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 the gods of thunder (Ikadzuchi) of mountains (Oho-yamatsumi) and of rain (Takao-kami). The blood which fell from the edge of his weapon flew up to the sun, and was converted into unnumbered rocks in the dry bed of the Ama-no-yasu-no-gawa, and the blood which fell from the guard and point, as well as that which remained on his hand, spirted on to the racks thus formed. Blood and fire being the same thing, the sun thus became a receptacle of heat.

The next event was the visit of Izanagi to Yomi, with the object of finding Izanami and inducing her to return to the upper world. No precise information exists with reference to the road by which he travelled, but it is supposed to have been a hole through the centre of the earth, the outlet of which is at Ifuyazaka (pronounced Yûyazaka) in Idzumo. “When Izanami no mikoto came forth from her palace door to meet him, he addressed her, saying, “My dear sister, come back again, for the country, which you and I made is not yet finished.” She replied, “Lamentable indeed that you came not earlier. I have eaten of the cooking of Yomi. Nevertheless, as my Brother has graciously come hither, I would desire to return. To-morrow I will discuss it fully with the god of Yomi. Do not look for me, my Brother.” Saying this she returned within the palace. A long time elapsed, and he felt impatient, so breaking off the end-tooth of the many-toothed comb which he wore in the left bunch of his hair, and lighting it, he entered in to look. He found her over-run with maggots and in a state of semi-putrefaction.” The legend goes on to relate Izanagi’s struggle to escape, during which he created various gods, one of whom, called Kunado no kami, was produced from his staff. Another was Chigaheshi no kami, the rock with which he closed up the road. Izanami’s reason for not returning was that she had eaten food cooked with unclean fire, and was defiled thereby. The god of fire hates impurity, and she was afraid of his wrath. It is well-known that it is impossible to succeed with a casting if the metal has been melted with fire which is not perfectly pure.