Yominokuni

Yomi no Kuni, commonly known as Yomi, is the land of the dead in Japanese mythology. It is described as a subterranean realm of darkness where the deceased reside. In the major chronicles Kojiki and Nihon Shoki, Yomi is closely associated with Izanami no Mikoto, a deity linked to creation and death, who is said to dwell there after her death. The mythic narrative centers on the descent of Izanagi to retrieve Izanami from Yomi and the subsequent separation of the living and the dead.

Etymology: Yomi means “the hidden” or “the underworld,” and kuni means “land” or “country.” The term thus denotes a hidden or subterranean land of the dead.

Myth and account: After Izanami dies in childbirth, Izanagi travels to Yomi to bring her back. He finds her alive but in a decayed state, which horrifies him. Izanami insists that he stay, but he flees the dwelling of the dead, pursued by Izanami’s calls. Upon escaping, he closes the entrance to Yomi with a great stone, effectively severing the world of the living from the realm of the dead. This act establishes the boundary between life and death and initiates a purification rite in which Izanagi must cleanse himself of the impurity associated with death.

Cultural significance: Yomi serves as a foundational concept in Shinto cosmology, illustrating the separation of life and death and the need for ritual purification. The myth informs later beliefs about the afterlife and the demeanor of death within Japanese tradition.

Modern references: The concept of Yomi appears in literature, film, and popular media as a symbolic underworld, sometimes adapted or reinterpreted for contemporary storytelling.