth type: Creation

Main deity: Ame-no-minaka-nushi

Belief system: Shinto

Origin: Asia › Eastern Asia › Japan

Belief system

Shinto Religion

Polytheistic

Shinto religion refers to the traditional spiritual belief system of the peoples of Japan.

Ame-no-minaka-nushi

Main deity

Ame-no-minaka-nushi (Japapenese: 天之御中主神) is the first of three sexless and formless 'Kami' deities listed in the first chapter of the Kojiki texts.

Artifact

Shinpukuji-bon

National Diet Library

The artifact named Shinpukuji-bon has contents related to this mythological story.

Condition: Excellent

Type: Manuscript

Material: Parchment

Date: c. 1371 CE

Translation

"Kojiki Genesis": English Translation by Donald Philippi

Book · Donald L. Philippi · 1968

"Kojiki Genesis" is a composite English translation of the Kojiki Genesis creation myth by Donald Philippi.

Language: English

Main text cover

More information

The Kojiki Genesis (Furukotofumi) creation myth comes from a collection of Shinto (Japanese: 神道) myths from imperial Japan. The collection of myths chronicle the history and origins of the Japanese people.

Artifacts related to this myth

Shinpukuji-bon

Parchment Manuscript

Texts related to this myth

See full texts of this myth via related artifacts. Where available, a translation is included.

All texts

Title
"Kojiki Genesis" Book · Donald L. Philippi · 1968

Recommended text

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Cite this page

MLA Modern Language Association (8th ed.)

OMNIKA Foundation Contributors. "Kojiki Genesis." OMNIKA – World Mythology Index, OMNIKA Foundation, 22 Feb. 2019, omnika.org/stable/8. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.

APA American Psychological Association (6th ed.)

OMNIKA (2019, February 22). Kojiki Genesis. Retrieved from https://omnika.org/stable/8

CMS Chicago Manual of Style (16th ed.)

OMNIKA Foundation Contributors. "Kojiki Genesis." Las Vegas, NV: OMNIKA Foundation. Created February 22, 2019. Accessed October 31, 2025. https://omnika.org/stable/8.

Bibliography

Shinpukuji-bon

Philippi, Donald L. Kojiki: Translated with an Introduction and Notes by DONALD L. PHILIPPI. Tokyo, Japan: University of Tokyo Press, 1968.

Philippi, Donald L. trans. "Kojiki Genesis." In Kojiki: Translated with an Introduction and Notes by DONALD L. PHILIPPI, edited by Donald L. Philippi. Tokyo, Japan: University of Tokyo Press, 1968.