Creation Story

Stories from Kozakura

‘The Creation of the World’

Told by Hantei Asuna

         In the beginning there was Nothing. This was not the nothing of the Void, for that is unchanged, unchanging, and unchangeable. This Nothing was the source of all, but first it was empty and alone. After uncountable ages, Nothing realized it was alone, and it became afraid. This created a third of the world. Then Nothing longed for a companion, and this longing created another third of the world. Then Nothing realized what it had done and regretted fear and longing, and the last third of the world was created. Then there was no more Nothing, and in its place was the world. The world then did not have the form we know today. At that time, it was formless and fluid, like dark oil swirling in water. Eventually, the lighter parts separated out and became the Heavens, and the heavier parts sank down and became the earth. Then the Three Nameless Gods appeared, and they saw that while Heaven and earth had been formed, everything within them was still wild and unshaped. After taking counsel with themselves they created two gods, and sent them out to give shape to the world. The beings meditated on how this could be done, and then they bowed down, kissed the earth, and named it Kozakura (The land that blossoms). Now that it was named, the earth was filled with life, and new gods and beasts appeared: The two gods who named the earth also gained names: the man became Onnotangu, the moon, and the woman became Amaterasu, the sun.

         There were no humans yet, and the earth was populated by the Five Ancient Races: the tengu, the kitsu, the ningyo, the naga, and the nezumi. We know very little about those times, for their empires rose and fell and left no record. Across the span of ages, Amaterasu and Onnotangu were blessed with children: the nine Kami. For a time, the Celestial Heavens were joyful, but as the children grew, Onnotangu noticed how strong and talented they were, blessed with both his blood and that of Lady Sun’s, and he began to fear that one of them would usurp his power. Envy and fear grew in his heart, until finally, he resolved to make sure that this would never come to pass—by devouring his children. Amaterasu wept bitterly at the thought, her tears falling to the earth below and forming large pools. Being unwilling to tear apart the heavens by warring with her husband directly, she sought a different path. Each time Onnotangu swallowed one of the children, she offered him a cup of sake with a single drop of poison in it. By the time he came to the youngest child, Hantei, Lord Moon was so muddled by his drinks that Amaterasu was able to swap a stone wrapped in Hantei’s clothing for the real child and her husband swallowed it instead. Then he fell asleep.

         Amaterasu smuggled Hantei out of the palace and hid him. As he grew, she taught him of honor and war. When he had learned everything, she armed him with a sword made of starlight and sent him to rescue his siblings. Onnotangu was awakening from his sleep as Hantei strode to the palace. Seeing his shining son, Lord Moon roared with anger, seized his sword, and rushed out for battle. Their duel lasted many ages, Hantei deftly evading his father’s strikes but landing his own blows. As Onnotangu’s blood fell from Heaven, it landed in the pools of Amaterasu’s tears. From each pool, two humans stood up and looked around in wonder—for humanity is made from the tears of Lady Sun and the blood of Lord Moon.

         After an interminable time, Hantei found his opening. Gathering all his strength, he cut deeply across his father’s stomach, and his siblings came tumbling out fell to earth. Fu Leng was the last, and Onnotangu caught him as he fell. Hantei swung again and cut his father’s hand off, leaving Fu Leng to fall with the others. Howling in despair, Fu Leng grabbed for Hantei, and both brothers fell. As the glory of the Heavens receded, the brothers tumbled apart, and Hantei did not know where his brother fell. Hantei, Akodo, Doji, Hida, Togashi, Shinjo, and the twins, Shiba and Bayushi, all landed close together. When they reached the earth, the Kami were amazed to discover that they were now mortal and could die.