Tsukiyomi

Tsukiyomi : His Augustness; Moon Night Possessor

After the primordial mother Izanami died while giving birth to the fire kami, her brother/lover/ alter ego Izanagi travelled to Yomi, the realm of death after her. As he didn’t yet comprehend death—a new concept—he expected to find Izanami as she was when she was alive. Instead he fled from her rotting corpse. Izanagi was defiled by contact with death and so upon reaching safety, he ritually bathed to purify himself. Tsukiyomi emerged when Izanagi bathed his right eye. Amaterasu emerged from the left eye, and Susano’o from Izanagi’s nose. They are the Three Noble Children. Izanagi proclaimed Tsukiyomi to be the ruler of night. (Another myth suggests that Izanagi created Amaterasu from a hand-mirror held in his left hand and Tsukiyomi from a hand-mirror held in his right hand.)

FULL NAME:

Tsukiyomi no Mikoto

CLASSIFICATION:

Kami

TIME:

Night

PLANET:

Moon

RITUALS:

Moon-watching rituals (Tsukimachi) are traditionally held on the fifteenth, seventeenth, nineteenth, and twenty-third of the first, fifth, and ninth lunar months. Offerings are given in conjunction.

SACRED SITE:

He is worshipped at Japan’s Ise shrine, whose primary deity is Amaterasu. Tsukiyomi and Ukemochi are venerated in Ise’s Outer Shrine. He also has a shrine at Gassan (“Mountain of the Moon”) in Yamagata Prefecture as well as the Wakamiya Shrine in Kyoto.

SEE ALSO:

• Amaterasu
• Izanami
• Izanagi
• Kami
• Susano’o
• Ukemochi

SOURCE:

Encyclopedia of Spirits: The Ultimate Guide to the Magic of Fairies, Genies, Demons, Ghosts, Gods & Goddesses – Written by : Judika Illes Copyright © 2009 by Judika Illes.