Read, reflect, pray
Nihon Shoki: Kukurihime at the boundary of Yomi
Nihon Shoki · Story 4 of 17
黄泉の境で、菊理媛が告げたこと
Kukurihime’s name preserved in a brief passage.
English translation of this site’s published story summary and reading notes. This is a selected reading guide, not a complete translation of the ancient chronicle.
A variant account (issho, introduced as “one writing says”) is a different tradition preserved beside the main narrative. It is labeled separately below.
Variant account (issho)
Book 1, section 5 variant 10
Longing for Izanami, Izanagi goes to where she is, but disregards her instruction not to look, and conflict arises between them. This tradition also records the appearance of Hayatamanoo and Yomotsukotosakanoo.
As the two confront each other at Yomotsu Hirasaka, a guardian of Yomi’s road conveys words between them. Kukurihime then also says something; Izanagi approves and leaves. He afterward goes to the water to cleanse himself.
The text gives no specific content for Kukurihime’s words. It is important to distinguish this brief record from the deity’s later, more extensive devotional traditions.
Compare with the Kojiki
Kukurihime is not named in the Kojiki’s Yomi story. This scene is introduced as a tradition recorded in Nihon Shoki variant account 10.
The land of Yomi and the slope of parting →Connected figures
Names and relationships in a chronicle may differ from later traditions. Each figure’s introduction identifies its sources.
Sources and edition (1)
English explanations on this page were prepared by Inori no Mori from the cited text and its Japanese explanations. They are not an official translation or a prescribed liturgy.