Standing on the Floating Bridge of Heaven, Izanagi and Izanami thrust the jeweled spear into the brine below and stirred. When they lifted it, the drops that fell from its tip piled up and hardened into the first island, Onogoro.
Descending there, they circled a great heavenly pillar and were wed. But because the goddess spoke first, their first child, Hiruko, did not thrive and was set adrift. Following the gods’ counsel, they repeated the rite with the god speaking first.
This time all went well. Beginning with Awaji, they brought forth Shikoku, Kyushu, Honshu and the rest—the ‘Great Eight Islands’ (Oyashima), the land of Japan. Then they went on to bear the gods of sea and mountain, river and wind—though sorrow still lay ahead.
